In Genesis 6, the mysterious account of the “sons of God” marrying the “daughters of men” has puzzled many readers. By comparing Scripture with Scripture, we discover a clear, Bible-based explanation of who these groups were and why their union led to widespread corruption. This study reveals vital lessons about faith, obedience, and the danger of spiritual compromise.
And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: ...There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. — Genesis 6:1–4
What Happened When the Sons of God Married the Daughters of Men?
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. — Genesis 6:5
The union between the sons of God and the daughters of men led to widespread corruption and moral decay. To understand who these “sons of God” and “daughters of men” were, we must let the Bible interpret itself.
No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. — 2 Peter 1:20
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little. — Isaiah 28:10
Were the Sons of God Angels?
Some believe these “sons of God” were fallen angels. But Scripture makes it clear that angels do not marry.
Are they (the angels) not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? — Hebrews 1:14
For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. — Matthew 22:29–30
Since Genesis says these sons of God took wives, they could not have been angels. Furthermore, God’s Word establishes a basic law of reproduction: every living thing reproduces after its own kind.
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And god made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. — Genesis 1:24, 25
And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. — Genesis 2:23
This principle shows that angels, being spirits, cannot produce offspring with humans. Therefore, these “sons of God” must be human beings.
Identifying the Sons of God
The “sons of Belial” are those who live in rebellion and wickedness, with Belial serving as a biblical metaphor for Satan, the ultimate source of lawlessness and evil.
Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; — Deuteronomy 13:13
Count not thing handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto. — 1 Samuel 1:16
Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD. — 1 Samuel 2:12
The Bible teaches that all souls belong to God because He is the Creator and sustainer of life (Ezekiel 18:4). However, Scripture makes a distinction between being God’s creation and being His children.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. — Matthew 7:21
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. ...He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. — John 8:44-45, 47
So who are the “sons of God”? Only those who trust in Him, follow Christ, and obey His Word are called the children of God (John 1:12, Romans 8:14). Thus, while all people are God’s creatures, only the faithful are His true sons and daughters.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. — John 1:12
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. — John 3:5–6
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. ...The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: — Romans 8:14,16
Thus, Scripture reveals two classes of people:
- The sons of God, who walk by faith and obedience, and
- Those who rebel against God and follow their own ways.
God’s Warning Against Mixed Marriages
Throughout Scripture, God warns His people not to intermarry with unbelievers. Such unions often lead the faithful into compromise and idolatry.
And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. — Deuteronomy 7:2–4
And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. — Genesis 24:2–4
Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the Lord your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. — Joshua 23:11–13
Now therefore give not your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their wealth for ever: that ye may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children for ever. — Ezra 9:12
Like the sons of God in Genesis 6, Samson saw a pagan woman, was captivated by her appearance, and desired her for a wife without regard for God’s counsel. In doing so, he followed the same path of spiritual compromise—placing personal attraction above faithfulness to God’s command.
And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of Philistines. And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well. — Judges 14:1–3
Every time Israel ignored this command, spiritual decline followed.
And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. — Judges 3:6–7
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?— Nehemiah 13:23–27
Even King Solomon, blessed with great wisdom, was led astray because of marriages with those who did not serve the Lord. His example serves as a solemn warning to all who think they can unite light with darkness and remain faithful.
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods; Solomon clave unto these in love. And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. — 1 Kings 11:1–6
The Same Principle Applies Today
The New Testament echoes the same counsel. God’s people are to remain spiritually distinct and not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; ...Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. — 2 Corinthians 6:14–18
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good habits. — 1 Corinthians 15:33
Marriages and partnerships that unite believers with unbelievers often bear the fruit of compromise. As Jesus said, we know the tree by its fruit.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life. — Galatians 6:7–8
Who Are the Sons of God of Genesis 6
The “sons of God” in Genesis 6 were not angels, but professing believers who ignored God’s instruction and married unbelievers. Over time, these unions corrupted the faith of God’s people and increased wickedness throughout the earth.
And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. — Luke 17:26-27
Jesus warned that in the last days the world would be as it was in the days of Noah, filled with people consumed by appetite, drunkenness, and unholy unions.
It will be this class of nominal Christians who promote the union of church and state, forming the image of the beast. This union in the last days will bring the final test of loyalty to God, restrict freedom of conscience, and lead to the enforcement of the mark of the beast and the persecution of God’s faithful remnant.
...yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. — John 16:2
The account of Genesis 6 reminds us that compromise with unbelief always weakens faith and invites corruption. God calls His children to remain faithful, separate from the world, and led by His Spirit, so that they may stand pure and steadfast until the coming of Christ.