they chose.” — Genesis 6:2
So how were the “sons of God” able to make children?
There are three major interpretations historically taught. Let’s walk through them carefully.
The Angelic (Watcher) View
This interpretation says the “sons of God” were fallen angels.
Key Text
“The sons of God” — Hebrew: bene ha’elohim
The same phrase appears in Job for heavenly beings.
Supporters connect this to:
Book of Enoch
Jude 6
2 Peter 2:4
How could angels produce children?
This view argues:
Angels can take physical form (Genesis 18–19; angels ate food with Abraham).
If they can materialize physically, they could potentially engage in physical relations.
Jude 6–7 speaks of angels leaving their proper domain.
In the Book of Enoch, these angels are called Watchers, and they produce the Nephilim — described as giants or mighty men.
Theological challenge:
Jesus said:
“In the resurrection they neither marry… but are as the angels in heaven.” — Matthew 22:30
Notice:
He says angels in heaven do not marry.
It does not explicitly address fallen angels.
The Sethite View (Godly Line of Seth)
This interpretation says:
“Sons of God” = descendants of Seth
“Daughters of men” = descendants of Cain
So the passage describes the mixing of:
The righteous line
The corrupt line
In this view:
There is nothing supernatural about the children.
The “mighty men” were powerful rulers or violent men.
This avoids the biological question entirely.
The Royal Tyrant View
Some scholars believe:
“Sons of God” was a title for ancient kings.
Ancient rulers often claimed divine status.
They took many women and produced violent warrior dynasties.
Again, nothing supernatural biologically.
If the sons of God were angels — how were they able to produce children?
There are only three possibilities:
They assumed real physical bodies capable of reproduction.
They possessed human men.
The language is symbolic and not biological.
Scripture itself does not explain the biological mechanism.
Genesis 6 simply states they took wives and had children.
What Were the Nephilim?
The word Nephilim may mean:
“Fallen ones”
“Violent ones”
“Tyrants”
They are described as:
“Mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”
Not explicitly called half-angel.
Important Theological Point
The main focus of Genesis 6 is not biology.
It is corruption.
“All flesh had corrupted its way upon the earth.” — Genesis 6:12
The emphasis is moral and spiritual collapse.
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