Is The "Sons Of God" Passage In Genesis 6 Adapted Pagan Mythology?

Abstract

The identity of "the sons of God" ( בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים ) in Genesis 6 is commonly regarded as one of the most difficult interpretive cruxes in all of the Old Testament. Compounding the exegetical challenges in this passage, critical scholarship commonly charges that the text's references to the sons' of God cohabitation with "the daughters of men" is an example of the biblical author importing an ancient myth from a pagan source into the Scriptures, which implicitly undercuts both the inspiration and inerrancy of the biblical text. This paper aims to present a detailed overview of interpretations offered by conservative biblical scholars on the identity of "the sons of God" in Genesis 6, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each position. Its primary goal is to demonstrate that there are plausible alternatives to viewing the sons of God passage as a mythological story that has intruded into its present context. This paper concludes that the Genesis 6 account of the "sons of God" is not a product of the pagan ideas circulating in its day. In addition, this paper encourages Bible-believing advocates of all interpretations of Genesis 6:1–4 to together learn to appreciate the strengths of the different positions—positions which, though sometimes vastly different, are united in their goal of striving to see the trustworthiness of Scripture upheld.

Keywords: angels, daughters of men, demons, dynastic rulers, mythology, Nephilim, Seth, sons of God

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OLAADEGBU:
Is The "Sons Of God" Passage In Genesis 6 Adapted Pagan Mythology?

Abstract

The identity of "the sons of God" ( בְנֵי־הָאֱלֹהִים ) in Genesis 6 is commonly regarded as one of the most difficult interpretive cruxes in all of the Old Testament. Compounding the exegetical challenges in this passage, critical scholarship commonly charges that the text's references to the sons' of God cohabitation with "the daughters of men" is an example of the biblical author importing an ancient myth from a pagan source into the Scriptures, which implicitly undercuts both the inspiration and inerrancy of the biblical text. This paper aims to present a detailed overview of interpretations offered by conservative biblical scholars on the identity of "the sons of God" in Genesis 6, discussing the strengths and weaknesses of each position. Its primary goal is to demonstrate that there are plausible alternatives to viewing the sons of God passage as a mythological story that has intruded into its present context. This paper concludes that the Genesis 6 account of the "sons of God" is not a product of the pagan ideas circulating in its day. In addition, this paper encourages Bible-believing advocates of all interpretations of Genesis 6:1–4 to together learn to appreciate the strengths of the different positions—positions which, though sometimes vastly different, are united in their goal of striving to see the trustworthiness of Scripture upheld.

Keywords: angels, daughters of men, demons, dynastic rulers, mythology, Nephilim, Seth, sons of God

Read More

Translation

And it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful. And they took for themselves wives from any they chose. And Yhwh said, "My spirit will not remain with man indefinitely, in that he is flesh; his days will be one hundred twenty years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—whenever¹ the sons of God went in to the daughters of men, who bore to them children. They were the mighty men of antiquity, men of renown.

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OLAADEGBU:


Translation

And it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful. And they took for themselves wives from any they chose. And Yhwh said, "My spirit will not remain with man indefinitely, in that he is flesh; his days will be one hundred twenty years." The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—whenever¹ the sons of God went in to the daughters of men, who bore to them children. They were the mighty men of antiquity, men of renown.

Continue reading here

The same expression "sons of God" , (bene Elohim in Hebrew)" is @ Job38:4-7, Job1:6, Job 2:1, meaning "angels".

Wetin concern pagan mythology & Holy scriptures?

The apocryphal Book of Enoch gives a better understanding of this. They were actually fallen angels.