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Divine Transgression: Understanding Genesis 6:1-4

After Eden's collapse, humanity's story takes a dramatic turn southward. The curses that followed the events in the garden bound together the fate of humanity and the seed of the serpent, exposing all who oppose God's rule in both earthly and spiritual realms. While Eden would disappear, God extended mercy to humanity from the very beginning, keeping alive the hope of restoration.

What Does "Seed of the Serpent" Really Mean?

Before diving into Genesis 6, it's crucial to understand that the "seed of the serpent" refers to spiritual rebellion, not racial distinctions. Some groups have twisted this concept into racist ideologies, which is both sinful and biblically unfounded. The description has secure biblical roots in spiritual terms.

Jesus himself told the Pharisees, "You are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father." He also called them "serpents and offspring of vipers." This language describes spiritual lineage, not physical ancestry.

Understanding Spiritual Lineage in Scripture

The apostle John clearly explains this concept in 1 John 3:8-12. He describes how spiritual seed, whether good or evil, manifests in the human heart. Those who practice sin are "of the devil," while those born of God have "God's seed" abiding in them - a reference to the Holy Spirit.

John specifically mentions Cain as being "of the evil one" because he murdered his brother. This describes people whose lives are characterized by wickedness as spiritual children of the devil, contrasted with the spiritual children of God.

Peter echoes this in 1 Peter 1:23, describing believers as "born again" of "imperishable seed" - referring to the Spirit of God, not any physical book or translation.

The Divine Transgression in Genesis 6:1-4

Genesis 6:1-4 presents one of the most misinterpreted passages in Scripture. These verses describe another kind of rebellion - a divine one - where beings from the spiritual realm made choices that violated God's design for His rule on earth.

The passage reads: "When man began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive, and they took as wives any they chose... The Nephilim were on earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them."

Who Are the "Sons of God"?

This passage raises critical questions: Who are the sons of God? Are they divine or human? Who are the Nephilim? What connection do these verses have to the flood judgment in Genesis 6:5?

The Flawed Sethite Interpretation

The dominant Christian interpretation since the late fourth century claims the "sons of God" are merely human men from Seth's lineage who intermarried with ungodly women from Cain's line. This view originated with Augustine of Hippo, who rejected the supernatural interpretation due to his reaction against his former Manichean beliefs.

However, this interpretation has serious flaws:

 

  • Genesis 4:26 never states that only Seth's lineage called on the Lord's name
  • The text never calls the women "daughters of Cain" - they're called "daughters of humankind"
  • There's no biblical command prohibiting such marriages at this time
  • Nowhere else in Scripture are Seth's descendants called "sons of God"
  • The interpretation relies on assumptions not found in the text

 

The Human Rulers Theory

Another approach suggests the "sons of God" were divinized human rulers practicing polygamy. This view also fails because:

 

  • The text never mentions polygamy
  • The phrase "sons of God" elsewhere in the Old Testament refers to divine beings, not kings
  • This interpretation reads later concepts back into Genesis

 

What Does Scripture Actually Teach?

A careful reading of Genesis 6:1-4 reveals a contrast between two distinct groups: human daughters and divine "sons of God." The text specifically mentions only daughters being born to set up this contrast between human and divine beings.

New Testament Confirmation

Both Peter and Jude confirm the supernatural interpretation. In 2 Peter 2:4-10, Peter connects the flood judgment with angels who sinned and were cast into hell. Jude 6-7 describes "angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling" and connects this to sexual immorality like Sodom and Gomorrah.

These passages describe:

 

  • An episode from Noah's time where angels sinned
  • This sin precipitated the flood
  • The sin was sexual in nature
  • It involved despising authority and crossing boundaries

 

Why This Interpretation Matters

All Jewish literature from the Second Temple period (the time between the Old and New Testaments) took a supernatural view of Genesis 6:1-4. This was the understanding during Jesus' time and informed the thinking of the New Testament writers.

The supernatural interpretation wasn't questioned until Augustine changed it in the late fourth century. Biblical theology should derive from the biblical text in its original context, not from later church traditions.

The Danger of Reading Into Scripture

This passage illustrates a crucial principle: we must base our understanding on what Scripture actually says, not on what we think it should say. When we impose ideas onto the text that aren't there, we risk creating "strange stuff" that can be spiritually dangerous.

Examples of this problem include claims that wine in biblical times wasn't alcoholic (contradicting passages about drunkenness and Timothy's instruction about wine) or that the Bible prohibits dancing (when David danced before the Lord).

Life Application

This study challenges us to approach Scripture with careful attention to what the text actually says rather than imposing our preconceptions. When studying difficult passages, we should:

 

  • Read the text carefully - What does it actually say versus what we think it should say?
  • Consider the original context - How would the original audience have understood this?
  • Compare Scripture with Scripture - How do other biblical passages illuminate this text?
  • Avoid reading later ideas back into earlier texts - Don't impose modern concepts on ancient writings.

 

Ask yourself: Am I basing my beliefs on what Scripture actually teaches, or on traditions and assumptions that may not be biblical? How can I become more careful in my Bible study to ensure I'm learning from God's Word rather than reading my own ideas into it? What other passages might I need to re-examine with fresh eyes, setting aside preconceptions to see what the text truly says?