Genesis 6:1–4 is one of the most debated texts in the Bible. Modern readers often assume the confusion surrounding it is new, but historically, it is not.
However, during the Second Temple period (roughly 500 BC–AD 70), Jewish interpreters showed remarkable agreement about who the “sons of God” were and what happened in Genesis 6.
Understanding this background is crucial for reading the text as its earliest audiences did.
The Second Temple Context
Second Temple Judaism refers to Jewish thought and literature produced between the rebuilding of the temple after the Babylonian exile and its destruction in AD 70.
This period shaped:
- The worldview of Jesus and the apostles
- The interpretive traditions assumed in the New Testament
- Jewish readings of Genesis, angels, demons, and cosmic rebellion
Importantly, Second Temple Jews did not read Genesis 6 as ambiguous.
Who Were the “Sons of God” in Second Temple Judaism?
Across Second Temple literature, the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:1–4 were consistently understood as divine or angelic beings, not humans.
This includes:
- 1 Enoch
- Jubilees
- Dead Sea Scrolls
- Jewish translators of the Septuagint (LXX)
In these sources:
- The “sons of God” are heavenly beings
- Their sin involves crossing divine boundaries
- Their actions corrupt humanity
- Their judgment is severe and permanent
This interpretation was mainstream, not fringe.
1 Enoch and the Watchers Tradition
1 Enoch expands Genesis 6 by describing the “Watchers,” angelic beings who:
- Descend to earth
- Take human wives
- Produce giant offspring
- Teach forbidden knowledge
- Are imprisoned awaiting judgment
While 1 Enoch is not Scripture, it is invaluable for understanding how Jews interpreted Genesis 6.
The New Testament itself shows awareness of this tradition:
- Jude 6
- 2 Peter 2:4
Both passages assume a story of angelic rebellion involving imprisonment—language that fits Genesis 6 as understood in Second Temple Judaism.
Why This Matters
Michael Heiser argued that:
- Genesis 6 must be read in its ancient interpretive context
- The “Sethite view” does not appear until centuries later
- The divine beings interpretation was the default Jewish reading
This does not require accepting every detail of 1 Enoch.
It simply means recognizing that the supernatural reading was historically normal, not radical.
Read Who Are the “Sons of God” in Genesis 6?
A Clear Summary
Second Temple Judaism overwhelmingly understood the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 as rebellious divine beings, whose actions contributed to the corruption of the earth and led to divine judgment. The New Testament writers reflect this worldview, even while focusing on Christ as the ultimate answer to cosmic rebellion.
Leave a Reply