Genesis chapter six is the beginning of the story of the Great Flood. Here the Lord tells the “why” of the destruction of the Flood. Scripture says, “That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” (6:2), and, “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,” (6:4).

The result of the wicked actions of the “sons of God” was that “it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” (6:6) What an interesting coincidence that this statement about man is in the sixth chapter and the sixth verse. Six is the number of mankind. Man was created on the sixth day.

The stated result of these unions was the giants that became known as “men of renown.” Here we have a problem. It is difficult for us to conceive (pardon the pun) of giants being born to either men and women, or angels and women. That does not happen today, if ever.

There is also a division among Believers over the meaning of the first few verses of Genesis chapter six. Some believe that the “sons of God” (Hebrew – ben elohim) were the righteous sons of Seth, son of Adam. Others point out that ben elohim is only found one other time in the Bible and it is used to describe angelic beings. (Job 1:6, 2:1, 38:7)

Simply put, we find it difficult to believe that there were “real” giants born to women, even though Genesis 6:4 in Holy Scripture says just that. And note that there were giants also in the Promised Land when the twelve “spies” were sent to scout out the Land. (see Numbers 13:33)

In trying to understand Genesis chapter six, my wife and I have read several explanations and have discussed them at length. It then came to me that the various theories about who were the giants, who were the sons of God, and who were the daughters of men, seem to be efforts of men to explain something that they do not comprehend.

I only know what the Bible says, and what it does not say. It does not say there was demon possession (one theory), it does not say “daughters of Cain” (another theory), and it does not say the Sethite line (yet another theory). I may not understand how it happened, but I believe that the Word of the Lord says angelic beings impregnated human women.

There is another example of supernatural impregnation of a human woman. And praise God that “the power of the Highest overshadowed” Mary and the Son of God was born to a woman! (Luke 1:35) This is what Scripture says, and we believe it. I may not understand how it happened, but I believe what the Word of the Lord says. So why is it so difficult to believe what Scripture says in Genesis chapter six?

May God be praised for coming to Earth in the form of a man.