The understanding of the definition of the term “sons of God” is critical to understanding its use in the Old Testament. The first usage of “sons of God” is found in Genesis 6:2.

“That the sons of God (b’nai Elohim) saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.” – Genesis 6:2

A basic definition of a son of God is “one who was created by God.” Adam was created by God, and is called a son of God:

“Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” – Luke 3:38

Likewise spiritual beings, or angels, created by God are sons of God:

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD . . .” – Job 1:6

“Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD . . .” – Job 2:1

“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4) . . . “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” – Job 38:7

Beings created directly by the Lord are consistently identified as sons of God in the Bible. On the other hand, all humans are the sons of Adam and are not a direct creation of God. The sons of Adam (mankind) are distinguished from the sons of God in the Old Testament:

“When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.” – Deuteronomy 32:8

Sons of God are, therefore, creations of God, not sons of mankind.

Confirming the fact that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 were spiritual beings, the Jewish interpreters of the Septuagint translated the b’nai Elohim as angels. The sons of God in Genesis 6:2 were beings created by God; they were angels.

To interpret this phrase as sons of men, specifically the sons of Seth, is to force a translation that occurs no where else in God’s Word. The concept of the sons of Seth and the daughters of Cain began with Augustine, who also gave us “replacement theology,” the doctrine that the Church has replaced Israel in God’s plan. The doctrine of the “sons of Seth” is a doctrine of man. We must use the Bible to interpret the Bible and not follow the traditions of man.

Above, it has been shown through Scripture that only beings created directly by God are referred to as “sons of God.” But, praise the Lord, when you become a Christian, a follower of Jesus, you become a son of God! (See John 1, below – “Which were born . . . of God.”)

“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” – John 1:12-13

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” – Romans 8:14-16

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God . . . Beloved, now are we the sons of God . . . ” – First John 3:1-2

“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” – Philippians 2:15

What a tremendous blessing! Praise the Lord for His love for us. Pray for the lost, that they might receive that same blessing of becoming sons of God.