Who Are the 'Sons of God' in Genesis 6:1-4?
An interesting passage of Scripture, containing mythological elements akin to ancient Near Eastern mythologies, such as those from Canaan and Mesopotamia, is found in Genesis 6:1-4. In this text, the "sons of God" descend from heaven to mate with the "daughters of man," rebelling against the One True God and provoking God's righteous judgment through a devastating flood. This passage echoes themes found in the literature of the surrounding culture, such as the Epic of Atra-khasis and the Epic of Gilgamesh.