Sons of God

The Word "Son"

The word "son" appears many times throughout the Old and New Testament of the Bible. However, there are a number of different words in the Bible that have been translated into other languages and then finally into English as the word son. Some of them include the Hebrew words "bar" and "ben". When the term "son" is used in Scripture language it can imply almost any kind of descent or succession, as Ben Shanah, "son of a year," i.e. a year old; Ben Kesheth, "son of a bow," i.e. an arrow. The word bar is often found in the New Testament in composition, as Bar-timaeus.

I have referred to a number of different scholarly works for findings of the words "son" and "sons" and "children" and the intended meanings considering their position and usage in the context of the way the words appear. One such reference is the Strong's Concordance of the Bible and another is The Companion Bible. Here in particular, I have used the appendix number 23 for some explanation as to the usage and intention behind these words.

From the Companion Bible — Appendix 23

"This is why angels are called 'sons of God' in every other place where the expression is used in the Old Testament. Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. Psalms 29:1; 89:6. Daniel 3:25. We have no authority or right to take the expression in Genesis 6:2, 4 in any other sense. Moreover, in Genesis 6:2 the Septuagint renders it 'angels'."

Old Testament References

Genesis 6:1-4

Luke 3:38

"It is only by the Divine specific act of creation that any created being can be called 'a son of God'. For that which is 'born of the flesh is flesh'. God is spirit, and that which is 'born of the Spirit is spirit' (John 3:6). Hence Adam is called a 'son of God' in Luke 3:38. Those 'in Christ' having 'the new nature' which is by the direct creation of God (2 Corinthians 5:17. Ephesians 2:10) can be, and are called 'Sons of God' (John 1:13. Romans 8:14, 15. 1 John 3:1)."
— Companion Bible, Appendix 23

Job 1:6

Job 2:1

Job 38:7

Psalms 29:1

Psalms 89:6

Daniel 3:25

New Testament References

John 1:12-13

The Companion Bible on Angels and "Sons of God"

Angels are called "spirits" (Psalm 104:4. Hebrews 1:7, 14), for spirits are created by God. God is spirit, and that which is "born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).

"That there was a fall of the angels is certain from Jude 6. The nature of their fall is clearly stated in the same verse. They left their own (oiketerion). This word occurs only in 2 Corinthians 5:2. Jude 6, where it is used of the spiritual (or resurrection) body."

The nature of their sin is stated to be "in like manner" to that of the subsequent sins of Sodom and Gomorrah, Jude 7. The time of their fall is given as having taken place "in the days of Noah" (1 Peter 3:20. 2 Peter 2:7), though there may have been a prior fall which caused the end of "the world that then was" (Genesis 1:1, 2. 2 Peter 3:6).

For this sin they are "reserved unto judgment", 2 Peter 2:4, and are "in prison", 1 Peter 3:19. Their progeny, called Nephilim (translated "giants" for the Bible but may be similar to the "jinn" of the Quran), were monsters of iniquity; and being superhuman in size and character, had to be destroyed. This was the one and only object of the Flood.

Only Noah and his family had preserved their pedigree pure from Adam (Genesis 6:9). All the rest had become "corrupt" (shachath) destroyed [as Adamites]. The only remedy was to destroy it, as it had become destroyed (de jure).

The Great Conflict

This irruption of fallen angels was Satan's first attempt to prevent the coming of the Seed of the woman foretold in Genesis 3:15. If this could be accomplished, God's Word would have failed, and his own doom would be averted.

As soon as it was made known that the Seed of the woman was to come through ABRAHAM, there must have been another irruption, as recorded in Genesis 6:4, "and also after that" (that is to say, after the days of Noah, more than 500 years after the first irruption). The aim of the enemy was to occupy Canaan in advance of Abraham, and so to contest its occupation by his seed. For, when Abraham entered Canaan, we read (Genesis 12:6) "the Canaanite was then (that is to say, already) in the land."

This great conflict may be seen throughout the Bible, and it forms a great and important subject of Biblical study. The following assaults of the great Enemy stand out prominently:

• The destruction of the chosen family by famine, Genesis 50:20.
• The destruction of the male line in Israel, Exodus 1:10, 15, etc.
• The destruction of the whole nation in Pharaoh's pursuit, Exodus 14.
• After David's line was singled out (2 Samuel 7), Satan's first assault was in the union of Jehoram and Athaliah. Jehoram killed off all his brothers (2 Chronicles 21:4).
• The Arabians slew all his children, except Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 21:17; 22:1).
• When Ahaziah died, Athaliah killed "all the seed royal" (2 Chronicles 22:10). The babe Joash alone was rescued.
• Hezekiah was childless, when a double assault was made by the King of Assyria and the King of Terrors (Isaiah 36:1; 38:1).
• In Captivity, Haman was used to attempt the destruction of the whole nation (Esther 3:6, 12, 13).
• Joseph's fear was worked on (Matthew 1:18-20). He determined to divorce Mary. But God intervened: "Fear not".
• Herod sought the young Child's life (Matthew 2).
• At the Temptation, "Cast Thyself down" was Satan's temptation.
• At Nazareth, again (Luke 4), there was another attempt to cast Him down and destroy Him.
• The two storms on the Lake were other attempts.
• At length the cross was reached, and the sepulchre closed. But "God raised Him from the dead."

The irruption of "the fallen angels" ("sons of God") was the first attempt; and was directed against the whole human race. When Abraham was called, then he and his seed were attacked. When David was enthroned, then the royal line was assailed. And when "the Seed of the woman" Himself came, then the storm burst upon Him.