Bible/Genesis/6

Genesis 6:2

6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

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God’s sons saw that men’s daughters were beautiful, and they took any that they wanted for themselves as wives.

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

What does Genesis 6:2 mean?

Genesis 6:2 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include בֵּן (bên), אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym), רָאָה (râʼâh). It connects to 31 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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That
the
sonsבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Godאֱלֹהִיםʼĕlôhîym/el-o-heem'/H430gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
sawרָאָהrâʼâh/raw-aw'/H7200to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
the
daughtersבַּתbath/bath/H1323a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively)
of
menאָדָםʼâdâm/aw-dawm'/H120ruddy i.e. a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
that
theyהֵנָּהhênnâh/hane'-naw/H2007themselves (often used emphatic for the copula, also in indirect relation)
were
fair;טוֹבṭôwb/tobe/H2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
and
they
tookלָקַחlâqach/law-kakh'/H3947to take (in the widest variety of applications)
them
wivesאִשָּׁהʼishshâh/ish-shaw'/H802a woman
of
all
which
they
chose.בָּחַרbâchar/baw-khar'/H977properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select

Commentary on Genesis 6:2

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 6:2
9" The most remarkable thing we have upon record concerning the old world is the destruction of it by the universal deluge, the account of which commences in this chapter, wherein we have, I. The abounding iniquity of that wicked world, ver. 1-5 , and ver. 11, 12 . II. The righteous God's just resentment of that abounding iniquity, and his holy resolution to punish it, ver. 6, 7 . III. The special favour of God to his servant Noah. 1. In the character given of him, ver. 8-10 . 2. In the communication of God's purpose to him, ver. 13 , 17 . 3. In the directions he gave him to make an ark for his own safety, ver. 14-16 . 4. In the employing of him for the preservation of the rest of the creatures, ver. 18-21 . Lastly, Noah's obedience to the instructions given him, ver. 22 . And this concerning the old world is written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the new world have come. Depravity of the World. ( b. c. 2469.)

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 3:6

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. pleasant: Heb. a desire

Genesis 4:26

And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the LORD. Enos: Heb. Enosh to call: or, to call themselves by the name of the Lord

Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Genesis 27:46

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Genesis 39:6

And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.

Genesis 39:7

And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

Exodus 4:22

And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

Exodus 4:23

And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn.

Exodus 34:16

And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

Deuteronomy 7:3

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Deuteronomy 7:4

For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

Deuteronomy 14:1

Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead.

Joshua 23:12

Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

Joshua 23:13

Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

2 Samuel 11:2Ezra 9:1Ezra 9:2Ezra 9:12Nehemiah 13:24Job 31:1Malachi 2:11Malachi 2:15John 8:41John 8:42Romans 9:7Romans 9:81 Corinthians 7:392 Corinthians 6:142 Corinthians 6:182 Peter 2:141 John 2:16

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 6:2.

Genesis 1:10

And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:12

And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:18

And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:21

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:31

And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis 1:4

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. the light from: Heb. between the light and between the darkness

Genesis 2:15

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. the man: or, Adam

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 6:2 say?

Genesis 6:2 (King James Version) reads: "That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."

Is Genesis 6:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 6:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 6:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Genesis 6:2
6:1Read all of Genesis 66:3