Herein I conclude reviewing an article that was posted to the Answers in Genesis site by Bodie Hodge who holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The article is titled, “Who Were the Nephilim? Genesis 6 and Numbers 13—a fresh look,” July 9, 2008 AD. He makes it clear that “As a ministry, Answers in Genesis does not officially take a specific stand regarding” this issue. You can find all segments here.
Hodge also notes:
Another problem presents itself from the rest of Genesis 6:4:
Genesis 6:4
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men (vya ‘iysh) of renown.In Genesis 6:4, the phrase “men of renown” uses the Hebrew word iysh. This term is used consistently as “man” or descendants of Adam—even Adam used it of himself in Genesis 2:23, yet it is never used of fallen angel, demons, or of Satan. It was used for some unfallen angels when they took the form of a man, though. If the Nephilim were crossbreeds between men and fallen angels, then why did the Bible use the term men (iysh) as opposed to something that would lead us to believe they were not fully men?
This seems like much ado about not very much. Genesis points out that the offspring of the sons of God and daughters of men are the Nephilim, that Nephilim are gibborim “mighty men,” etc. and yet, just they are thereafter referred to simply as iysh as that is what they are even if they are also more than that. This may be historically, culturally and grammatically un-contextual but note that Barack Obama is exclusively referred to as being “black” or exclusively referred to as being “African American” even though he is only half that and is half White. In other words, the media, et al., does not refer to “The half-Black and half-White Barack Obama” even though that is that which he is.
Very common depiction of an Angels and yet,
unbiblical as they do not have wings.
Perhaps Moses found it less labor intensive to write “iysh” again and again rather than writing “Nephilim” again and again or the “the offspring of the sons of God and daughters of men” again and again—just I (mostly) jest.
Also, there is a reason that iysh “is never used of fallen angel, demons, or of Satan” because they are not such: at this point Hodge is confusing sons of God with Nephilim—the Nephilim are referred to as iysh but the sons of God are not. But “why did the Bible use the term men (iysh) as opposed to something that would lead us to believe they were not fully men?” because it had already contextualize that they were not fully men.
Bodie Hodge also notes:
One early argument against this angelic view was that angels didn’t marry in heaven according to Jesus (Matthew 22:30). This has been responded to many times and it is rightly pointed out that this is referring to angels in heaven, not fallen angels. So, the option was left open that fallen angels may very well do this. However, a new problem now arises. Moses points out that the sons of God took wives (ishshah wife/women) (Genesis 6:2). Never once have I found a verse in the Bible where wife, wives, husband, husbands, or marriage was anything other than between a human male and female. If these were marriages between fallen angels and women, then it opens up the possibility of marriages that are not limited to man and woman, when the Bible is clear on this subject.
This is quite refreshing because opponents of the Angel view will very often misquote or mis-paraphrase to the effect of that Jesus said Angels do not get married. However, it is just as Hodge has it which is that the specific statement is that it is those Angels “in heaven” who do not do so. This, I would argue, is why those who did so are referred to as having fallen or as Jude 6 puts it, “the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation.”
Thus, again Hodge “Never once have I found” such as verse—unless Genesis 6 is such a verse and true, marriage is to be between a male and female which is was as per Genesis 6 but actually he stated “human” male and female which is the case and is why these marriages and the results thereof are condemned.
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