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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 6:1-2

Now here we have an account of two things which occasioned the wickedness of the old world:?1. The increase of mankind: Men began to multiply upon the face of the earth. This was the effect of the blessing (Gen. 1:28), and yet man's corruption so abused and perverted this blessing that it was turned into a curse. Thus sin takes occasion by the mercies of God to be the more exceedingly sinful. Prov. 29:16; When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth. The more sinners the more sin;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 6:2

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair ,.... Or "good" F11 טבת καλαι , Sept, "bonae" Cocceius. , not in a moral but natural sense; goodly to look upon, of a beautiful aspect; and they looked upon, and only regarded their external beauty, and lusted after them: those "sons of God" were not angels either good or bad, as many have thought, since they are incorporeal beings, and cannot be affected with fleshly lusts, or marry and be given in marriage, or... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 6:2

Verse 2 2.That they were fair. Moses does not deem it worthy of condemnation that regard was had to beauty, in the choice of wives; but that mere lust reigned. For marriage is a thing too sacred to allow that men should be induced to it by the lust of the eyes. (259) For this union is inseparable comprising all the parts of life; as we have before seen, that the woman was created to be a helper of the man. Therefore our appetite becomes brutal, when we are so ravished with the charms of beauty,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-2

EXPOSITION And it came to pass. Literally, it was ; not in immediate sequence to the preceding chapter, but at some earlier point in the antediluvian period; perhaps about the time of Enoch (corresponding to that of Lamech the Cainite), if not in the days of Enos. Havernick joins the passage with Genesis 4:26 . When men — ha'adham , i.e. the human race in general, and not the posterity of Cain in particular (Ainsworth, Rosenmüller, Bush)— began to multiply —in virtue of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-5

The demoralization of the race. This was due to— I. THE LONG LIVES OF THE ANTEDILUVIANS . Long life, if helpful to the good, is much more injurious to the wicked. Giants in health and life are often giants in wickedness. II. THE UNHOLY ALLIANCES OF THE SETHITES AND CAINITES . Nothing so demoralizing as marriage with an evil woman. Its bad effects are commonly transmitted to, and intensified in, posterity. III. THE DEPRAVITY INDUCED BY THE FALL , which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-8

The days that were before the flood ( Matthew 24:38 ). I. SIN INCREASING . 1. Licentiousness raging . The special form it assumed was that of sensuous gratification, leading to a violation of the law of marriage. In the seventh age Lamech the Cainite became a polygamist. By and by the sons of God, captivated by the charms of beauty, cast aside the bonds of self-restraint, and took them wives of all whom they chose. 2. Violence prevailing . Those who begin by breaking the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 6:1-8

The work of sin. The moral chaos out of which the new order is about to be evolved. We find these features in the corrupt state depicted. I. ILL - ASSORTED MARRIAGES . The sons of God— i.e. the seed of the righteous, such men as the patriarchs described in Genesis 5:1-32 ; men who walked with God, and were his prophets—fell away from their allegiance to the Divine order, and went after the daughters of the Cainites, The self-will and mere carnal affections are denoted by the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 6:1-8

- The Growth of Sin3. דון dı̂yn “be down, strive, subdue, judge.” בשׁגם bāshagām “inasmuch, as also.” The rendering “in their error” requires the pointing בשׁגם beshāgām, and the plural form of the following pronoun. It is also unknown to the Septuagint.4. נפילים nepı̂lı̂ym “assailants, fellers, men of violence, tyrants.”Having traced the line of descent from Adam through Sheth, the seed of God, to Noah, the author proceeds to describe the general spread and growth of moral evil in the race... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 6:2

Genesis 6:2. The sons of God Those who were called by the name of the Lord, and called upon that name; married the daughters of men Those that were profane, and strangers to God. The posterity of Seth did not keep to themselves as they ought, but intermingled with the race of Cain: they took them wives of all which they chosen They chose only by the eye. They saw that they were fair Which was all they looked at. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 6:1-8

6:1-9:29 REBELLION AND JUDGMENTThe wickedness of human society (6:1-8)As the population grew and societies developed, people again showed the tendency to want to exist independently of God. Like their original ancestors, they wanted to be as God and live for ever (cf. 3:5,22).It seems that certain angels (the probable meaning of ‘sons of God’ in this story; cf. Job 1:6; Job 38:7; Daniel 3:25) had, in rebellion against God, taken human form and co-operated with ambitious people in trying to... read more

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