Genesis 6:1-4 - who were the 'men of renown?'?

Question

I always thought this text fascinating - any thoughts?

Answer 1

I got this from my Bible commentary.. hope it helps you out..

Gen. 6:1-4

1. And it came to pass.
This expression does not imply that the conditions here described arose subsequent to events recorded in previous chapters. The author is simply pointing to the state of society in the days of Noah, when ten generations of increasing corruption reached a climax.

Men began to multiply.
The human race increased rapidly not only in wickedness but in numbers as well. Among the manifold dangers for pious Sethites were the beautiful daughters of unbelievers. Wives were taken not because of their virtue but for beauty’s sake, with the result that godlessness and wickedness made heavy inroads among Seth’s descendants.

2. The sons of God.
This phrase has been interpreted in various ways. Ancient Jewish commentators, the early church Fathers, and many modern expositors have thought these “sons” to be angels, comparing them with the “sons of God” of Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7. This view must be rejected, because punishment soon to be meted out was for the sins of human beings (see v. 3), and not of angels. Further, angels do not marry (Matt. 22:30). The “sons of God” were none other than the descendants of Seth, and the “daughters of men,” of the godless Cainites (PP 81). God later spoke of Israel as His “firstborn son” (Ex. 4:22), and Moses called the people of Israel “children of the Lord your God” (Deut. 14:1).

They took them wives.
These unholy alliances between Sethites and Cainites were responsible for the rapid increase of wickedness among the former. God has ever warned His followers not to marry unbelievers, because of the great danger to which the believer is thus exposed and to which he usually succumbs (Deut. 7:3, 4; Joshua 23:12, 13; Ezra 9:2; Neh. 13:25; 2 Cor. 6:14, 15). But the Sethites did not heed the warnings they surely must have received. Guided by sense attractions, they were not content with the beautiful daughters of the godly race, and often preferred Cainite brides. Moreover, the prevalence of polygamy seems to be suggested by the plural expression used, they took “wives.”

3. My spirit shall not always strive.
The fact that this statement follows immediately after the reference to these unsanctified marriages would suggest that God’s displeasure was most particularly displayed toward this evil practice. Captive to their passions, they were no longer subject to God’s Spirit. The word “strive” in the Hebrew means “to rule,” and “to judge,” as corollary to ruling. These words indicate that the Holy Spirit could continue working but a little longer, and would then be withdrawn from the unregenerate and unrepentant of the human race. Even God’s long-suffering must end. Peter refers to the work of the Spirit on the hearts of the antediluvians, saying that the Spirit of Christ preached to these prisoners of Satan (1 Peter 3:18–20).

For that he also is flesh.
This expression may also be translated, “in their going astray man is flesh,” from shagag, “to wander,” “to go astray.” By following after the lusts of the flesh, says God, men have surrendered themselves to its desires to the extent that they are no longer responsive to the control of the Holy Spirit. Insensibility to divine influence is complete; hence, the Spirit of God is to be withdrawn. There is no further use in “striving” to restrain or improve them.

His days.
This divine prediction cannot mean that man’s life span would henceforth be restricted to 120 years. (Compare ages of men after the Flood.) They predict, rather, that God’s patience would come to an end and probation close within the period of time here specified. In the meantime, divine mercy lingered.
Christ compared God’s dealings with the antediluvians to His work for the human race at the end of time (Matt. 24:37–39). Under similar circumstances God may be expected to work in similar ways. However, attempts to determine the time of Christ’s coming on the basis of this are wholly invalid. We are now living on borrowed time, knowing that the destruction of the world will soon occur (see 2 Peter 3:3–7). We know also that God’s Spirit will not endlessly strive with men who do not choose to heed His warnings and prepare for that great event.

4. There were giants in the earth.
These “giants,” nephilim, were not the product of mixed marriages, as some have suggested. The LXX translated nephilim by gigantes, from which the English “giant” is derived. In Num. 13:33 the Israelites reported that they felt like mere grasshoppers in the sight of the nephilim, which the KJV translates “giants.” There is reason to believe that this Hebrew word may come from the root naphal, and that the nephilim were “violent” ones, or terrorists, rather than physical “giants.” Since in those days the entire human race was of great stature, it must be that character rather than height is designated. The antediluvians generally possessed great physical and mental strength. These individuals, renowned for wisdom and skill, persistently devoted their intellectual and physical powers to the gratification of their own pride and passions and to the oppression of their fellow men.

Answer 2

The actual Hebrew word for these people are the Nephilim. They appear to be the results of interbreding between the "sons of God" (who the Jews teach were angels) and "the daughters of men" (human females). It is because of this genetic mixing that the God brings the flood. The human gene pool had become so polluted that humans were in danger of becoming existence. So God had to rescue the one genetically and morally pure family he could find through the Great Flood and end the spread of the genetic impurities.

Answer 3

They would seem to have been great legendary heroes in the age of legendary heroes. I mean, you have to get inspiration from somewhere, right? So these guys were the mythic superstars of THAT day. Unfortunately, WE don't know a thing about them.

It reminds me of that old poem about Ozymandias, the crumbling statue found in the desert with the legend, "Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!" No one knows who Ozymandias was. And, as mighty as they were, we don't remember who these guys were either. All things pass.

Answer 4

This is referring to the Nephilim, the hybrid children of fallen angels and human women. They were "men of fame" or "men of renown" because they stood out physically and for their violent tendencies. Nephilim translated means "fellers of men".

It's possible that these real "men of renown" were the inspiration for myths about men that were half-human, half-god, like Hercules.

Answer 5

Sho, I think it was the Gibborim, although the terms are sometimes used to mean the same thing. It's a bit vague, but supposedly the flood wiped them out or something. Maybe they rode off on the dinosaurs.

Answer 6

THESE WERE THE OFFSPRING OF THE COHABITATION BETWEEN THE FALLEN ANGELS AND WOMEN OF THE EARTH. THE BOOK OF JUDE MENTIONS THESE FALLEN ANGELS . IT SAYS THEY LEFT THEIR PLACE OF HABITATION. OTHER BIBLES SAY THEY LEFT THEIR POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY AND ABANDONED THEIR OWN HOME, SAME THING. THEY LEFT THEIR PLACE IN HEAVEN AND CAME TO EARTH AND HAD CHILDREN WITH THE WOMEN OF EARTH. THESE CHILDREN WERE CALLED THE MEN OF RENOWN. HOPE IT HELPS. MGB

Answer 7

Sons of the angels and the women on the earth. That were mighty, smart, and someway holy, so they became well known on the earth.

Answer 8

These were angels who materialized fleshly bodies for themselves and the Nephilum, their offspring which resulted from the unnatural union of these angels and the human women which they had sex with.

Answer 9

Nephilim.

When the Jews were going around killing all of the other non-Yahweh worshippers and they claimed that their gods were manifestations of the devil and their heroes, like Hercules, were nephilim-- Half angel - half man.

Answer 10

They were Nephilium. Daughters of man and offspring of angels.