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Genesis 6:1 Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 6:1 Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/6-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/01_Gen_06_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 6:1 - Corruption on the Earth" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them," /><script type="application/javascript" 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id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/5-32.htm" title="Genesis 5:32">◄</a> Genesis 6:1 <a href="/genesis/6-2.htm" title="Genesis 6:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/6.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/6.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/6.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then the people began to multiply on the earth, and daughters were born to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/6.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/6.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/6.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/6.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/6.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now it came about, when mankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/6.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/6.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/6.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/6.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/6.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/6.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/6.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/6.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born unto them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/6.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The number of people increased all over the earth, and daughters were born to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/6.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When people had spread all over the world, and daughters were being born, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/6.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now after the population of human beings had increased throughout the earth, and daughters had been born to them, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/6.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/6.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/6.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And it happened, when humankind began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/6.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/6.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />When men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/6.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass that mankind has begun to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters have been born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/6.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass that mankind have begun to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters have been born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/6.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it shall be when man begins to multiply upon the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/6.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And after that men began to be multiplied upon the earth, and daughters were born to them. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/6.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And when men began to be multiplied upon the earth, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/6.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />When human beings began to grow numerous on the earth and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/6.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/6.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />AND it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/6.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And it was that when sons of men began to multiply on the face of the Earth and daughters were born to them,<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/6.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/6.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass when men began to be numerous upon the earth, and daughters were born to them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/6-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=1244" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/6.htm">Corruption on the Earth</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">Now</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">when</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: hā·’ā·ḏām (Art:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">men</a> <a href="/hebrew/2490.htm" title="2490: hê·ḥêl (V-Hifil-Perf-3ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to bore, i.e. to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane, to break, to begin; denom. to play.">began</a> <a href="/hebrew/7231.htm" title="7231: lā·rōḇ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- A primitive root; properly, to cast together, i.e. Increase, especially in number; also to multiply by the myriad.">to multiply</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: pə·nê (N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">the face</a> <a href="/hebrew/127.htm" title="127: hā·’ă·ḏā·māh (Art:: N-fs) -- Ground, land. From 'adam; soil.">of the earth</a> <a href="/hebrew/1323.htm" title="1323: ū·ḇā·nō·wṯ (Conj-w:: N-fp) -- Daughter. From banah; a daughter.">and daughters</a> <a href="/hebrew/3205.htm" title="3205: yul·lə·ḏū (V-QalPass-Perf-3cp) -- A primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage.">were born</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- ">to them,</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/24-37.htm">Matthew 24:37-39</a></span><br />As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. / For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. / And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away. So will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/17-26.htm">Luke 17:26-27</a></span><br />Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man: / People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/3-19.htm">1 Peter 3:19-20</a></span><br />in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison / who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-4.htm">2 Peter 2:4-5</a></span><br />For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; / if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jude/1-6.htm">Jude 1:6-7</a></span><br />And the angels who did not stay within their own domain but abandoned their proper dwelling—these He has kept in eternal chains under darkness, bound for judgment on that great day. / In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-7.htm">Hebrews 11:7</a></span><br />By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/22-15.htm">Job 22:15-16</a></span><br />Will you stay on the ancient path that wicked men have trod? / They were snatched away before their time, and their foundations were swept away by a flood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/11-10.htm">1 Corinthians 11:10</a></span><br />For this reason a woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head, because of the angels.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/4-6.htm">1 Peter 4:6</a></span><br />That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/5-12.htm">Romans 5:12-14</a></span><br />Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned. / For sin was in the world before the law was given; but sin is not taken into account when there is no law. / Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin in the way that Adam transgressed. He is a pattern of the One to come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/3-5.htm">2 Peter 3:5-6</a></span><br />But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, / through which the world of that time perished in the flood.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/54-9.htm">Isaiah 54:9</a></span><br />“For to Me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/14-14.htm">Ezekiel 14:14</a></span><br />then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in it, their righteousness could deliver only themselves, declares the Lord GOD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/15-14.htm">Job 15:14-16</a></span><br />What is man, that he should be pure, or one born of woman, that he should be righteous? / If God puts no trust in His holy ones, if even the heavens are not pure in His eyes, / how much less man, who is vile and corrupt, who drinks injustice like water?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/14-2.htm">Psalm 14:2-3</a></span><br />The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God. / All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,</p><p class="hdg">A.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a></b></br> And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/revelation/11-17.htm">Begun</a> <a href="/genesis/5-30.htm">Born</a> <a href="/genesis/5-30.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/genesis/5-29.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/4-16.htm">Face</a> <a href="/genesis/5-29.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/genesis/3-16.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/2_peter/1-8.htm">Increasing</a> <a href="/revelation/19-18.htm">Mankind</a> <a href="/genesis/3-16.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/genesis/4-14.htm">Surface</a> <a href="/genesis/4-26.htm">Time</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/10-9.htm">Begun</a> <a href="/genesis/10-1.htm">Born</a> <a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Daughters</a> <a href="/genesis/6-4.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/6-7.htm">Face</a> <a href="/genesis/6-7.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/genesis/9-1.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/genesis/26-13.htm">Increasing</a> <a href="/genesis/6-7.htm">Mankind</a> <a href="/genesis/7-17.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/genesis/6-7.htm">Surface</a> <a href="/genesis/6-5.htm">Time</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 6</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/6-1.htm">The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/6-8.htm">Noah finds grace.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/6-9.htm">His family line</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/6-14.htm">The order, form, dimensions, and building of the ark.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3753401421161123"; /* 200 x 200 Parallel Bible */ google_ad_slot = "7676643937"; google_ad_width = 200; google_ad_height = 200; //--> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/genesis/6.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Now when men began to multiply</b><br />The phrase "Now when men began to multiply" marks a significant transition in the narrative of Genesis. The Hebrew word for "men" here is "אָדָם" (adam), which can refer to humanity in general. This multiplication signifies the fulfillment of God's command to "be fruitful and multiply" (<a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a>). It reflects a period of population growth and expansion across the earth. Historically, this era could be seen as a time when early human societies began to form, leading to increased social complexity and interaction. Theologically, it underscores the spread of human life as part of God's creative purpose, yet it also sets the stage for the ensuing moral decline that prompts divine intervention.<p><b>on the face of the earth</b><br />The phrase "on the face of the earth" emphasizes the geographical and universal scope of humanity's expansion. The Hebrew word for "earth" is "אֶרֶץ" (erets), which can mean land, country, or the entire world. This expression suggests that human beings were spreading across the entire planet, fulfilling their God-given mandate to inhabit and steward the earth. It also foreshadows the global impact of the events that follow, particularly the flood narrative. From a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the belief in a historical Adam and Eve whose descendants populated the earth, aligning with a literal interpretation of the Genesis account.<p><b>and daughters were born to them</b><br />The mention of "daughters" being born highlights the natural process of human reproduction and the continuation of family lines. In Hebrew, "daughters" is "בָּנוֹת" (banot), which is significant in the context of the subsequent verses where the "sons of God" take notice of these daughters. This phrase sets the stage for the controversial interactions between the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men," which have been the subject of much theological debate. Historically, this could reflect the increasing complexity of human relationships and societal structures. Theologically, it points to the inherent value and dignity of women as part of God's creation, while also introducing the moral challenges that arise from human choices and interactions.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/6.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div><span class= "bld">VI.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">When men (the adam)</span> <span class= "bld">began to multiply.</span>--The multiplication of the race of Adam was probably comparatively slow, because of the great age to which each patriarch attained before his first-born was brought into the world: though, as the name given is not necessarily that of the eldest, but of the son who enjoyed the birthright, it does not follow that in every case the one named was absolutely the eldest son. There may have been other substitutions besides that of Seth for Cain; and Noah, born when his father was 182 years of age, seems a case in point. He was selected to be the restorer of mankind because of his piety, and may have had many brothers and sisters older than himself. Each patriarch, however, begat "sons and daughters," and as we find Cain building a city, he must have seen, at all events, the possibility of a considerable population settling round him. It was probably, as we saw above, about the time of Enoch that the corruption of the family of Adam began to become general.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/6.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1, 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And it came to pass.</span> Literally, <span class="accented">it was</span>; 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 <a href="/genesis/4-26.htm">Genesis 4:26</a>. <span class="cmt_word">When men</span> - <span class="accented">ha'adham</span>, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the human race in general, and not the posterity of Cain in particular (Ainsworth, Rosenmüller, Bush) - <span class="cmt_word">began to multiply</span> - in virtue of the Divine blessing (<a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a>) - <span class="cmt_word">on</span> (or over) <span class="cmt_word">the face of the earth</span>. "Alluding to the population spreading itself out as well as increasing" (Bonar). <span class="cmt_word">And daughters were born unto them.</span> Not referring to any special increase of the female sex (Lange), but simply indicating the quarter whence the danger to the pious Sethites rose: "<span class="accented">who</span> became snares to the race of Seth" (Wordsworth). <span class="cmt_word">That the sons of God</span>. <span class="accented">Bene-ha Elohim</span>. <p><span class="Text_Heading">1.</span> Not young men of the upper ranks, as distinguished from maidens of humble birth (<span class="accented">Onk</span>., Jon., Sym., Aben Ezra); an opinion which "may now be regarded as exploded" (Lange). <p><span class="Text_Heading">2.</span> Still less the angels (LXX., - some MSS. having <span class="greek">ἄγγελοι τοῦ</span> <span class="greek">θεοῦ</span>, - <span class="accented">Philo</span>, Josephus, Justin Martyr, Clement, Tertullian, Luther, Gesenius, Rosenmüller, Von Bohlen, Ewald, Baumgarten, Delitzsch, Kurtz, Hengstenberg, Alford); for <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> they are either <span class="accented">good</span> angels, in which case they might be rightly styled sons of God (<a href="/psalms/29-1.htm">Psalm 29:1</a>; <a href="/psalms/89-7.htm">Psalm 89:7</a>; <a href="/job/1-6.htm">Job 1:6</a>; <a href="/job/2-1.htm">Job 2:1</a>; <a href="/job/38-7.htm">Job 38:7</a>; <a href="/daniel/3-25.htm">Daniel 3:25</a>), though it is doubtful if this expression does not denote their official rather than natural relationship to God, but it is certain they would not be guilty of the sin here referred to; or they are bad angels, in which ease they might readily enough commit the sin, if it were possible, but certainly they would not be called "the sons of God." . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/6-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now</span><br /><span class="heb">וַֽיְהִי֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·hî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">when</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">men</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽאָדָ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">began</span><br /><span class="heb">הֵחֵ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(hê·ḥêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2490.htm">Strong's 2490: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to multiply</span><br /><span class="heb">לָרֹ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(lā·rōḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7231.htm">Strong's 7231: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cast together, increase, in number, to multiply by the myriad</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the face</span><br /><span class="heb">פְּנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(pə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the earth</span><br /><span class="heb">הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_127.htm">Strong's 127: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ground, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and daughters</span><br /><span class="heb">וּבָנ֖וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(ū·ḇā·nō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1323.htm">Strong's 1323: </a> </span><span class="str2">A daughter</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were born</span><br /><span class="heb">יֻלְּד֥וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yul·lə·ḏū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - QalPass - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3205.htm">Strong's 3205: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to them,</span><br /><span class="heb">לָהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(lā·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/6-1.htm">Genesis 6:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/6-1.htm">OT Law: Genesis 6:1 It happened when men began to multiply (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/5-32.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 5:32"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 5:32" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/6-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 6:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 6:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>