The Meaning of Genesis 6:2 Explained

Genesis 6:2

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

YLT: and sons of God see the daughters of men that they are fair, and they take to themselves women of all whom they have chosen.

Darby: that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and took themselves wives of all that they chose.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 6:2 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 6:1-8 - The Wickedness Of Men
When a son was born to Lamech, he named him Noah, which means "Rest."He thought that the boy would grow up to share and alleviate the strain of daily toil. But his hope was premature: rest was not yet: the Deluge would soon sweep over the works of men. The world must await the true Rest-giver, who said, "Come unto Me." It was an age of abounding wickedness, but the language describing it is obscure. Some think that "the sons of God" were fallen angels; others that the seed of Seth became joined in marriage with the daughters of Cain. But God's Spirit strove with man, and though a limit was put to His pleadings, yet He sought men with yearning remonstrance, till His Holy Spirit received the final negative and turned away disappointed and grieved. There was considerable delay. For 120 years the Spirit of God waited. See 1 Peter 3:20. He will not wait for ever, Luke 13:9. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 6

1  The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath
8  Noah finds grace
9  His family line
14  The order, form, dimensions, and building of the ark

What do the individual words in Genesis 6:2 mean?

that saw the sons of God - the daughters of men that [were] beautiful they and they took for themselves wives of all whomever they chose
וַיִּרְא֤וּ בְנֵי־ הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת־ בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם כִּ֥י טֹבֹ֖ת הֵ֑נָּה וַיִּקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ נָשִׁ֔ים מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּחָֽרוּ

וַיִּרְא֤וּ  that  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בְנֵי־  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙  of  God 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בְּנ֣וֹת  the  daughters 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
הָֽאָדָ֔ם  of  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
כִּ֥י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
טֹבֹ֖ת  [were]  beautiful 
Parse: Adjective, feminine plural
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
וַיִּקְח֤וּ  and  they  took 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
לָהֶם֙  for  themselves 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
נָשִׁ֔ים  wives 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.
מִכֹּ֖ל  of  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  whomever 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בָּחָֽרוּ  they  chose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בָּחוּר 
Sense: to choose, elect, decide for.