The Human Race Grows More Evil

6 The number of people on earth began to ·grow [multiply], and daughters were born to them. ² When the ·sons of God [^Cmay refer to godly men among Seth’s descendants (ch. 5), or noble men, or angels] saw that ·these girls [^Lthe daughters of men/human beings; ^Ceither evil women among Cain’s descendants (4:17–24), poor women, or simply mortal women] were beautiful, they married any of them they chose [^Cthough their identity is unclear, their marriage clearly violated a boundary]. ³ The Lord said, “My Spirit will not ·remain in [or contend with] human beings forever, because they are ·flesh [mortal]. ·They will live [^LTheir days will be] only 120 years.”

⁴ The ·Nephilim [^Lfallen ones; ^Cthe significance of the name is unclear] were on the earth in those days and also later. That was when the sons of God ·had sexual relations with [^Lcame in to] the daughters of ·human beings [^Tman; ^CHebrew: Adam; 1:27–28]. These women gave birth to children ·who became famous [^Lmen of a name] and were the mighty warriors of long ago. [^CThe Nephilim of Num. 13:31–33, though not related genealogically, were giants, suggesting these pre-flood Nephilim were also.]