In antiquity, the "sons" of something were those who in some way partook of its nature. Thus, people were called "sons of men," the subjects of a kingdom were called "sons of the kingdom," and those who sow ruin were called "sons of wrath"; the "sons of God," therefore, are bodiless spirits who partake of the spiritual nature of God...
In antiquity, the "sons" of something were those who in some way partook of its nature. Thus, people were called "sons of men," the subjects of a kingdom were called "sons of the kingdom," and those who sow ruin were called "sons of wrath"; the "sons of God," therefore, are bodiless spirits who partake of the spiritual nature of God. This designation occurs several more times in the Bible, with the same meaning.
The daughters of men appear in this narrative for the following reason. Marriage in the Bible is one of the most frequent models, an image of the relationship between God and people. Therefore, the "marital relations" of bodiless spirits and the daughters of men are simply paganism: the worship of all sorts of water nymphs and other spirits that are not God. From this, the words of God in 6:3 become understandable and appropriate: "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever".
"Giants," as is clear from the above, are mighty beings whose appearance is associated with the emergence of paganism. We are talking about magicians, priests possessing dark magical secrets, and other sorcerers characteristic of paganism. Such a crowd indeed abounds in practically every pagan religion.
The whole narrative, therefore, speaks of the final falling away of people from God, when humanity begins to worship created beings instead of God, and through magic commits violence against the spiritual and material world. It is quite obvious that such humanity has nothing good to expect, and therefore the flood soon comes.
