I remember growing up, hearing about the Roman and Greek gods and being told that they are false gods or that they weren’t real. Although ancient people believed in the gods, they didn’t always think of them as equals struggling for power or like a Greek pantheon.
Bene Elohim
The Old Testament uses the term “elohim” for any being living in the unseen, spiritual realm. Another term, “bene elohim,” (ben-ae eloheem) is translated “sons of God.” But who are the bene elohim and what do they do? This term does not appear often, about eight or nine times, but it does occur in the oldest scriptures at important points. It occurs in key passages such as Genesis 6, Deuteronomy 32:8 and Psalm 82. We will get to each of these in the next few weeks but let’s begin in the book of Job.
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
Job 1:6–7 (ESV)
A Few Observations
- The sons of God were “presenting themselves” before the LORD.
- The “LORD” is Yahweh specifically. There is no doubt to whom the writer is referring.
- This event occurs after man was created and after the events of Genesis 3. Most scholars agree that Job was written roughly around the time of Abraham (after Gen. 11:9).
- This scene is repeated in chapter 2.
- Satan also shows up.
Satan is not really a name it is a position or role. It means Accuser or Adversary. It might be helpful to think of a prosecuting attorney. But why would Almighty God allow the Adversary into his presence along with all the other sons of God? Because God is good, wise and just and he has nothing to hide. He is unassailable and perfect in all his ways, or in religious terminology, he is holy. And all of the inhabitants of heaven know it.
“Sons of God” occurs again at the end of the book of Job. This is where God was questioning Job. Note the last verse.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7 when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:4–7 (ESV)
The term “morning stars” is an reference to heavenly beings, not giant balls of burning gas. It is helpful to know that some ancient cultures thought of the stars as heavenly beings. Jesus calls himself “the bright morning star” (Rev. 22:16). But notice, Job 38:7 places “all the sons of God” at creation and what did they do? They shouted for joy. Imagine that.
If we understand the term “sons of God” early on in the OT, it helps us understand the spiritual worldview of the people for whom it was written. It establishes a context for the rest of the OT scriptures and even some of the difficult passages in the New Testament (NT).
A Paradigm for Family
The “sons of God” are divine and not human. They witnessed creation before there were any people. They are intelligent nonhuman beings. The “sons” part also deserves attention. It is an important family term.
God has created a host of nonhuman divine beings whose domain is (to the human eyes) an unseen realm. And because he created them, he claims them as his sons, in the same way you claim your children as your sons and daughters because you played a part in their creation.
Michael Heiser, The Unseen Realm
If we don’t understand what the authors are alluding to, what they assumed their readers would understand, then we won’t understand parts of the Bible. Proper context is vital for interpretation. Old Testament writers, their readers, and New Testament writers all believed the “bene elohim” were real.
Questions
- Why do you think we don’t hear sermons or a bible study about the Sons of God?
- Job 38:7 says all the sons of God shouted for joy. Why do you think this is significant?
- Can you think of another time in scripture when a lot of divine beings gave praise to God?
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