Sons Of God
Holman Bible Dictionary [1]
Psalm 82:1 Psalm 89:7 Job 1:6 Job 2:1 Job 38:7 Hosea 1:10
The expression sons of God employs a Hebrew idiom in which “son(s)” refers to participants in a class or in a state of being, and the second word describes the class or state of being. Thus, in Genesis 5:32 , Noah is said to be a “son of five hundred years,” meaning he was 500 years old. In English an adjective often best translates the second term, so that “divine beings” rather than “sons of God” would be a better rendition of the Hebrew. This accords with the NRSV's translation “heavenly beings” for “sons of gods” in Psalm 29:1; Psalm 89:6 .
In the New Testament, “sons of God” always refers to human beings who do God's will ( Matthew 5:9; Romans 8:14 ,Romans 8:14, 8:19 ). Similar expressions with the same meaning are to be found in Matthew 5:45; John 1:12; Romans 9:26 ( Hosea 1:10 ), and 2 Corinthians 6:18 . The usual designation of the heavenly beings in the New Testament is “angels.” See Angels; Divine Council; God; Son Of God .
Fred L. Horton, Jr.
Morrish Bible Dictionary [2]
This title is susceptible of considerable latitude of meaning and has various applications in scripture.
1. There were 'sons of God' who took wives of 'the daughters of men.' Genesis 6:4 . These are believed by some to have been angels, permitted to take human form: cf. Jude 6,7 . Others judge the descendants of Seth to be alluded to.
2. The angels who came to present themselves to God in the days of Job, and who shouted for joy when the foundations of the earth were laid, are called 'sons of God.' Job 1:6; Job 2 : l; Job 38:7 .
3. The Gentiles, who had no place at all as God's people, were to be called 'sons of the living God.' Hosea 1:10 .
4. Christians, those led of God's Spirit, in the present dispensation are declared to be 'sons of God.' Romans 8:14,19; Galatians 4:6 . It is their calling according to God's purpose. See SON.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [3]
Sons Of God . See Children of God.
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [4]
See Children of God.
Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia [5]
The descendants of Seth were called by the name of the Lord ( Genesis 4:25,26 ). This is not true in reference to the descendants of Cain. The servants of God in all ages have been called the sons of God ( Job 1:6; Romans 8:14; 1 John 3:2 ). The character of Seth's descendants proves that they were the sons of God ( Genesis 5:3-29; Genesis 6:9; Genesis 7:1 ). The character of Cain's descendants proves that they were not the sons of God, for Cain Himself was a murderer, a fugitive, and vagabond ( Genesis 4:8-14 ), and his descendants were polygamists and murderers ( Genesis 4:17-23 ).
