1 Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. Genesis 6:1–2 (NKJV)

1 And Noah lived five hundred years, and Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. And it happened when humans began to become numerous upon the earth, and they had daughters, 2 the angels of God, having seen the daughters of humans, that they were beautiful, took for themselves women from all whom they picked out. Genesis 6:1–2 (LES2)

Verse one of chapter six in the LXX is the last verse of chapter five in the MT.

The big difference here is that the MT uses the indefinite term “sons of God,” which can mean angels or men; whereas, the LXX uses the word “angels,” leaving no doubt. 

Chapter six of the Book of 1 Enoch describes a conspiracy of fallen angels who took an oath to bind themselves to disobey God and transgress in this regard, bringing judgment on themselves and catastrophe upon the earth and its creatures. First Enoch is quoted (Jude 14-15) and referenced (Matthew 19:28, 22:30, 25:31-32, 1 Peter 3:19-20, 2 Peter 2:4-5, 3:13, Jude 6, and Revelation 21) in the New Testament, even though it is not considered canonical. The early church was familiar with it and apparently thought it was the Word of God. The Ethiopian Church still considers it to be part of its canon of scripture.

3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Genesis 6:3–4 (NKJV) 

3 The Lord God said, “My breath will certainly not reside in these humans for very long because they are flesh, but their days will be one hundred and twenty years.” 4 Now giants were upon the earth in those days, and after that, whenever the sons of God entered into the daughters of humans, they fathered children for themselves; those were the giants who were from long ago, the people of renown. Genesis 6:3–4 (LES2)

Here the MT says God’s Spirit will not strive with man forever, but the LXX says God’s breath (the same word as spirit) will not remain in men for very long, which seems to fit better with what follows – the limiting of the lifespans of humans. 

In verse 4, the LXX picks up the term “sons of God,” which seems to refer back to the angels who selected women with whom to have intercourse and beget children. The LXX says that the ones the MT calls “mighty men” were in fact giants. These were the Nephilim. The human genetic line was contaminated by fallen angels, which many believe was the underlying reason behind God’s destruction of the earth. These fallen hybrids were extremely evil, influencing those around them. The fallen angels were connecting with humans, passing on their own diabolical knowledge and attitude.

It is interesting that today mRNA vaccines threaten to modify human DNA and alter the human genome. Perhaps we are very close to God’s saying, “Enough.” Satan seems to be fixated on altering the genetics of humanity. God’s kingdom will be populated by those who are “born again” by God’s Spirit.

The Book of Enoch corroborates the LXX. 

All of them together (the Watcher angels) went and took wives for themselves, each choosing one for himself. They had sex with them and defiled themselves with them. They taught them charms and spells, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. The women became pregnant and gave birth to large giants, whose height was three thousand ells. (1 Enoch 7:1-3)

5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7 So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. Genesis 6:5–8 (NKJV) 

5 Now the Lord God saw that the wicked actions of humans multiplied upon the earth, and everyone was focused in his heart on evil things all their days. 6 And God reflected that he made humankind upon the earth and considered. 7 And God said, “I will discard humanity, whom I made, from the face of the earth, from human to animal, and from creeping things to winged birds of the heavens, because I am angry that I made them.” 8 But Noah found grace before the Lord God. Genesis 6:5–8 (LES2) 

Verse 6 in the LXX in the Brenton translation says:

…then God laid it to heart that he had made man upon the earth, and he pondered it deeply.

Nowhere does it say God was sorry, as if he made a mistake. Instead verse 7 in the LXX says that God was angry that he made men and at what men had become. But Noah found grace in his eyes. When God is angry, it is important to be one whom he favors!

9 This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. 13 And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Genesis 6:9–13 (NKJV) 

9 Now these are the generations of Noah: Noah, a righteous person who was perfect among his generation. Noah was pleasing to God. 10 Noah fathered three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 Now the earth was marred before God, and the earth was full of wrongdoing. 12 The Lord God saw the earth, and it was corrupted because all flesh was corrupting its way upon the earth. 13 God said to Noah, “The time of all humanity has come before me because the earth was full of wrongdoing from them, and, look, I am destroying them and the earth. Genesis 6:9–13 (LES2) 

The MT says that “this is the genealogy or generations of Noah,” but the LXX says “these are the beginnings of Noah.”  If we accept that a significant part of the problem that marred the earth was the corruption of the genome by fallen angels, pure beginnings and a undefiled genetic line would have been extremely important. The LXX says he was “perfect in his genesis or beginning.” Rather than the MT’s “Noah walked with God,” the LXX says, “Noah was pleasing to God.” How did Noah please God? Was it because he was without sin? Certainly not. Was it because he was a man of faith? Yes. Was it because he was genetically intact, which was pleasing to God? Possibly.

Both the MT and LXX say basically that the earth was ruined (corrupt and marred, but these words can also mean ruined). It was filled with injustice according to the LXX, which no doubt resulted in violence. The LXX says in verse 12 that the earth was “corrupted,” which is a stronger word than “married.” It means destroyed. All mankind was destroying God’s beautiful creation called earth, which continues to this day. 

God told Noah that he decided to destroy those who were destroying the earth along with all other air breathing creatures. The earth itself would be violently altered by what was coming. He said, “Times up!” 

Putting everything together, it seems that man’s sin plus the defilement and genetic corruption introduced by the fallen angels had escalated evil on the earth to an intolerable level. God understood that the only way to prolong his earth was to destroy it and build it back. Apparently the giant DNA was not completely eradicated since they appear after the flood in various places. Perhaps one or more of the wives of Noah’s sons had been tainted, or perhaps the evil angels continued their evil ways with human women.. This is a mystery.