We have now come to chapter six of the Book of Genesis, and sometimes it seems that in an effort to support their understanding of creation, and how we get from there to the Genesis Flood, the scholars dump all their garbage here in chapter six. If God created all there is in the heavens and the earth in six days, and an angelic being, whom we call Satan tempted the man and the woman, when did the rebellion in heaven take place? Well, there’s no place like chapter six—the angels rebelled here and took women for their wives! How a spirit being would have sexual intercourse with a physical being isn’t said, but how much can one say about garbage. Put it here, and then move on.
Next, we have the Flood, itself. Was it really worldwide, or was it local? The Bible says worldwide, but come on. Really? Where did all the water come from? Where did all the water go? These are questions that trouble many scholars, and because they have no answers, they conclude the Flood must have been local! If this were true, why would Noah have to save the animals? Why would he have to build an ark? Why not simply move to another valley, until the flood waters disappear? Well, dump the garbage here, and forget about it. There’s a whole Bible to read yet, and this is only the first book! Well, the computer age has offered us a saying that applies here: “Garbage in! Garbage out! However, one wishes to term it, it’s no way to treat the word of God.
Genesis 6:1 ranks right up there with Genesis 3:11, “Who told you that you were naked?” as far as an interpretation is concerned. Scholars simply stumble and fall flat on their faces, when offering a decent interpretation of these verses. Shame on them; they should know better. Mistakes in interpretation will occur no matter who is explaining the word of God. But, really… “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them…” How could mankind multiply over all the earth without daughters? If females are necessary for mankind to reproduce in the first place, what does it mean that “daughters” were born to men/mankind once mankind began to multiply its population? Moreover, and just as important, why would God be angry, mankind began to multiply across the face of the earth? Isn’t that what he commanded in the first place (Genesis 1:28)?
If you’re reading this from my website, look at the motto below the name of my blog. It says “Question Authority!” I believe, if we question the translator’s choice of the English word, daughter, and ask, if another English word would apply better at Genesis 6:1, I think we’d be on the right track. The Hebrew word for daughters is bath (H1323). The word is usually translated daughter (277 times) or daughters (245 times). However, is also translated towns (27 times) and villages (12 times). How would changing the English word to towns or villages change the meaning of the verse?
“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and villages were brought forth unto them…” (Genesis 6:1).[1]
What do you think? Well, as far as I’m concerned, there’s no question that this makes a lot more sense than translating the word to daughters. When men would begin to multiply across the face of the earth, many would group together and create sizable towns and villages. This makes a lot more sense than what the translators have offered us. But, how would this affect the flow of scripture to where God says he intends to judge mankind? We’ll speak of that in the next two studies!
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[1] The Septuagint translators use the Greek word thugater (G2364), which is used in the New Covenant text for daughters. The English translators of the Septuagint translated thugater (G2365) into villages at Joshua 17:11 and Nehemiah 11:25, 27-28, 30-31. Then they translate the same Greek word into towns and at Judges 1:27. In each of these cases the Septuagint translators use thugater (G2364) to translate the Hebrew word, bath (H1323). In some cases, the English translators use daughter-towns to translate the Greek in those scriptures.
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