Genesis 6:2

What is the significance of? GENESIS 6:2

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Let’s take a look at the passage:

"And it came to pass when men began to be numerous upon the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the Angels of God having seen the daughters of men that they were beautiful, took to themselves wives of all whom they chose. And the Lord God said, My Spirit shall certainly not remain among these men forever, because they are flesh, but their days shall be an hundred and twenty years. Now the giants were upon the earth in those days; and after that when the Angels of God were wont to go in to the daughters of men, they bore children to them, those were the giants of old, the men of renown."

The Hebrew original of the word “men” at the beginning of the passage appears as “Bnei Elohi-m” in the original Hebrew. Our sages explain that Bnei Elohi-m means “the sons of princes” or “judges.” It could also mean “messengers of G-d.” Indeed the word “Elohi-m” always refers to someone of authority.

On the words “that they were beautiful” our sage explain that this is an expression of immorality. It is explained that those of authority would kidnap brides on their wedding day (“when they were beautiful”) and would use them for immoral purposes. Similarly, on the words “of all whom they chose” the sages explain that it means even a married woman, even males, and even animals.

It was behavior such as this that led G-d to bring the flood and destroy the world.

Rashi Commentary to Genesis 6