Daniel 2:43: If “They” are Assumed to be Fallen Angels
Daniel 2:43: If “They” are Assumed to be Fallen Angels
In Christian circles, there is a debate between different interpretations of Genesis 6:1-4, as to whether the “sons of God” references to the Godly sons of Seth, or if it references to fallen angels. The offspring of these unions between the sons of God and the daughters of men are termed by the Bible as “Nephilim”. They are described as “mighty men of old, men of renown”.
Many of those in the camp who believe that the “Nephilim” were fathered by fallen angels, also believe that the Nephilim were not human, but something more akin to demon-people, or demons souls in mortal bodies. And many put forth the idea that when the mortal bodies of the Nephilim died, that their spirits lived on as the demons that are mentioned throughout the rest of the Bible. And of those in this camp, some Christians believe that Nephilim/hybrids may be being born today, believe they are being born today, or may be in the near future. And of them, some use Dan 2:43 to attempt to support this modern Nephilim/hybridization view.
This article’s purpose is to address such an interpretation of Dan 2:43, as this passage of scripture is often used by people in certain circles, to support the idea that modern Nephilim/hybridization is taking place, or will take place, in the last days before Jesus’ return.
Here are 3 different translations of Dan 2:43, two from the Hebrew, and one from the Greek Septuagint, with Strong’s numbers referenced in. Let’s take a close look at Daniel 2:43
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed(6151) with miry clay, they shall mingle(6151) themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave(1693) one to another, even as iron is not mixed(6151) with clay.” Hebrew, KJV
“And in that you saw the iron mixed(6151) with common clay, they will combine(6151) with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere(1693) to one another, even as iron does not combine(6151) with pottery.” Hebrew, NASB
“Whereas thou sawest the iron mixed(4874) with earthenware, they shall be mingled(4874) with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave(4347) together, as the iron does not mix itself with earthenware.” Greek, Septuagint
In the Hebrew “arab” (6151) “mingle, mix, combine” is only used here in the OT and in Dan 2:41 as “iron mixed with clay” again. The word “arab” is most closely related to another word, “arab” (6148) which means “to traffic as in barter, to give or be security as a kind of exchange”. (Strong’s) It also means “have fellowship with or share in”. (BDB)
In the Greek, “mixed” and “mingled” are the same word (4874) which means to “associate with or have company with”.
These words do not refer to sexual interaction.
In the Hebrew “debaq” (1693) “cleave, adhere” is used only here, but is related to the more usual word “dabaq” (1692) which is very similar, and is used in Genesis as “cleave unto his wife”.
In the Greek “cleave” is (4347) “pros-kollao”, and is used several times in the New Testament. It means “to glue upon, stick to, join oneself to closely”.
In Eph 5:31, Matt 19:5, and Mk 10:7, the term “pros-kollao” is used as “join” or “cleave” in the phrase, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
Because this “cleaving” of man and wife might seem ambiguous as to whether sex is implied, or some more purely spiritual joining or marriage, I want to point out that the root and usual form of “pros-kollao” is (2853) “kollao”, which like “pros-kollao”, also means “to glue, join, or fasten firmly together, to cleave”.
Here is a clear Greek usage for (2853) “kollao” in the NT:
1 Cor 6:15-16 “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make [them] the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined(2853) to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.”
The word “pros” (4314) in composition means “direction or motion to a goal”. So (4347) “pros-kollao” literally can mean “towards sex” and can be referencing to sex as much as (2853) “kollao” which contextually means to join sexually. “Cleaving” and “joining” can therefore mean sexual interaction.
Now that these terms in Dan 2:43 have been defined in the Hebrew and Greek, lets just clarify and re-examine this verse in the Hebrew and the Greek, based on these words more detailed meanings.
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed(6151) with miry clay, they shall “traffic as in barter, give or be security as a kind of exchange, have fellowship with or share in”(6151) themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not “cleave or join sexually” (1693) one to another, even as iron is not mixed(6151) with clay.” Hebrew, KJV
“Whereas thou sawest the iron mixed(4874) with earthenware, they shall “associate with or have company”(4874) with the seed of men: but they shall not “cleave or join sexually”(4347) together, as the iron does not mix itself with earthenware.” Greek, Septuagint
While I do not believe it is the case (see my accompanying article), let’s just assume for the sake or argument that the “they” and “them” in Dan 2:43 really is talking about fallen angels in the first place, as other Christians have proposed…
What Daniel could be saying by “mingling” is that there will be traffic, association, bartering, and exchange of the “seed of men” by fallen angels. The scripture would allow for this, if “they” are fallen angels. And the terms traffic, exchange, security, arguably have the implication of mistreatment, and a violation of rights like people are objects to be trafficked in. In this proposed case, the fallen angels are bartering in “the seed of men”, but don’t join sexually with the “seed of men”. But what is meant by the phrase “seed of men”?
One meaning of the phrase “seed of men” is the children of men, generations, or just plainly, humans.
I’ve heard of many “alien abduction” accounts in which people describe they had sex with “aliens”, and usually they are cases of rape, besides all the accounts of sexual molestation. I have also heard cases of incubus and succubus attacks that are similar in the sexual violation, by often invisible spiritual entities. Along with these accounts, are those accounts of people who have stopped these experiences in the name and authority of Jesus Christ, which demonstrates these experiences are caused by evil spiritual beings, or fallen angels.
That being the case, if these modern days are the last days, then how can Dan 2:43 mean that fallen angels will mingle with humans, but not join sexually? As cleaving here means a sexual joining, then the scripture would contradict reality if the scripture was claiming that fallen angels won’t have sexual interactions with people- because they do. Multiple alien abduction, incubus and succubus accounts confirm this. As sexual interaction is taking place, if the “seed of men” refers to humans in general, then Dan 2:43 would blatantly contradict reality if “they” are fallen angels that would not sexually interact with humans in the last days. So an interpretation like this is out.
But I don’t think that is what the verse is saying. I think the verse is referring not to fallen angels mingling/trafficking with humans themselves, but rather, that the fallen angels are mingling/trafficking with the reproductive “seed” of men. Let’s look at the verse again:
“And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed (2234) of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.” –KJV
If “they” are assumed to be fallen angels, then “seed” here must have an unusual meaning, and cannot just mean “humans”. The word for “seed” (2234) above in Hebrew is only used here in the entire Old Testament. This word “seed” (2234) is most closely related to the word “seed” (2233) which many times is used to refer simply to plant seeds, the actual reproductive genetic material of the plant. It is also used to refer to descendents. However, I think the plant seed definition fits closer to the prophetic meaning which God meant here. In this sense, I think that “seed of men” could refer not to people, but to the genetic reproductive material of men and women, namely eggs and sperm.
That the word “seed” (2233) can having this meaning is confirmed in Lev 15:16, 19:20
“And if any man’s seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.”
“`And when a man lieth with a woman with seed of copulation, and she a maid-servant, betrothed to a man, and not really ransomed, or freedom hath not been given to her, an investigation there is; they are not put to death, for she [is] not free.”
And arguably also in Gen 38:9,
“And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled [it] on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.”
As such, what Dan 2:43 really would say – is that fallen angels will traffic/mingle with the “seed of men” in a more “reproductive component” sense (eggs/sperm), but that the fallen angels will NOT sexually join themselves to the “seed of men” (eggs/sperm).
“Seed of men” must be defined as “genetic material” and not as “humans”, in order for this verse to not contradict reality. In many modern cases fallen angels are reported to be sexually joining with humans: if “seed of men” is defined as “humans” then this is the exact thing that the verse says will not happen. The verse says “they will not cleave one to another”. Therefore, the only other meaning for the word (2234) is “seed” of men as in genetic material (eggs/sperm) of humans. As such, if “they” are assumed to be fallen angels, then the fallen angels will not cleave (join sexually) with the reproductive material of humans. This interpretation makes the scripture to not completely contradict reality, and prophetically shows there are no modern day hybrids, nor will there be.
So as ironic as it is, the main verse that some Christians have been using to show that there would be hybrids in the end times, I think actually would prove that there will be no hybrids, and that is assuming this verse is even applicable. (I do not actually believe it is applicable.) The meaning becomes clear when this verse is actually studied in the Hebrew and Greek with more than a cursory glance.
If “they” are assumed to be fallen angels, then the interpretation of the verse needs to be applied consistently. Fallen angels have sex with people – the modern accounts of supernatural sexual attacks are firm and consistent – so this verse cannot be saying otherwise. The only other explanation is that fallen angels are trafficking in, but themselves not sexually joining with, the reproductive material of humans.
This interpretation fits both modern abductions accounts, and the Hebrew and Greek of Dan 2:43. In conclusion, there is no actual joining of the fallen angels with human eggs/sperm and therefore no interbreeding or hybridization. As a prophecy, if “they” are assumed to be fallen angels, then this prophecy must state that fallen angels will not join themselves with the reproductive material of humans in the last days, as it cannot state that fallen angels will not be engaged in sexual attacks on humans, and therefore the prophecy is that there will not be hybrids or Nephilim in the last days.
Paradox Brown