The question of whether angels can reproduce is an interesting one that the Bible does not provide a definitive answer to. Angels are spiritual beings created by God, but the Bible is relatively silent on the specifics of how they relate to physical processes like reproduction. However, looking at the biblical evidence provides some helpful insights into this question.
The Nature of Angels
First, it is important to understand that angels are non-physical, spiritual beings (Hebrews 1:14). They do not have physical bodies in their natural state. Some angels in the Bible do take on human form temporarily, such as the angels who visited Abraham and Lot (Genesis 18-19). However, this is not their natural state. As spirit beings, angels do not have DNA, biology, or anatomy comparable to humans that would allow them to reproduce through sexual means.
Angels were all created directly by God, not through procreation. The book of Psalms describes angels as beings God “made” (Psalm 148:2,5). Hebrews 12:22 refers to “innumerable angels” created by God. So the Bible presents God as directly creating angels, not angels reproducing more angels.
Jesus stated in Matthew 22:30 that angels do not marry. This suggests they do not have spouses or engage in marital intimate relationships as humans understand them. While not definitive, this also points toward angels not reproducing sexually as humans do in the context of marriage.
So the non-physical nature of angels and their direct creation by God seems to imply that angels do not have the capacity for biological reproduction through sexual means. They do not have physical DNA passed down through generations like humans.
Accounts of Angelic Beings Reproducing
There are two main biblical accounts that appear on the surface to involve angelic beings reproducing in some fashion: Genesis 6:1-4 and Job 1:6. Looking closer at these passages provides insight into the question of angels reproducing.
Genesis 6:1-4 briefly describes a strange event when “sons of God” had children with “daughters of man.” There is debate about the identity of the “sons of God.” Some believe this refers to angels or other divine beings in Hebrew cosmology reproducing with humans. Others believe it refers to godly men from the line of Seth intermarrying with ungodly women. So there is ambiguity about whether this really describes angel/human reproduction.
Even if Genesis 6:1-4 does describe angels reproducing, the children produced were mortal human/hybrid offspring. It was not angels creating more eternal angelic beings like themselves. So this would not be angels directly reproducing more angels in their same image. At most, it shows angels could perhaps engage in some type of genetic mixing with humans that results in hybrid offspring.
Job 1:6 mentions “sons of God” presenting themselves before the Lord. Again, the identity of these beings is debated. If this does refer to angels, it indicates they have some type of spiritual offspring categorization. But this does not necessarily mean they reproduced those offspring through sexual means like humans. God directly created the angels, so He could also categorize groups of them as “sons” without sexual reproduction being involved.
So neither Genesis 6:1-4 nor Job 1:6 definitively demonstrate sexual reproduction by angels. The only potential evidence would be angel/human co-mingling capable of producing hybrid offspring in Genesis 6:1-4. But even this is debated. So the Bible does not clearly confirm angels can reproduce more angels.
Fallen Angels Seem to Lack Reproductive Capabilities
Looking at accounts of demonic spirits and fallen angels provides more insight. Satan and the fallen angels retain their angelic nature, even though they rebelled against God. Yet there are no accounts in the Bible of fallen angels reproducing more fallen angels.
Fallen angels in Genesis 6:1-4 could only reproduce strange hybrid offspring by mingling with humans. And demons in the New Testament seem unable to reproduce at all. Legion in Luke 8:30 begs Jesus to not send him into the abyss, suggesting demons cannot escape or reopen the abyss themselves to increase their numbers.
Revelation 12:4 describes Satan sweeping 1/3 of the stars from heaven. While often assumed to be symbolic language for angels falling from heaven, even if literal it would require God’s power to create those angels in the first place. This passage does not suggest Satan can create or reproduce other angels.
The lack of any biblical examples of fallen angels/demons reproducing more evil spirits like themselves further implies that angels in general lack inherent reproductive capabilities to breed more like themselves. There is biblical evidence to suggest they cannot.
No Biblical Evidence Angels Directly Reproduce
In conclusion, while the Bible does not directly state whether angels can reproduce, an examination of the evidence strongly implies they cannot:
- Angels are non-physical spirit beings, lacking humanlike biology needed to reproduce sexually.
- The Bible presents God directly creating and enumerating the angels, not angels reproducing.
- Jesus said angels do not marry, suggesting they do not reproduce as marital partners.
- Passages potentially showing angelic reproduction only describe co-mingling with humans to produce hybrid offspring, not more eternal angels in God’s direct image.
- Fallen angels and demons seem unable to reproduce more evil spirits like themselves.
So while the Bible does not explicitly say angels cannot reproduce, the weight of the biblical evidence strongly points in this direction. The notion of angels reproducing more angels like themselves is not clearly demonstrated in Scripture. There is simply no definitive biblical example of angels directly reproducing more of their own kind.