Angels & The Divine Council: Part 3

ANGELS AND THE DIVINE COUNCIL

PART 3

GENESIS CHAPTER 6

This section of scripture is the most neglected and the most controversial, when actually discussed, part of the Bible.  Very few Christians want to believe the literal information it appears to deliver.  The modern, civilized, conservatively educated mindset just cannot accept or acknowledge the concept of heavenly beings mating with human women.  Greek and Roman (and others) stories of ‘gods, ‘goddesses’, titans, and part-beast/part-human chimeras are considered myths and the products of highly creative imaginations.

Genesis 6:1-5 NET  When humankind began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,  (2)  the sons of God saw that the daughters of humankind were beautiful. Thus they took wives for themselves from any they chose.  (3)  So the LORD said, "My spirit will not remain in humankind indefinitely, since they are mortal. They will remain for 120 more years."  (4)  The Nephilim were on the earth in those days (and also after this) when the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind, who gave birth to their children. They were the mighty heroes of old, the famous men.  (5)  But the LORD saw that the wickedness of humankind had become great on the earth. Every inclination of the thoughts of their minds was only evil all the time.

The Sethite View:  What has come to be called the Sethite view became the majority view of this passage somewhere around 400 AD.  It was designed and developed to extract the supernatural aspect out of this passage.  The supernatural view only requires that readers accept that heavenly supernatural entities exist and can physically interact with humans.

This view essentially states that the linage of Seth were godly men and the women of Cain’s linage were ungodly.  Marriage between these two linages was forbidden but the godly men of Seth married the ungodly women of Cain.  This erased this separation of the two groups producing much evil which incurred the wrath of God and resulted in a devastating flood.

Problems with the Sethite View

1.     The proof that the men of Seth worshipped God (only) comes from Genesis 4:26.  This verse never states or implies that only Sethite men worshipped the Lord.  This idea only comes from the commentator’s imagination.

And a son was also born to Seth, whom he named Enosh. At that time people began to worship the LORD.  (Genesis 4:26 NET)

2.    How is it that giants are the result of human to human procreation?

3.    The scripture never refers to the women as daughters of Cain, but the daughters of humankind or men.

4.    Are the Sethite men the “sons of God”?  Other scripture references to “sons of God” would be difficult or unbiblical to consider them as human men.

5.    Why would any human to human marriage be prohibited?  There were no marriage laws given until Moses.

6.    If the Sethite males were godly, why did they not survive the flood?  When the Lord saw ”that the wickedness of humankind had become great”, it must have included the Sethites because they were not on the Ark.  If Noah and his sons were Sethites, then only 4 people of Seth were godly.

Sethite Issues in the New Testament

Other issues with the Sethite view surface in the New Testament.  Peter specifically states that God punished the “angels when they sinned” but spared Noah and seven other individuals.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment, and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world,   (2 Peter 2:4-5 NET)

Jude does not mention the Flood but is describing the identical episode due to listing the identical punishment of the angels as Peter.  He also mentions the sexual immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah as does Peter.

You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day. So also Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring towns, since they indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in a way similar to these angels, are now displayed as an example by suffering the punishment of eternal fire.  (Jude 1:6-7 NET)

What sin is Peter and Jude referring to?  There is only one possibility:  Heavenly divine beings adopting planet Earth as their permanent home and taking human women as wives.  Notice the wording of scripture states they “took wives” as anyone else would take a wife.  There is no indication of force or violence.

Jude comments the angels “kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation”.  They were not forbidden to enter the dimension of earth, perhaps with permission, but were not permitted to live and interact as an earth dweller. However, these divine beings decided to be earth dwellers, take a human wife, and procreate offspring.

Many non-canonical books describe the Genesis 6 events in great detail such as the Book of Jubilees and 1 Enoch.  The book of 1 Enoch adds a significant amount of additional information such as the names of various divine beings who “left their own (heavenly) habitation”.  Enoch writes that Mt. Hermon is the place where the divine beings transferred from the heavenly realm to the earthly dimension.  The divine beings, called Watchers by Enoch, were imprisoned by God prior to the Flood of Noah.  It is possible the different DNA of the “Watchers” produced the increased height and size of the half-divine offspring.  Some writers and commentators have suggested the “Watchers” were experimenting with DNA transfers and not actually mating with human women.  There are many questions and very few answers.  It would probably be best not to rely on the book of Enoch for actual information.  However, given the development of the Sethite theory during the 300’s may give insight as to the reason the book was rejected as canonical.

1st Enoch 6: 1. And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. 2. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: 'Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.' 3. And Semjâzâ, who was their leader, said unto them: 'I fear ye will not indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great sin.' 4. And they all answered him and said: 'Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations not to abandon this plan but to do this thing.' 5. Then sware they all together and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it. 6. And they were in all two hundred; who descended ⌈in the days⌉ of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn and bound themselves by mutual imprecations upon it.

The watchers or divine beings were punished by God.  1^st Enoch, chapters 9-11, state the watchers were punished during the time of Noah, prior to the Flood.  Peter verifies this by writing that God “threw them into hell” where they are chained in total darkness.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell (Tartarus) and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,  (2 Peter 2:4 NET)

The word “hell” is not the expected Hades, abyss, or bottomless pit but Tartarus.  Here is an excerpt from the Word Study Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek:

Tartaróo; contracted tartaro, fut. Tartaro, from Tártaros (n.f.), the subterranean abyss of Greek mythology where demigods were punished. It is mentioned in the pseudepigraphal book of Enoch as the place where fallen angels are confined. It is found only in its verbal form in 2Pe_2:4 meaning to cast into or consign to Tartarus.

Jude also verifies the punishment of the watchers but doesn’t use the word Tartarus.

You also know that the angels who did not keep within their proper domain but abandoned their own place of residence, he has kept in eternal chains in utter darkness, locked up for the judgment of the great Day.  (Jude 1:6 NET)

A quote from Michael Heiser:  This Greek word is the precise term used in classical Greek myths about the ancient giants. The Cyclops and the Titans were imprisoned in Tartarus, the lowest part of the underworld, by Uranos, Kronos and Zeus. It is not coincidental that in the Old Testament the spirits of the dead nephilim and other giant clans like the Rephaim are referred to as “demons” and inhabit the same place. Both the Watchers and the demonic spirits of their offspring belong to the same place. The connection is unmistakable.

Mythology

Most of Europe, Asia, Middle East, and Northern Africa have varying degrees of Mythological stories involving “gods”, “goddesses”, titans (giants), and chimeras (part-animal / part-man.  The majority of modern educated people, particularly in the USA and Europe consider this mythology to be just that – myth.  Some scholars and historicists have noted a linkage in the myths – that is, they are related or the same but with different names. 

Dr. Heiser considers a possible parallel between the pre-flood events concerning the watchers and their offspring and the myths of the various nations.  It that is true, consider  the pre-flood stories would be remembered and passed down by the eight people of the ark to their children and their generations.  The tower of Babel language change and subsequent dispersion of the Babel population would carry those stories through most of the world.  Versions and variations would be applied over time, but many of the basic facts and concepts would remain relevant throughout the different migrating groups.  It has always been my opinion that mythology from several parts of the European continent could be so similar and yet a fantasy of native imagination.

Neither Genesis 6 or 1^st Enoch ever mention a female divine being (watcher), or female offspring.  To my knowledge, there are no female angels or divine beings.  Eve was created as Adam’s helpmate and wife.  Note the words “wife” and “family” in Genesis 2:24.  It may be that God intended for Adam and Eve to procreate when they were created.  It is doubtful the “fall” initiated breeding abilities.

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family.   (Genesis 2:24 NET)

It is never my intention to invent doctrine but it could be possible that divine beings can take the form of a woman.  It is also possible some of the watcher/human children could have been female, although it is never mentioned in non-canonical writings.

Can Angels Have Sexual Relations?

Those opposed to the procreation between divine beings and human women often cite the scriptural comment found in Matthew 22:20 that says resurrected individuals do not marry because they are “life angels in heaven”.  Yes, heavenly beings, both angels and the resurrected, have no need for sex, food, water, or suntan lotion.  It is problematic they would even have the organs and orifices necessary for such activities.

However, we can read about the divine beings (maybe it was even God the Son) visited Abraham and ate food with him.  A divine being wrestled with Jacob and injured his foot proving the being was not an apparition.  Two divine beings pulled Lot inside his doorway demonstrating they could physically react.  It could be possible the divine beings can do whatever they need or desire to do.  There is no absolute proof scripture.

For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:30 NET)

Conclusion

Heiser Quote:  The statement of Genesis 6:5 should not be viewed as some sort of capricious action on the part of a tyrannical God. Rather, God allowed humanity to exercise its freedom for centuries—after the knowledge of Yahweh had been made known (Gen 4:26). This was all an act of grace. God waited, but the situation finally demanded action. The time eventually came when God’s prophecy to Eve of a human redeemer who would undo Eden’s tragedy outweighed the lives of the humans who had willingly cooperated with the transgression of heaven and earth. Unless the slate was wiped clean, the necessary human seed would be lost and prophecy would fail.

GOD AND THE DIVINE COUNCIL

Does God trust the members of the Divine Council?  Thus far we have looked at the garden of Eden temptation and the “sons of God” mating with human women.  The council members and the angels were created with a free will, apparently without regard to a higher power which would be the Lord God.  There are some statements in the book of Job that will hopefully clarify the question.

Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?  (Job 4:18-19 KJV)

Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints (holy ones); yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?  (Job 15:15-16 KJV)

It appears to be certain that God knows that created entities have free will that can be exercised beyond His will and that it has occurred.

Angels & the Divine Council: Part 2

ANGELS AND THE DIVINE COUNCIL

PART 2

THE CREATION OF MAN

Since it has been documented that sons of God were created prior to the earth or humanity let’s look at the next example.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (Genesis 1:26 KJV)

Genesis 1:26 states that God said, “Let us make man in our image.”  The conservative answer would be that “us” and “our” is one member of the Trinity speaking to the other two members of the Trinity due to the use of plural pronouns.  However, let’s view the plural Trinity issue in Genesis 3:22.

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever:   (Genesis 3:22 KJV)

After the sin of disobedience, the Lord God said, “the man is become as one of us.”  Does this mean that Adam and Eve were the same nature as the Triune God:  were like the Triune God; or became as the Triune God?  That is obviously not the answer, but there was apparently a vast change in the spiritual composition of the humans.  Perhaps Adam and Eve, by knowing good and evil, became as one of the created entities such as an angel or Divine Council member.  Perhaps Adam and Eve could now express free will without regard to the higher authority of God.  Did the created beings know good and evil?  The one who tempted Eve to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree obviously did know.  (It was not a snake)  Yes, it appears created beings have the free will to disregard the authority of God as we will see later on.  Perhaps, it should be considered that the Lord God was speaking to members of the Divine Council and not to Jesus or the Holy Spirit.  It’s not an important point and either opinion will not tarnish your theology.

THE SNAKE AND THE FRUIT

The Hebrew word “nachash” usually translated as serpent in most Bible versions has previously been covered in my article entitled, THE GARDEN OF EDEN NACHASH,  (see Garden of Eden Nachash)  Here is a short quote as a refresher:

The word serpent is the Hebrew word, nachash, which can be translated as serpent or snake but has other meanings as well.  According to Heiser, the Hebrew root is the basis for a noun, verb, and adjective.  Of course as a noun it is usually the word for serpent.  The verb form means deceiver or diviner with divine knowledge.  The adjective version means bronze or brazen with a bright shine.  Therefore, used as an adjective it should be translated as “shining one.”  Shining or luminosity is a quality that is characteristic of divine beings in the Hebrew bible and other near east literature.

This tempter was a serpentine shining entity and a member of the Divine Council as evidenced in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 named Helel ben Shachar (literally means “shining one, son of the dawn”).  The word “Lucifer” of Isaiah 14 was taken from the Latin vulgate translation of “Helel” and transliterated to the English KJV and others.

The motivation for the temptation of Adam and Eve is Biblically unknown although several non-canonical assumptions are available, with envy being the major theme.  It may have been that Helel considered it insulting when humans were given dominion of the earth and the status of council members.

THE SONS OF GOD AND ANGELS

All scripture passages with the Hebrew phrase translated as “the sons of God” is beney ha-elohim or just beney Elohim.  The Hebrew word Elohim is the most common Biblical name for the Lord God although it is plural.  There are two generic Hebrew words for “God”:  el and eloah; the plural forms are elim and elohim.  The normal Hebrew word for “angel” in the Old Testament is malak.  It would appear that the “sons of God” or beney ha-elohim of the divine council are different entities from the normal angel or malak which means a messenger.

The word translated as “Satan” in the book of Job, which is the first instance of the word is the Hebrew hassatan, which is satan with a definite article has in front.  The meaning of the word is “The Adversary”.  The Hebrew satan became a proper noun name in the Greek New Testament and was used untranslated or transliterated in English Bible versions.

EZEKIEL 28

The passage found in Ezekiel 28 is considered by Dr. Heiser as a semi-parallel commentary to the nashash/serpent deceiver of Genesis.  Verse 10 states this particular entity was in the Garden of Eden.  His covering was one of shining precious stones.  It should be noted the tabrets and pipes (tambourines and flutes) is not the translation of every version.  (OTHER VERSIONS USE:  settings and mounts NET, NIV; treasures and stores LXX).  Dr. Heiser maintains the figure is the anointed cherub which is a serpentine entity with a shining covering (of precious stones).  He has walked in the midst of the stones of fire which is defined by Heiser as the divine council on the mountain of God.  He was thrown from Eden / the mountain of God / the stones of fire / the divine council due to his iniquity.  His heart (ego) was lifted up due to his beauty and brightness (shining), but he will be placed into Sheol (the abyss or the bottomless pit).

Ezekiel 28:13-17 KJV  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.  (14)  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.  (15)  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.  (16)  By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.  (17)  Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

The NET Bible side notes claim this particular passage has many translation problems.  This is evidenced by viewing several Bible versions.  One issue concerning tabrets and pipes has been mentioned above.  Another major concern is whether the shining one is actually the guardian Cherub or if he was there with a Cherub.  Also did God expel him from Eden or did the Cherub expel him?  The differing versions of this passage are the KJV, which is listed above, and the NET with different wording is listed below.

Ezekiel 28:14-16 NET  I placed you there with an anointed guardian cherub; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked about amidst fiery stones.  (15)  You were blameless in your behavior from the day you were created, until sin was discovered in you.  (16)  In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned; so I defiled you and banished you from the mountain of God -- the guardian cherub expelled you from the midst of the stones of fire.

The meaning of the Hebrew word for “cherub” is uncertain.  It could possibly refer to a heavenly entity with the task of guarding the throne room of God, regardless of appearance. 

ISAIAH 14

Unless his opinion has changed, Peter Goodgame views this chapter as a resurrected, from the abyss, Nimrod, the former king of Babylon, and the coming antichrist (beast).  He pairs this with the Queen of Babylon or Babylon the Great of Revelation.  The characteristics of:  oppressor; staff of the wicked; smote the people in wrath; ruled the nations in anger; all appear to describe the Revelation beast.

The chapter according to Dr. Heiser is about an evil tyrant king, whose pride is described in terms of an ancient story about a divine being who fell from paradise due to rebellion against God.  The Hebrew word translated as Lucifer in the KJV is “Helel ben Shachar” which literally means “shining one, son of the dawn.”  The word “Lucifer” was taken from the Latin vulgate translation of “Helel” and transliterated to English.  This would be the same entity who fell from paradise because of his Eden deception.  More extensive coverage can be found at:  Garden of Eden Nachash

Isaiah 14:4-6 KJV  That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!  (5)  The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.  (6)  He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth.

The punishments or curses given to the nachash (serpent, shining one) of Genesis 3 cannot be seen as part of Isaiah 14 because a snake (reptile animal) would not be sent to Sheol.  The Sheol punishment have to be a future event as depicted by Satan being cast into the bottomless pit in Revelation 20:1-2.

And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

(Revelation 20:1-2 KJV)

Angels and the Divine Council: Part 1

ANGELS AND THE DIVINE COUNCIL

PART 1

How many types of created beings are there?  Some will answer there are angels, arch angels, seraphim, cherubim, and someone called Satan, whatever he happens to be.  How many created beings can be named?  Some will recall Satan, Lucifer (he may be the same as Satan), Michael, and Gabriel.  How many created being are there?  Perhaps there are thousands or millions, who knows.  There are a few more heavenly, throne room of God, types listed in Ezekiel 1 and the Revelation, but of course, they do not interact with humans so they are really of little importance for this discussion.  How many interact with humanity?  Some will mention Satan (if they believe he exists), and Daniel lists Michael and Gabriel:  there are a few appearances of Gabriel in the New Testament as well.

As an aside, it would seem that more people will tell you there are aliens flying around in saucers than believe that angels or Satan may have some influence on planet earth.

THE DIVINE COUNCIL

I have been following Michael Heiser, off and on, for several years.  Some of his material was used in a recent post entitled, The Garden of Eden, Nachash.  Mr. Heiser is a Hebrew, Ugaritic, and Aramaic language expert and believes the Bible is the Word of God.  Regardless of your opinion, it can be said that he is extremely knowledgeable concerning Biblical created beings and their actions and appearance in scripture.  I am not certain if he or someone else coined the phrase, “The Divine Council”, but for this particular article I will claim that it belongs to him.

It should be apparent to most, that humans were not the first beings created by God.  When God was talking to Job, He asked him if he was around when the earth was created and the morning stars sang and the sons of God shouted.

"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you possess understanding! Who set its measurements -- if you know -- or who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its bases set, or who laid its cornerstone --when the morning stars sang in chorus, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?   (Job 38:4-7 NET)

Now since the earth was just created, it would appear that morning stars and sons of God are heavenly created entities:  perhaps angels as we think of them or some other entity.  Whatever the answer, morning stars are not balls of burning gas called a sun.  They are created beings.  The sons of God are also created beings and may be synonymous with the morning stars.

The prophet Micaiah was asked to speak to the king of Israel:

And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.  (1 Kings 22:19 KJV)

Surrounding God, is found the “host of Heaven” or the “heavenly assembly” in the NET.

Micaiah said, "That being the case, hear the word of the LORD. I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, with all the heavenly assembly standing on his right and on his left.  (1 Kings 22:19 NET)

Psalm 82 states that God is standing among the “sons of God” or the assembly of god as the Green’s Literal translation states it.  God will judge the “gods”, who are sons or children of the most High God. 

A Psalm of Asaph. God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, You are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.  (Psalms 82:1-8 KJV)

A Psalm of Asaph God stands in the assembly of God; He judges in the midst of the gods. Until when will you judge unjustly, and lift up the faces of the wicked? Selah. Judge the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; save out of the hand of the wicked. They neither know nor will understand; they walk in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. I have said, You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High. But you shall die as men, and fall like one of the rulers. Rise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit in all the nations.

(Psalms 82:1-8 Greens Literal Translation)

What entities does the “assembly of God consist?  Surely, it isn’t attended by every angelic being created by God.  A script of evidence may be found in a comment made by Moses.  He was giving a semi-historical account of latter flood events and commented that after the language alterations associated with the tower of Babel that God divided the bounds of the people and set a “son of God” as their overseer. 

When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.   (Deuteronomy 32:8 KJV)

When the Most High divided the nations, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the nations according to the number of the angels of God.  (Deuteronomy 32:8 Brenton LXX)

The KJV, which is based on the Masoretic text developed around 200 AD, has seemingly changed the original Hebrew text to “the children of Israel”.  Please note there were no “children of Israel” at the tower of Babylon language change.  The children only existed after the Exodus event.

The LXX has the translation as “the angels of God”.  There are always a few individuals claiming the LXX was translated by a group of evil Greeks, but it was actually the work of a group of Jews who happened to speak Greek, living in Egypt at the time of the translation and probably had never been to Greece.  There are a few Old Testament quotes in the New Testament that cannot be found in the OT in their entirety.  This is because the NT writers were quoting from the LXX, before the Masoretic editors were able to remove or alter as many “Messiah Jesus” scriptures they were aware of.

The nations of the different languages were handed over to the “sons of God” of the Divine Council.  This evidence can be seen in Psalm 82.  God is sovereign and he judges the actions, of lack of action, of the 70 (some say 72) “gods”.  There is only one Lord God, who answers to no higher authority than Himself.  The other heavenly, immortal entities are referred to as “gods” but they answer to a higher authority, who is the Lord God.

Psalm 89:5-7 KJV

And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.  (Psalms 89:5-7 KJV)

NET version of Psalm 89:5-7

O LORD, the heavens praise your amazing deeds, as well as your faithfulness in the angelic assembly. For who in the skies can compare to the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings, a God who is honored in the great angelic assembly, and more awesome than all who surround him?

(Psalms 89:5-7 NET)

LXX version of Psalm 89:5-7

(88:5) The heavens shall declare thy wonders, O Lord; and thy truth in the assembly of the saints. (88:6) For who in the heavens shall be compared to the Lord? and who shall be likened to the Lord among the sons of God? (88:7) God is glorified in the council of the saints; great and terrible toward all that are round about him.  (Psalms 89:5-7 Brenton LXX)