The Term “Nephilim”

The etymology of the Hebrew term nephilim—often translated “Nephilim”—is uncertain. Its association with the Hebrew verb nafal often yields the rendering “fallen ones,” that is, fallen angels. But it is not clear from the text that the Nephilim are identical with divine beings. Rather, they appear to be the offspring of the cohabitation of the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men”—and the offspring may have reproduced as well (Genesis 6:4). Because Numbers 13:33 implies the Nephilim were people of extraordinary physical stature, the term may be understood to mean “giants” or “heroes.” While it is not obvious from the text whether the Nephilim themselves procreated, the Genesis narrative seems to indicate they were destroyed by the flood. If this is the case, there is both a terminology problem and a chronology difficulty in the narrative of the Old Testament. Thus, another solution must be offered.

Nephilim in the Bible

Other than Genesis 6:4, the only biblical reference to the Nephilim is Numbers 13:33. The Israelite spies return to say that the Nephilim were so tall that they felt as small as grasshoppers in comparison. The translators of the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament), and the Latin Vulgate (the ancient Latin translation of the Old Testament) understand the Nephilim to be giants in this passage. The term used in the Septuagint, gigantes, has other implications as well: it suggests that the Nephilim were the offspring of the “angel” marriages. Greek mythology reflects this understanding, telling the story of the gigantes being products of the union of earth and heaven.

Similarly, in Ezekiel 32:20–28, the author repeatedly speaks of “the warriors” who have fallen in battle and who now inhabit Sheol (the underworld). If this is an allusion to Genesis 6:1–4, it seems likely that the writer of Ezekiel connected the Nephilim with the Hebrew verb meaning “to fall.” This possibility also parallels Greek mythology, which uses gigantes for the defeated and imprisoned beings—now living “in the earth” (an equivalent idea to Sheol). Thus, it seems that Numbers 13:33 and Ezekiel 32:20–28 make clear that the Nephilim did exist later; thus, the traditional understanding of Genesis 6:4 must be incorrect in some way.

Survived the Flood?

The phrase often translated “in those days” in Genesis 6:4 refers to the pre-flood period, when the events described in Genesis 6:1–3 took place. Thus, the parenthetical comment often translated “and also afterwards” is a reminder that giants were still around after the flood (compare Num 13:33). To avoid the implication that the race of giants survived the flood, or that “angel” marriages continued after it, rabbinic commentators preferred to suppose that “and also afterwards” refers to the period of grace before the flood. This, though, seems strained, as the following sentence implies continued visits by divine beings to women. But this still leaves the question of how to properly articulate, in translations, precisely who the Nephilim were.

The children produced by the union of the “sons of God” with women are described further as being “of old” (the same word for “forever” in Genesis 6:3), and “men of reputation” (i.e, famous). All of these terms align with descriptions of the “mighty men,” which means the Nephilim would be the “mighty men.” Whether these mighty men—these Nephilim—then reproduced is unknown. But the reference to the sons of Anak, who are Nephilim, in Numbers 13:33 may hint that the Nephilim themselves reproduced.

Michael S. Heiser

Further Reading

Giant Clans in the Old Testament

Nephilim CLBD