The Nephillim

[aReformedPatriot]

Who were the nephillim, these mighty men of God mentioned in Genesis?

Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.

[WashedClean]

I've wondered that myself. I don't have any answers, but I'm very curious to see if anyone knows... Good question! :thumbsup:

[Gold Dragon]

This is no real consensus on what the Nephilim actually were.

Wikipedia : Nephilim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephilim)

In the Hebrew Bible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_Bible) and several non-canonical Jewish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism) and early Christian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian) writings, nephilim (in Hebrew (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_language) הנּפלים means The Fallen [ones]) are a people created by the cross-breeding of the "sons of God" (beney ha'elohim, בני האלהים) and the "daughters of men". (See Genesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genesis) 6:1.) The word nephilim is loosely translated as giants or titans in some Bibles, and is left untranslated in others. There is some controversy as to the identity of the "sons of God" who fathered them; apparently, the Hebrew authors believed they were angels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel) or minor gods.

Despite the literal text of the Bible (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible), the idea that heavenly beings mated with humans is controversial, particularly among Christians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity), who cite the teaching of Jesus (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus) in the Book of Matthew (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Matthew) that angels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel) do not marry in the afterlife. Many Christians (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity) and others who find the idea of angels mating with humans as distasteful have suggested more figurative interpretations of the nephilim, such as the idea that they were the offspring of men possessed (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonic_possession) of demons, or of aliens (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_life).

There are two clear Biblical references to the Nephilim, one in the Book of Genesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Genesis) 6:1-4 as the offspring of "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men", and the other in the Book of Numbers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Numbers) 13:33 as inhabitants of the land of Canaan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaan).

[C.I. Scofield]

This is no real consensus on what the Nephilim actually were.
Here is what the Scofield Bible Says about that:

From the Notes on Genesis 6:4:

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.(Gen 6:4 KJV)

Some hold that these "sons of God" were the "angels which kept not their first estate" (Jud_1:6). It is asserted that the title is in the Old Testament exclusively used of angels. But this is an error (Isa_43:6). Angels are spoken of in a sexless way. No female angels are mentioned in Scripture, and we are expressly told that marriage is unknown among angels. (Mat_22:30).
The uniform Hebrew and Christian interpretation has been that verse (Gen_6:2) marks the breaking down of the separation between the godly line of Seth and the godless line of Cain, and so the failure of the testimony to Jehovah committed to the line of Seth (Gen_4:26). For apostasy there is no remedy but judgment; (Isa_1:2-7); (Isa_1:24); (Isa_1:25); (Heb_6:4-8); (Heb_10:26-31). Noah, "a preacher of righteousness," is given 120 years, but he won no convert, and the judgment predicted by his great-grandfather fell; (Jud_1:14); (Jud_1:15); (Gen_7:11)
(Taken from The Scofield Reference Bible) (Old Version) (C) 1909,1917 Oxford Press (Copyright renewed 1937,1945,1997)

CIS
:preach:

[Matthan]

I believe a literal interpretation of this part of Genesis is in order. Angels are apparently male only, also apparently in the true image if God. Since He created them, they are "the sons of God".

Is it possible that some of them were beguiled by attractive human women? We can assume, at least to some degree, that since angels are males, they have male "equipment" that most likely is at least "functional" if somewhat unnecessary. A union takes place, and super-humans are the direct result. That at least sounds logical.

God was displeased with the actions of men, and most likely also with the angels, (and probably took the appropriate action against them.) And, as for man, we all know the story of Noah. God just started over in that regard. He is God, and He can do that sort of thing.

He almost started over (sort of) a second time, too. Does anyone know when that was? Hint - it was the only time God changed His mind, and only the second time He repented, in Scripture.

Matthan <J><

[aReformedPatriot]

I believe a literal interpretation of this part of Genesis is in order. Angels are apparently male only, also apparently in the true image if God. Since He created them, they are "the sons of God".

Is it possible that some of them were beguiled by attractive human women? We can assume, at least to some degree, that since angels are males, they have male "equipment" that most likely is at least "functional" if somewhat unnecessary. A union takes place, and super-humans are the direct result. That at least sounds logical.

God was displeased with the actions of men, and most likely also with the angels, (and probably took the appropriate action against them.) And, as for man, we all know the story of Noah. God just started over in that regard. He is God, and He can do that sort of thing.

He almost started over (sort of) a second time, too. Does anyone know when that was? Hint - it was the only time God changed His mind, and only the second time He repented, in Scripture.

Matthan <J><
So you would rule out aliens? :P

[AJ]

There is some very "out there" information on Nephilim and aliens being demons... I can't remember the website that has it, but if I find it I will post a link. It is a very interesting perspective, if nothing else. :)

[ZiSunka]

I just heard a radio program on this the other day. Vernon McGee said some interesting stuff about this passage. He said that all angels are referred to as males, not because of the hebrew custom of calling a group of people by masculine terms if even one man is present, but because all the angels refered to in the Bible by gender are male. He said that although there is no marriage in heaven, it is not because angels are incapable of sexual relations, because here we have offspring that are the product of angels and human women, but those offspring may have been infertile themselves because they don't seem to have had descendants, as is often the case with offspring born from parents of different species. It is further evidence that angels are not just dead people who have wings, since they are of a different species and they can reproduce, which dead people without bodies can't.

It would make sense that there is no marriage in heaven if all the angels are male and homosexuality is forbidden. Evidently, angels can be tempted to sin, but I would expect that any immorality would disqualify them from serving God.

Also, these angels must have learned their lessons, because that is the last reference to angels mating with humans I can recall.

[lismore]

Who were the nephillim, these mighty men of God mentioned in Genesis?

Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.



I think goliath and the other giants were these people!

[rural_preacher]

Also, these angels must have learned their lessons, because that is the last reference to angels mating with humans I can recall.

I don't think they learned their lesson. I think if they were free to do as they pleased they would try to mate with humans again. That is why God locked them away until judgment.

Jude 6
And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.

II Peter 2:4,5
For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly...


We can see from other parts of Scripture that there are demons (fallen angels) who do roam the earth and do their dirty work, but nothing as bad as what happened prior to the flood of Noah's day. Those demons did such wicked things that God had to lock them up.


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[SumTinWong]

I think goliath and the other giants were these people!
How can they be when everyone was wiped out by the flood except for Noah and family?

[ZiSunka]

I don't think they learned their lesson. I think if they were free to do as they pleased they would try to mate with humans again. That is why God locked them away until judgment.

Was mating with human women a sin?

[rural_preacher]

Was mating with human women a sin?

It would seem by the context that it was wrong...

Genesis 6:4-6
There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Also Jude 6 and II Peter 2:4,5 would seem to lend support to such a view.

Just as it is sin according to Scripture for a human to have sex with an animal, I think sex between humans and angels (demons) would be sin. I'm not trying to be dogmatic, but from the presentation of the text I believe there was a wicked mixing of humans and demons which contributed significantly to God's world-wide judgment and the permanent imprisoning of the fallen angels involved.


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[ZiSunka]

It would seem by the context that it was wrong...



Also Jude 6 and II Peter 2:4,5 would seem to lend support to such a view.

Just as it is sin according to Scripture for a human to have sex with an animal, I think sex between humans and angels (demons) would be sin. I'm not trying to be dogmatic, but from the presentation of the text I believe there was a wicked mixing of humans and demons which contributed significantly to God's world-wide judgment and the permanent imprisoning of the fallen angels involved.


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It seems to me that this context would lend itself to being an accusation against the women more than the angels. It talks about the giants who were the product of human/angel unions, but then it goes on to talk only about the wickedness of humans and His desire to wipe out the wicked humans. It says nothing about punishing the angels.

[rural_preacher]

It seems to me that this context would lend itself to being an accusation against the women more than the angels. It talks about the giants who were the product of human/angel unions, but then it goes on to talk only about the wickedness of humans and His desire to wipe out the wicked humans. It says nothing about punishing the angels.

But if the human/angel union was sin for the women it was sin for the angels. Just as in a case of adultery, both the man and woman are guilty. And, although the immediate text in Genesis does not mention the punishment of the angels, the NT passages sited would appear to be references to those fallen angels.


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[Middlemoor]

if angels are unlike our species then the women committed a form of beastiality and the angels were committing fornication for they knew no marriage and were unqualified to lie with women in the first place?!???

[Heatherondo]

By giants i assume we arent talking like teh jolly green giant or the giant from jack and teh bean stalk, but more like really huge people.

Goliath i am guessing was a nephilam.


When you see people who are over 7ft tall, i wonder if they arent a long descendant oif teh nephilam?

just babbling lol..

[Heatherondo]

what if was the fallen angels...?

[SumTinWong]

Goliath i am guessing was a nephilam.
Weren't the nephilam destroyed by the flood? How could it be that Goliath was of a species that was eradicated by the flood?

[ZiSunka]

But if the human/angel union was sin for the women it was sin for the angels. Just as in a case of adultery, both the man and woman are guilty. And, although the immediate text in Genesis does not mention the punishment of the angels, the NT passages sited would appear to be references to those fallen angels.


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there were quite a few fallen angels from various incidents. What makes you think these angels in particular are among those. I got the idea that maybe it was the women who seduced the angels, because God punished humans by wiping them all out for their universal wickedness, but not all the angels, or even the ones who were involved in this incident.

[2Timothy2]

I don't believe that angels mated with humans. Angels are spirits, thus no corporeal bodies with which to mate. The times they took human forms in the Bible was in conjunction with a mission from God, never on their own. And the edict in Gen 1 about "producing after it's own kind" seems to me to militate against this as well. Those are only two reasons.

Nephilim carries the idea of one who fells trees, or a tyrant, or something to that effect. Rather than giants, so much, even though they most likely were in Gen 6, I think they were major-league warriors, tyrants, and vicious men. I'm going from a tired memory here, so be gentle. ;)

Weren't the nephilam destroyed by the flood? How could it be that Goliath was of a species that was eradicated by the flood?

Those around before the flood were, but there were others later.

Numbers 13:33And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Here nephilim is again translated 'giants' by the KJV. This is post-flood. Goliath is also mentioned, if I remember right, in some sort of conjunction with the sons of Anak. I'll have to check that.

edit: I did a quick search and couldn't find any mention of Goliath and the sons of Anak. Don't know what I was thinking there. :scratch: heh