Board index ‹ Specific Bible verses, texts, and passages ‹ Genesis

[Salam]

Is it true that the descendants of the nephilim like Goliath produced many giants, and were hybrid creatures whose behavior was determined by their bad nephilim DNA? Thanks.

[jimwalton]

Ha, no, you’re thinking more like what the cartoons and movies say. Let me explain what Genesis says that’s different from that.

No one really knows what Genesis 6.2 is really about (the "sons of God” marrying the “daughters of men.” There are 4 main guesses, but the theory that makes the most sense is that theses “sons of God” were dynastic rulers: kings who were also mighty warriors, as kings in those days usually were. And, as you probably know, kings in those days were usually thought to be of divine descent and to be in the category with the gods. Whatever, but that’s what they thought.

The “daughters of men” were probably, then, just normal women—commoners who didn’t have “blue blood” (an expression for royalty).

Then in Genesis 6.4 it starts talking about the Nephilim. Again, it is hardly known what this word means. For a long time, as you have suggested, some scholars thought it meant “giants,” but now that theory is very dubious. It comes from the root npl, and it is now thought to mean “to fall upon,” like invaders or tyrants, which actually fits with the theory from verse 2 about dynastic rulers who were mighty warriors. The Septuagint is the one that identifies them as giants, but recent research bringing to us the meaning of “mighty men” is far more likely.

The text seems to be identifying this people group as a population of Canaan, and obviously the people group that needed to be destroyed in the flood, which follows. Notice that the Nephilim are not the children or offspring of the marriages of v. 2, but a population that exists alongside it. There is no reason at all to think they are hybrid creatures with Nephilim DNA, and no longer reason to believe they are giants, either. Genesis 6.4 actually tells what they are: They are heroes, “men of renown.” These are just heroes and warriors, probably warriors who achieved wealth or political power—nothing at all in the nature of hybrid, fictional, or mythological creatures.

[Salam]

thanks. M Heiser says they're giants

[jimwalton]

Of course he does. I did say to you that scholars used to think the word meant “giants.” It’s no surprise that a few can still be found who hold that position.

Secondly, no matter what the issue you can find someone who holds that position. You can still find people who believe the Earth is flat, who believe that we never landed men on the moon, or who believe that the Holocaust never happened. Just because you can find 1 scholar who believes in something doesn’t mean it’s true.

So let’s talk about the “giants.” As I mentioned, the Septuagint translates the word as “giants,” as does the Vulgate. (That doesn’t make it accurate, but it’s still true that’s how those two manuscripts translate it.) The word “Nephilim” appears one other place in the Bible, and that’s Numbers 13:33, where they are residents of Canaan. So let’s look at that.

Numbers 13.33 indicates strongly that they are individuals taller than other people (as are the Watusi people in Africa [as opposed to the Pygmi people group, that are very short]). They were from a tribal group known as the sons of Anak.

Genesis 14.5 mentions a group of people called the Rephaites, who are also thought to be taller people. Deuteronomy 2.10-11 seems to connect the Rephaites with the Anakim. When the Israelites come to conquer Canaan many centuries later, they do mention a people group that is tall (Joshua 11.21-22).

And, interestingly, the Philistines invaded and conquered the Raphaim/Anakim in about 1200 BC, possibly merging some of the people groups. Goliath of Gath, the Philistine who fought against David in 1 Sam. 17, is said to have been a “giant.”

But none of this means we’re to think of them as DNA mutants who were monstrous. The height of an average man during this era was about 5’ tall. So a person who was, say, 6’6” would be considered gigantic, and a formidable opponent in battle.

So it is possible there was a taller group of people who lived in the area. if that’s the case, we’re still not to think of them like 20’ tall mutants or aliens. And there is a possible connection of this people group with the Nephilim of Gn. 6.4. In my study, the view of them as great warriors is more plausible than the view of them as “giants.” Obviously M. Heiser disagrees, and that’s his prerogative. In the context of Genesis 6, the idea of “mighty men” fits better than “giants,” in my scholarly opinion.