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Biblical References to Nephilim Giants

The term "Nephilim" appears in the Old Testament, primarily in Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33, referring to individuals of extraordinary size or stature [1, 3]. In Genesis 6:4, the Nephilim are mentioned in the context of the "sons of God" cohabiting with the "daughters of men," resulting in "mighty men who were of old, men of renown" [8]. The Hebrew word Nephilim itself is often understood to mean "violent" or "causing to fall," or potentially derived from a root signifying "wonder," suggesting "monsters" or "prodigies" [2]. Some interpretations connect the name to the idea of "fallen ones" [13].

The Genesis account states, "The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown" [8]. This passage introduces the Nephilim before the Flood, linking them to a period of increasing wickedness that led to God's decision to send the deluge [13]. John Gill notes that these "giants" existed before the widespread apostasy described in Genesis 6, possibly in the time of Jared, when the children of Seth descended from the mountains to intermarry with the daughters of Cain [14].

Later, in Numbers 13:33, the term "Nephilim" is used by the Israelite spies to describe the inhabitants of Canaan, specifically the "sons of Anak," whom they perceived as giants [2, 3]. The spies reported, "And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" [2]. This suggests that the term was applied to a race of large stature in Canaan, indicating that the Nephilim were present both before and after the Flood, or that the term was used to describe similar large individuals [16].

Beyond the Nephilim, other terms for giants appear in the Old Testament. The most frequent is Rephaim, which refers to a race of giants who lived east of the Jordan, from whom Og, king of Bashan, was descended [1, 2]. The Rephaim are described as the aboriginal inhabitants of Palestine, later dispossessed by Canaanite tribes [4]. They were known by different names to various peoples: the Moabites called them Emim ("fearful"), and the Ammonites called them Zamzummim [4]. Some Rephaim found refuge among the Philistines and were still present in David's time [4]. The "valley of Rephaim" is mentioned in connection with David's battles against the Philistines [7].

The Midrash Rabbah lists seven names for giants, including Nephilim, Rephaim, Gibborim, Emim, Anakim, Avim, and Zamzumim, attributing specific characteristics to each, such as the Rephaim causing hearts to soften like wax in those who saw them [15]. The Gibborim, translated as "mighty men" in Genesis 6:4, are often associated with the Nephilim as their offspring [1, 3].

The origin of the Nephilim is a subject of significant theological discussion, particularly concerning the identity of the "sons of God" mentioned in Genesis 6:4. One prominent interpretation, found in early Jewish and patristic writings, identifies the "sons of God" as fallen angels or Watchers who cohabited with human women [5, 6]. This view is reflected in the Dead Sea Scrolls, specifically in texts like the Book of Giants, where Lamech suspects his wife Bitenosh conceived through a Watcher, and giants (including Nephilim) seek Enoch's interpretation of their destructive dreams [5, 6]. Augustine, in City of God, discusses whether angels, being spiritual substances, could have fallen in love with women and produced giants, referencing Psalm 82:6, "I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High," to suggest that "sons of God" could refer to human beings [19].

Another interpretation, favored by some Jewish rationalist thinkers like Abraham Ibn Ezra, suggests that the "sons of God" were human nobles or judges, and the Nephilim were simply men of great stature who inspired fear [17, 18]. Rashi, another influential Jewish commentator, connects the Nephilim to the generation of Enosh, suggesting they were present before the Flood and did not learn from the destruction of that generation [16]. Nachmanides (Ramban) considers the possibility that the Nephilim existed after the Flood, perhaps through the wives of Noah's sons, or that the "sons of Anak" were descendants of the bnei ha'elohim (sons of God) [16].

The biblical narrative also mentions specific giants in later periods, such as Goliath [10], Lahmi [9], Saph [11], and an unnamed giant with six fingers and six toes [12], all associated with the Philistines during the time of David. John Gill suggests that these Philistine giants were descendants of the Rephaim [20].

The term "Nephilim" itself is transliterated in the Revised Version of the Bible, rather than translated as "giants," to preserve the distinctiveness of the Hebrew term [3]. While the exact nature and origin of the Nephilim remain a subject of scholarly debate, the biblical texts consistently portray them as figures of imposing size and strength, often associated with violence and a pre-Flood era of wickedness, and later as formidable adversaries of the Israelites in Canaan [1, 2, 8, 13].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Giants — men of extraordinary size or height. + They are first spoken of in (Genesis 6:4) under the name Nephilim. We are told in (Genesis 6:1-4) that "there were Nephilim in the earth," and that afterwards the "sons of God" mingling with the beautiful "daughters of mens produced a race of violent and insolent Gibborim (Authorized Version "mighty men"). + The Rephalim, a name which frequently occurs. The earliest mention of them is the record of their defeat by Chedorlaomer and some allied kings at Ashteroth Karnaim. The "valley of Rephaim," (2 Samuel 5:18; 1 Chronicl”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Giants — (1.) Heb. nephilim, meaning "violent" or "causing to fall" (Gen. 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monsters" or "prodigies." In Num. 13:33 this name is given to a Canaanitish tribe, a race of large stature, "the sons of Anak." The Revised Version, in these passages, simply transliterates the original, and reads "Nephilim." (2.) Heb. rephaim, a race of giants (Deut. 3:11) who lived on the east of Jordan, from whom Og was descended. They were ”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Nephilim — (Gen. 6:4; Num. 13:33, R.V.), giants, the Hebrew word left untranslated by the Revisers, the name of one of the Canaanitish tribes. The Revisers have, however, translated the Hebrew gibborim, in Gen. 6:4, "mighty men."”
  4. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Rephaim — Lofty men; giants, (Gen. 14:5; 2 Sam. 21:16, 18, marg. A.V., Rapha, marg. R.V., Raphah; Deut. 3:13, R.V.; A.V., "giants"). The aborigines of Palestine, afterwards conquered and dispossessed by the Canaanite tribes, are classed under this general title. They were known to the Moabites as Emim, i.e., "fearful", (Deut. 2:11), and to the Ammonites as Zamzummim. Some of them found refuge among the Philistines, and were still existing in the days of David. We know nothing of their origin. They were not necessarily connected with the "giants" (R.V., "Nephilim") of”
  5. Dead Sea Scrolls “Pesharim and Other Notable Texts (2nd-1st century BCE), section 6: though it was one of the last to be opened and published due to its extremely fragile condition. Written in Aramaic, it is a retelling of portions of the book of Genesis, expanding the biblical narratives with additional dialogue, description, and theological interpretation. Key Content The preserved portions cover material from Genesis 5-15, with particular attention to: The story of Lamech and the birth of Noah: Lamech suspects that his wife Bitenosh has conceived through a Watcher (fallen angel) rather than by him. The accou”
  6. Dead Sea Scrolls “Pesharim and Other Notable Texts (2nd-1st century BCE), section 7: have troubling dreams that portend their destruction. They seek out Enoch as an interpreter: "Then Ohyah said to Hahyah, his brother: 'Then he summoned all the other giants and the Nephilim, and they assembled, and they went to Enoch, the scribe of interpretation, and asked him to interpret for them the dream.'" Enoch's message of judgment: Enoch, functioning as a mediator between heaven and earth, delivers God's verdict against the Watchers and their offspring: "The scribe Enoch [...] and let it be known to the giants: 'From t”
  7. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Rephaim, The Valley Of — (1 Samuel 5:18,22; 23:13; 1 Chronicles 11:15; 14:9; Isaiah 17:5) also in (Joshua 15:8) and Josh 18:16 It is translated in the Authorized Version "the valley of the giants," a spot which was the scene of some of David's most remarkable adventures. He twice encountered and defeated the Philistines there. (2 Samuel 5:17-25; 23:13) etc. Since the latter part of the sixteenth century the name has been attached to the upland plain which stretches south of Jerusalem and is crossed by the road to Bethlehem--the el Buk'ah of the modern Arabs. (This val”
  8. Genesis “The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. -- Genesis 6:4”
  9. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3902 — Giant living at the time of United Monarchy (refs: #A gigantic man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.21.19; <br>referred to)”
  10. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H1555 — Giant living at the time of United Monarchy (refs: #A gigantic man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.17.4; <br>only referre)”
  11. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H5593 — Giant living at the time of United Monarchy (refs: #A gigantic man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.21.18; <br>referred to)”
  12. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H4060G — Giant living at the time of United Monarchy (refs: #A gigantic man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Sa.21.20; <br>only referr)”
  13. Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 6:4: 6:4 giant Nephilites (Hebrew nepilim): The term may mean “fallen ones.” The context implies that they were the offspring of the “sons of God” and would be destroyed in the flood. Numbers 13:31-33 uses the same term to describe other giants who were hostile toward God’s people and would also be destroyed (see also Deut 2:11, which connects the Anakite nepilim with another group called the repa’im).”
  14. Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 6:4: There were giants in the earth in those days,.... That is, in the days before the sons of God took the daughters of men for wives, in such a general manner as before declared, or before the declension and apostasy became so universal; even in the times of Jared, as the Arabic writers (n) understand it, who say that these giants were begotten on the daughters of Cain by the children of Seth, who went down from the mountain to them in the days of Jared, see Gen 5:20 the word "Nephilim" comes from a word which signifies to fall; and these might be so called, either becau”
  15. Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bereishit Rabbah 26:7: “The giants were on the earth in those days, and also thereafter, when the children of the great ones consorted with the daughters of man, and they bore them children; they are the mighty who were from ancient times, the men of renown” (Genesis 6:4). “The giants were on the earth in those days.” They were called by seven names: Eimim , Refa’im , Giborim , Zamzumim , Anakim , Avim , Nefilim . Eimim – as anyone who saw them, fear of them [ eimatan ] would descend upon them. Refa’im – as anyone who saw them, his heart would become soft [ rafeh ] like wax. Gi”
  16. Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 6:4: IN THOSE DAYS. Rashi comments: “in the days of the generation of Enosh. AND ALSO AFTER THAT. Although they witnessed the destruction of the generation of Enosh when the ocean rose and flooded a third of the world, still they did not humble themselves and take a lesson from them.” Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra explained: “also after the flood, since the sons of Anak 503 Numbers 13:33. The giants. were of the family of bnei ha’elohim.” If so, we must say that either the wives of Noah’s sons were of their [the Nephilim’s ] descendants and resembled them or that ibn E”
  17. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 6:4: [THE NEPHILIM.] They were so named because anyone who saw them lost heart at their huge stature. 16 From the root nun, feh, lamed , meaning to fall.”
  18. Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Numbers 13:33: THE NEPHILIM. I have already explained this term. 48 The Nephilim “were so named because anyone who saw them lost heart ( she-yippol lev ha-ro’eh otam ) at their huge stature).” See I.E. on Gen. 6:4 (Vol. 1, p. 96).”
  19. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 23.--WHETHER WE ARE TO BELIEVE THAT ANGELS, WHO ARE OF A SPIRITUAL SUBSTANCE, FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BEAUTY OF WOMEN, AND SOUGHT THEM IN MARRIAGE, AND THAT FROM THIS CONNECTION GIANTS WERE BORN. (part 4): the psalm: 305 "I have said, Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High."(1) For the Septuagint translators are justly believed to have received the Spirit of prophecy; so that, if they made any alterations under His authority, and did not adhere to a strict translation, we could not doubt that this was divinely di”
  20. 2 Samuel (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Samuel 21:21: These four were born to the giant in Gath,.... Not to Goliath, for one of them was his brother, but to some giant or another of that place, for which it was famous; they were all of them of the race of the giants; and so the Septuagint version, they were"the offspring of the giants in Gath, whose family was Repha;''and this Repha, or Arepha, as the Vulgate Latin version, according to Abarbinel, was a woman of the daughters of the giants; the Talmudists (e) make her to be the same with Orpah, Rut 1:4. These giants, it is highly probable, were the descendants of the ”
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