Existence of Nephilim in Modern Times
The term "Nephilim" appears in the Hebrew Bible, notably in Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33 [1]. In Genesis, they are mentioned in the context of the "sons of God" and "daughters of man" before the great flood, while in Numbers, they are associated with the Anakim, giants encountered by the Israelite spies in Canaan [4, 10]. The word "Nephilim" itself is derived from a root that signifies "to fall" [3, 4].
Interpretations of the Nephilim's nature vary across Jewish and Christian traditions. One common understanding, reflected in Jewish commentary, is that they were called Nephilim because they "fell" or "caused the downfall of the world" [5]. Another view suggests they were named because anyone who saw them would "lose heart" due to their immense stature, or because they induced terror [2, 5]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that the term comes from a word meaning "to fall," suggesting they might have been called this because they were begotten by the children of Seth who "fell" from a more righteous path by intermarrying with the daughters of Cain [3]. Tyndale House's academic commentary also suggests the term may mean "fallen ones" and implies they were offspring of the "sons of God" who were destined for destruction in the flood [4].
The biblical text in Genesis 6:4 states, "The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown." This passage has led to significant discussion regarding the identity of the "sons of God" and the nature of the Nephilim. Some interpretations, like that of Abraham Ibn Ezra, suggest that the Nephilim mentioned in Numbers 13:33 were descendants of the Nephilim who existed before the flood, implying a continuation of this lineage or a similar type of giant [10].
The question of the Nephilim's existence in "modern times" requires an understanding of how these biblical accounts are interpreted and whether they are seen as referring to a specific historical group, a symbolic representation, or a phenomenon that could recur.
Many traditional interpretations view the Nephilim as a specific group of individuals who existed in ancient times. For instance, the mention of Nephilim in Numbers 13:33, where the Israelite spies report seeing "the Nephilim, the sons of Anak," indicates that such beings were perceived to exist after the flood, at least in the understanding of the spies [4, 10]. Deuteronomy 2:11 further connects the Anakite Nephilim with another group called the Rephaim, reinforcing the idea of ancient giant races [4]. These accounts generally place the Nephilim within a specific historical period of the ancient world.
From a theological perspective, the narrative of the Nephilim in Genesis 6 is often understood as part of the escalating corruption and violence that led to the flood [3]. The "sons of God" marrying the "daughters of men" and producing the Nephilim is seen as a significant factor in God's decision to cleanse the earth [4]. This narrative typically concludes with the flood, which eradicated the wickedness of that era.
The idea of the Nephilim existing in "modern times" is not a common interpretation within mainstream Jewish or Christian theology. The biblical accounts describe them as a phenomenon of a specific ancient period. There is no scriptural basis in the canonical texts for their continued existence or reappearance in later historical periods.
However, some speculative interpretations, often found outside of mainstream theological discourse, might draw parallels between the Nephilim and other concepts. For example, some eschatological views in certain Christian traditions discuss the rise of powerful, ungodly figures or forces in the end times. Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, in their commentary on Revelation, discuss the rise of ten kings or kingdoms that are contemporaries with the beast (Antichrist) in its final form, drawing connections to Daniel's prophecies of ten toes representing kings [7]. They also speak of a "beast-like" principle manifesting in "outbreaks" since 1789, which they connect to "baptized heathenism" [8]. While these commentaries do not explicitly mention Nephilim, they illustrate how some interpreters look for manifestations of evil or ungodly power in later historical periods, sometimes drawing on ancient biblical imagery. However, these are distinct from asserting the literal existence of Nephilim as described in Genesis and Numbers.
John Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, focuses on the historical context of the flood and the specific timeline given in Genesis 6 and 7, emphasizing the definite period of God's patience before the deluge [6]. His approach underscores the historical and temporal specificity of the events described, including the existence of the Nephilim, within that ancient context.
The Eastern Orthodox tradition, as exemplified by John Chrysostom, focuses on the eschatological return of Christ with angels and archangels, and the resurrection of all people from Adam's time onward [9]. This perspective emphasizes a future, universal event of judgment and resurrection, rather than a continued or recurring presence of specific ancient beings like the Nephilim in the interim period.
Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H5303 — People from Nephil(?) (refs: #People from Nephil(?), first mentioned at Gen.6.4; <br>only referred to as <strong="H5303">Nephilim)”
- 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).”
- 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”
- 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).”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Kabbalistic/Philosophical)) “Ramban (Nachmanides) on Genesis 6:4: THE NEPHILIM. Rashi comments: “[They were called nephilim because] they fell ( naphlu ) and caused the downfall ( hipilu ) of the world.” This is found in Bereshith Rabbah. 500 26:7. The masters of language 501 Found in R’dak. say that they [the Nephilim ] were so called because the heart of man fell from fear of them. The same applies to the word ha’eimim . 502 Genesis 14:5. Eimah means terror. The Eimim thus induced terror into the hearts of those who saw them.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 1 (Gen 1-23), section 10.10: stated, that man’s days on earth “shall be one hundred and twenty years”; but in Genesis 7:11 , we are told, that the deluge came “in the six hundredth year of Noah’s life.” This would pare down the one hundred and twenty years to one hundred; and therefore Calvin asks, “Where are the remaining twenty to be found?” To answer this question, he shows that there was something indefinite in the statement of Noah’s age in the first of these passages, and Moses does not say that the flood began precisely in that year. He therefore conc”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 17:12: ten kings . . . received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings . . . with the beast--Hence and from Rev 17:14, Rev 17:16, it seems that these ten kings or kingdoms, are to be contemporaries with the beast in its last or eighth form, namely, Antichrist. Compare Dan 2:34, Dan 2:44, "the stone smote the image upon his feet," that is, upon the ten toes, which are, in Dan 2:41-44, interpreted to be "kings." The ten kingdoms are not, therefore, ten which arose in the overthrow of Rome (heathen), but are to rise out of the last state of the fourt”
- Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 13:12: power--Greek, "authority." before him--"in his presence"; as ministering to, and upholding him. "The non-existence of the beast embraces the whole Germanic Christian period. The healing of the wound and return of the beast is represented [in regard to its final Antichristian manifestation though including also, meanwhile, its healing and return under Popery, which is baptized heathenism] in that principle which, since 1789, has manifested itself in beast-like outbreaks" [AUBERLEN]. which dwell therein--the earthly-minded. The Church becomes th”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: 29 .) Then is the whole Heaven thrown open, and the gates of those concaves unfold themselves, and the Only-begotten Son of God cometh down, not with twenty, not with a hundred men for His body-guard, but with thousands, ten thousands of Angels and Archangels, Cherubim and Seraphim, and other Powers, and with fear and trembling shall everything be filled, whiles the earth is bursting itself up, and the men that ever were born, from Adam’s birth up to that day, are rising from the earth, and all are caught up; ( 1 Thess. iv. 17 ) when Himself appears ”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Numbers 13:33: OF THE NEPHILIM. Its meaning 49 The meaning of the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who came of the Nephilim. is that they were of the Nephilim, who were in the earth in those days, and also after that when…came in (Gen 6:4). 50 The entire verse reads, The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them . Thus the Nephilim were descended from the “sons of God.” I have explained it 51 The meaning of and also after that . there. 52 And also after that refers to afte”