Consequences of Nephilim Birth in Genesis 6
Genesis 6:4 states, "The Nephilim were upon the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God went into the daughters of humankind, and they bore children to them" (LEB) [1]. This verse introduces the Nephilim in the context of the "sons of God" cohabiting with "daughters of humankind," leading to offspring. The term "Nephilim" itself is a subject of interpretive discussion. It is a Hebrew word (נְפִילִים, nephilim) that some scholars translate as "giants" [2, 4]. The word may derive from a root meaning "to fall," suggesting "fallen ones" or those who "fall upon others," implying violent tyrants [2, 4, 7]. Another proposed derivation links it to a root signifying "wonder," leading to interpretations like "monsters" or "prodigies" [2]. Abraham Ibn Ezra suggests they were named because those who saw them "lost heart at their huge stature" [9].
The immediate context of Genesis 6:4 describes a period of increasing human wickedness before the Great Flood. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, notes that "the children of God," who initially preserved true religion, corrupted it by forming "matrimonial connections with irreligious women" [5]. The Nephilim are presented as the "issue of those improper connections" [5]. The Genesis Apocryphon from the Dead Sea Scrolls, an Aramaic retelling of Genesis, expands on this narrative, with Lamech suspecting his wife conceived through a "Watcher" (fallen angel) rather than by him [3].
A significant interpretive question revolves around the phrase "and also afterward" [1]. This suggests the Nephilim existed not only before the Flood but also after it [1, 8, 10]. Numbers 13:33 uses the same term "Nephilim" to describe a Canaanitish tribe, "the sons of Anak," who were of large stature [2, 4]. Abraham Ibn Ezra explicitly connects the post-Flood Nephilim to the "sons of Anak," stating they were "originally from the family of the sons of God" [6, 10]. Ramban (Nachmanides) also considers the possibility that the "sons of Anak" were descendants of the Nephilim, suggesting either Noah's sons' wives carried their lineage or that Ibn Ezra's interpretation implies their continued existence [8].
The consequences of the Nephilim's birth are implicitly tied to the pervasive wickedness that led to the Flood. The Tyndale House commentary notes that the context implies the Nephilim "would be destroyed in the flood" [4]. Their existence is part of the broader narrative of depravity that displeased God and prompted the decision to destroy every living creature, with Noah and his family finding grace [5].
Sources
- Genesis “Genesis 6:4 (LEB) — The Nephilim were upon the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God went into the daughters of humankind, and they bore children to them.”
- 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 ”
- 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”
- 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).”
- Genesis (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Genesis 6 (introduction): The children of God, among whom the true religion was at first preserved, corrupt it by forming matrimonial connections with irreligious women, Gen 6:1, Gen 6:2. God, displeased with these connections and their consequences, limits the continuance of the old world to one hundred and twenty years, Gen 6:3. The issue of those improper connections termed giants, Gen 6:4. An affecting description of the depravity of the world, Gen 6:5, Gen 6:6. God threatens the destruction of every living creature, Gen 6:7. Noah and his family find grace in his sight, Gen ”
- 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”
- 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”
- 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”
- 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.”
- Sefaria (Jewish (Rationalist)) “Abraham Ibn Ezra on Genesis 6:4: [AFTER THAT.] After the flood. Behold, the sons of Anak (Num. 13:33) were originally from the family of the sons of God . 17 Thus we see that the descendants of the nephilim lived on after the flood.”