Giants in your Bible

Re-enchanting our faith

Three basic views

The origin of the Nephilim, mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4 and other ancient texts, has been the subject of various interpretations. The three most popular views are:

1. **Fallen Angels**:

- **Biblical Basis**: This view is based on the interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4, where the "sons of God" are often understood to be fallen angels who took human wives, and their offspring were the Nephilim. This interpretation is supported by the Book of Enoch, an ancient Jewish text that expands on this idea, describing the Nephilim as giants born from the union of fallen angels and human women.

- **Support**: This view is popular in both Jewish and Christian traditions, particularly among those who accept the Book of Enoch and other apocryphal writings.

Objection: Lack of Direct Biblical Evidence: Critics argue that the Bible does not explicitly identify the "sons of God" as fallen angels. The term is used elsewhere in the Bible to refer to human beings, particularly in Job 1:6 and 2:1, where "sons of God" are understood to be heavenly beings, but not necessarily fallen ones.

Objection: The Book of Enoch's Non-Canonical Status: Many Christian traditions do not accept the Book of Enoch as canonical or authoritative, questioning its influence on the interpretation of Genesis 6.

Objection: Theological Implications: The idea of fallen angels having physical relations with human women raises complex theological and doctrinal issues, such as the nature of angelic beings and their abilities, which are not clearly addressed in Scripture.

2. **Lineages of Seth and Cain**:

- **Biblical Basis**: According to this interpretation, the "sons of God" are the descendants of Seth (righteous line), and the "daughters of men" are the descendants of Cain (unrighteous line). The Nephilim are seen as the result of intermarriage between these two lineages.

- **Support**: This view is held by some scholars and theologians who interpret "sons of God" and "daughters of men" as referring to human lineages rather than divine beings. It emphasizes a social or moral decline rather than a supernatural one.

Objection: Interpretative Challenges: Critics argue that this view relies on a specific interpretation of the terms "sons of God" and "daughters of men," which may not be the most straightforward reading of the text. There is no explicit mention of these lineages in Genesis 6.

Objection: Lack of Contextual Evidence: Some scholars believe that there is insufficient contextual evidence in Genesis to support the idea that the Nephilim were a result of intermarriage between two distinct lineages, especially given the limited information provided in the text.

Objection: Inconsistent with Ancient Texts: This view is less consistent with ancient Jewish traditions and texts that emphasize a supernatural origin of the Nephilim, such as the Book of Enoch.

3. **Ancient Kings or Tyrants**:

- **Biblical Basis**: This view suggests that the Nephilim were ancient kings or tyrants known for their oppressive rule and violence. The term "Nephilim" is thought to mean "fallen ones" or "giants" in the sense of powerful rulers or warriors.

- **Support**: This interpretation is less supernatural and more historical or cultural, focusing on the idea that the Nephilim were prominent figures in ancient societies rather than beings resulting from divine-human unions.

Objection: Textual Ambiguity: Critics argue that interpreting the Nephilim as ancient kings or tyrants is speculative and lacks direct textual support. The term "Nephilim" is traditionally understood to mean "fallen ones" or "giants," not specifically kings or rulers.

Objection: Historical Context: This view may not fully account for the historical and cultural context of the term "Nephilim" and its usage in ancient texts. The idea of Nephilim as giants or fallen ones does not fit neatly into the concept of tyrannical rulers.

Objection: Lack of Comprehensive Evidence: There is little historical evidence to support the existence of a specific group of ancient kings or tyrants who would fit the description of the Nephilim, making this view less substantiated by historical records.

These interpretations reflect differing perspectives on the nature of the Nephilim and their origins, ranging from supernatural to historical explanations.

Brenton (Septuagant)

Gen 6:2  And it came to pass when men began to be numerous upon the earth, and daughters were born to them, 

Gen 6:3  that the sons of God having seen the daughters of men that they were beautiful, took to themselves wives of all whom they chose. 

Gen 6:4  And the Lord God said, My Spirit shall certainly not remain among these men for ever, because they are flesh, but their days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 

Gen 6:5  Now the giants were upon the earth in those days; and after that when the sons of God were wont to go in to the daughters of men, they bore children to them, those were the giants of old, the men of renown.

Gen 10:8  And Chus begot Nebrod: he began to be a giant upon the earth. 

Gen 10:9  He was a giant hunter before the Lord God; therefore they say, As Nebrod the giant hunter before the Lord. 

Num 13:33  And they brought a horror of that land which they surveyed upon the children of Israel, saying, The land which we passed by to survey it, is a land that eats up its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of extraordinary stature. 

Num 13:34  And there we saw the giants; and we were before them as locusts, yea even so were we before them. 

Isa 49:24  Will any one take spoils from a giant? and if one should take a man captive unjustly, shall he be delivered? 

Isa 49:25  For thus saith the Lord, If one should take a giant captive, he shall take spoils, and he who takes them from a mighty man shall be delivered: for I will plead thy cause, and I will deliver thy children.

Jos 8:3  And Joshua and all the men of war rose to go up to Gai; and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men, and he sent them away by night.

Jos 10:2  then they were greatly terrified by them, for the king knew that Gabaon was a great city, as one of the chief cities, and all its men were mighty.

: 

LSB

Gen 6:1  Now it happened, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 

Gen 6:2  that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were good in appearance; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose. 

Gen 6:3  Then Yahweh said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever because he indeed is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years.” 

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 men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

Gen 10:8  Now Cush was the father of Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 

Gen 10:9  He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before Yahweh.”  

Num 13:33  “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” 

Isa 49:24  “Can the prey be taken from the mighty man, Or the captives of the righteous be granted escape?” 

Isa 49:25  Surely, thus says Yahweh, “Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be granted escape; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons. 

Jos 8:3  So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night

Jos 10:2  then they were greatly terrified by them, for the king knew that Gabaon was a great city, as one of the chief cities, and all its men were mighty.

KJV

Gen 6:2  That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 

Gen 6:3  And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 

Gen 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 10:8  And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

Gen 10:9  He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 

Num 13:33  And 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. 

Isa 49:24  Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? 

Isa 49:25  But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. 

Jos 8:3  So Joshua rose with all the people of war to go up to Ai; and Joshua chose 30,000 men, valiant warriors, and sent them out at night. 

Jos 10:2  they feared exceedingly because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Amorites

The Amorites were a people mentioned frequently in the Bible as inhabitants of the land of Canaan before the Israelites entered the Promised Land. While the Bible does not explicitly call all Amorites giants, there are references that suggest some of them were of great stature.

One of the most notable references is to King Og of Bashan, who is described as the last of the Rephaim, a race of giants. In Deuteronomy 3:11, it mentions that King Og's bed was made of iron and measured approximately 13.5 feet long and 6 feet wide, indicating his enormous size. The Rephaim are sometimes associated with the Amorites, though they are distinct groups.

LSB Deu 3:11  (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits, and its width four cubits by ordinary cubit.) 

Brenton Deu 3:11  For only Og the king of Basan was left of the Raphain: behold, his bed was a bed of iron; behold, it is in the chief city of the children of Ammon; the length of it is nine cubits, and the breadth of it four cubits, according to the cubit of a man. 

KJV Deu 3:11  For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

Rephaim/Rabbath/Raphian

Deu_2:11  Like the Anakim, they are also regarded as Rephaim, but the Moabites call them Emim.

Deu_2:20  (It is also regarded as the land of the Rephaim, for Rephaim formerly lived in it, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummin,

Deu_3:11  (For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bedstead was an iron bedstead; it is in Rabbah of the sons of Ammon. Its length was nine cubits, and its width four cubits by ordinary cubit.)

Deu_3:13  “And the rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh, all the region of Argob. (Concerning all Bashan, it is called the land of Rephaim.

In Amos 2:9, the Amorites are described as being tall, like the height of cedars:

"Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,

whose height was like the height of the cedars

and who was as strong as the oaks;

I destroyed his fruit above

and his roots beneath."

This verse suggests that at least some Amorites were considered to be of extraordinary height and strength, possibly contributing to the perception that they were giants.

So, while not all Amorites are explicitly described as giants, there is a biblical basis for associating some Amorites, particularly those linked to the Rephaim, with great size and strength.

Numbers

(ABP+)  AndG2532 thereG1563 we sawG3708 theG3588 giants;G1095.2 andG2532 we wereG1510.7.4 [3in the presence ofG1799 4themG1473 1asG5616 2locusts];G200 yes,G235 evenG2532 soG3779 we wereG1510.7.4 in the presence ofG1799 them.G1473

(ASV)  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.

(Bishops)  And there we sawe also giauntes the chyldren of Anac [whiche come] of the giauntes: And we seemed in our sight as it were grashoppers, and so we dyd in their sight.

(Brenton) Num 13:34  And there we saw the giants; and we were before them as locusts, yea even so were we before them.

(BSB)  We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”

(Darby)  and there have we seen giants—the sons of Anak are of the giants—and we were in our sight as grasshoppers, and so we were also in their sight.

(ESV)  And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

(ESV+)  And there we saw the R7Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the R7Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves R8like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

(Geneva)  (13:34) For there we sawe gyants, the sonnes of Anak, which come of the gyants, so that we seemed in our sight like grashoppers: and so wee were in their sight.

(German LB)  Wir sahen auch Riesen daselbst, Enaks Kinder von den Riesen; und wir waren vor unsern Augen wie Heuschrecken, und also waren wir auch vor ihren Augen.

(Greek OT)  καὶ ἐκεῖ ἑωράκαμεν τοὺς γίγαντας καὶ ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ ἀκρίδες, ἀλλὰ καὶ οὕτως ἦμεν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν.

(Greek OT+)  καιG2532 CONJ εκειG1563 ADV εωρακαμενG3708 V-RAI-1P τουςG3588 T-APM γιγανταςN-APM καιG2532 CONJ ημενG1510 V-IAI-1P ενωπιονG1799 PREP αυτωνG846 D-GPM ωσειG5616 ADV ακριδεςG200 N-NPF αλλαG235 CONJ καιG2532 CONJ ουτωςG3778 ADV ημενG1510 V-IAI-1P ενωπιονG1799 PREP αυτωνG846 D-GPM

(Hebrew OT+)  ושׁםH8033 ראינוH7200 אתH853 הנפיליםH5303 בניH1121 ענקH6061 מןH4480 הנפליםH5303 ונהיH1961 בעינינוH5869 כחגביםH2284 וכןH3651 היינוH1961 בעיניהם׃H5869

(KJV)  And 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.

(KJV+)  And thereH8033 we sawH7200 (H853) the giants,H5303 the sonsH1121 of Anak,H6061 which come ofH4480 the giants:H5303 and we wereH1961 in our own sightH5869 as grasshoppers,H2284 and soH3651 we wereH1961 in their sight.H5869

(KJV-1611)  And there we saw the giants, the sonnes of Anak, which come of the giants: and wee were in our owne sight as grashoppers, and so wee were in their sight.

(KJVA)  And 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.

(LEB)  There we saw the Nephilim (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their eyes."

(LITV)  And we saw the giants there, the sons of Anak, of the giants. And we were in our own eyes as grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes.

(LSB)  “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

(LSB+)  “ThereH8033 also we sawH7200 the R1NephilimH5303 (the sonsH1121 of AnakH6061 are part of the NephilimH5303); and R2we becameH1961 like grasshoppersH2284 in our own sightH5869, and soH3651 we were in their sightH5869.”

(LSV)  and there we saw the giants, sons of Anak, of the giants; and we are as grasshoppers in our own eyes—and so we were in their eyes.”

(NET)  We even saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak came from the Nephilim), and we seemed like grasshoppers both to ourselves and to them.”

(RV)  And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, which come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

(YLT)  and there we saw the Nephilim, sons of Anak, of the Nephilim; and we are in our own eyes as grasshoppers; and so we were in their eyes.'

Isaiah 49:25

Isaiah 49:25

(ABP+)  ForG3754 thusG3779 saysG3004 the LORD,G2962 IfG1437 anyG5100 should captureG162 a giant,G1095.2 he shall takeG2983 the spoils.G4661 And the one takingG2983 G1161 fromG3844 the one being strong,G2480 shall be delivered.G4982 But IG1473 G1161 G3588 [2your caseG2920 G1473 1will plead],G2919 andG2532 IG1473 G3588 [2your sonsG5207 G1473 1will rescue].G4506

(ASV)  But thus saith Jehovah, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

(Bishops)  But thus saith the Lorde: The prisoners shalbe taken from the mightie, & the spoyle shalbe recouered from the violent: for I wyll maynteyne thy cause agaynst thine aduersaries, and I wyll saue thy sonnes.

(Brenton)  For thus saith the Lord, If one should take a giant captive, he shall take spoils, and he who takes them from a mighty man shall be delivered: for I will plead thy cause, and I will deliver thy children.

(BSB)  Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

(Darby)  For thus saith Jehovah: Even the captive of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; and I will strive with him that striveth with thee, and I will save thy children.

(ESV)  For thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

(ESV+)  For thus says the LORD: R3“Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children.

(Geneva)  But thus sayeth the Lord, euen the captiuitie of the mightie shall be taken away: and the pray of the tyrant shal be deliuered: for I wil contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will saue thy children,

(German LB)  Denn so spricht der HERR: Nun sollen die Gefangenen dem Riesen genommen werden und der Raub des Starken los werden; und ich will mit deinen Haderern hadern und deinen Kindern helfen.

(Greek OT)  οὕτως λέγει κύριος Ἐάν τις αἰχμαλωτεύσῃ γίγαντα, λήμψεται σκῦλα· λαμβάνων δὲ παρὰ ἰσχύοντος σωθήσεται· ἐγὼ δὲ τὴν κρίσιν σου κρινῶ, καὶ ἐγὼ τοὺς υἱούς σου ῥύσομαι·

(Greek OT+)  ουτωςG3778 ADV λεγειG3004 V-PAI-3S κυριοςG2962 N-NSM εανG1437 CONJ τιςG5100 I-NSM αιχμαλωτευσηG162 V-AAS-3S γιγανταN-ASM λημψεταιG2983 V-FMI-3S σκυλαG4661 N-APN λαμβανωνG2983 V-PAPNS δεG1161 PRT παραG3844 PREP ισχυοντοςG2480 V-PAPGS σωθησεταιG4982 V-FPI-3S εγωG1473 P-NS δεG1161 PRT τηνG3588 T-ASF κρισινG2920 N-ASF σουG4771 P-GS κρινωG2919 V-FAI-1S καιG2532 CONJ εγωG1473 P-NS τουςG3588 T-APM υιουςG5207 N-APM σουG4771 P-GS ρυσομαιV-FMI-1S

(Hebrew OT+)  כיH3588 כהH3541 אמרH559 יהוהH3068 גםH1571 שׁביH7628 גבורH1368 (gibbor) יקחH3947 ומלקוחH4455 עריץH6184 ימלטH4422 ואתH854 יריבךH3401 אנכיH595 אריבH7378 ואתH853 בניךH1121 אנכיH595 אושׁיע׃H3467

(KJV)  But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

(KJV+)  ButH3588 thusH3541 saithH559 the LORD,H3068 EvenH1571 the captivesH7628 of the mightyH1368 shall be taken away,H3947 and the preyH4455 of the terribleH6184 shall be delivered:H4422 for IH595 will contend withH7378 him that contendeth withH3401 thee, and IH595 will saveH3467 thy children.H1121

(KJV-1611)  But thus saith the Lord, Euen the captiues of the mightie shall be taken away, and the pray of the terrible shall be deliuered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will saue thy children.

(KJVA)  But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

(LEB)  But thus says Yahweh: "Indeed a captive of the mighty shall be taken, and the war-booty of the tyrant shall be rescued, for I myself will dispute with your opponent, and I myself will save your children.

(LITV)  But so says Jehovah, Even the captives of the warrior shall be taken, and the plunder of the terrifying ones shall be delivered. For I will strive with him who contends with you; and I will save your sons.

(LSB)  Surely, thus says Yahweh, “Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be granted escape; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons.

(LSB+)  SurelyH3588, thusH3541 saysH559 YahwehH3068, “EvenH1571 the R1captivesH7628b of the mightyH1368 manH1368 will be takenH3947 away, And the preyH4455a of the tyrantH6184 will be granted escapeH4422; For I will contendH7378 with the oneH3401 whoH3401 contendsH3401 with you, And I will R2saveH3467 your sonsH1121.

(LSV)  For thus said YHWH: “Even the captive of the mighty is taken, ‖ And the prey of the terrible is delivered, ‖ And I strive with your striver, and I save your sons.

(NET)  Indeed,” says the LORD, “captives will be taken from a warrior; spoils will be rescued from a conqueror. I will oppose your adversary and I will rescue your children.

(RV)  But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

(YLT)  For thus said Jehovah: Even the captive of the mighty is taken, And the prey of the terrible is delivered, And with thy striver I strive, and thy sons I save.

The Hebrew

נְפִל    נְפִיל

nephı̂yl    nephil 5307

nef-eel', nef-eel'

properly, a feller, that is, a bully or tyrant: - giant.

nâphal

naw-fal' 5303

A primitive root; to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitively or causatively, literally or figuratively): - be accepted, cast (down, self, [lots], out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell (-ing), fugitive, have [inheritamce], inferior, be judged [by mistake for H6419], lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present (-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

gibbôr    gibbôr

ghib-bore', ghib-bore'

powerful; by implication warrior, tyrant: - champion, chief, X excel, giant, man, mighty (man, one), strong (man), valiant man.

The Greek

Gigantes (γίγαντες)**: Noun, plural. In ancient Greek, this word primarily means "giants." It can refer to beings of great size and strength, often mythological in nature. The word is also used to describe individuals who are exceptionally strong or mighty.

Clarification of timeline

In the time of Noah giants roamed the earth as man devouring tyrants. The flood squashed most of that. Later we see giants again.

In time of Moses Og was the last known Giant leader or King. By the time of David Goliath was a considered a champion of the people. So not a ruling man eating tyrant, instead a conquored fighting man. A dog on a leash.