A Study on the Giants in Genesis

Angela,

This is just a short briefing on the issue of Giants in Genesis.

Let me know what version you want the data in and also give me specific verses, words, or phrases and I will provide you with data in an on going Bible study just between you and me. You can pick or change topics anytime.

I love you,

Dad

A Study on the “Giants” in Genesis

For

Angela Sue (Worley) Shaw

Gen 6:3And the LORD 3068 said, 559 8799 My spirit 7307 shall not always 5769 strive 1777 8799 with man, 120 for that he also 1571 is flesh: 1320 7683 8800 yet his days 3117 shall be an hundred 3967 and twenty 6242 years.

Gen 6:4There were giants 5303 (See Below); in the earth 776 in those days; 3117 and also after 310 that, 3651 when 834 the sons 1121 of God 430 came in 935 8799 unto the daughters 1323 of men, 120 and they bare 3205 8804 children to them, the same 1992 became mighty men 1368 which were of old, 5769 men 582 of renown

5303 nephiyl { nef-eel’} or nephil { nef-eel’}

from 5307 (See Below); TWOT - 1393a (See Below); n m

AV - giant 3; 3

GK - 5872 { µyliypinÒ

}*

1) giants, the Nephilim

5307 naphal { naw-fal’}

a primitive root; TWOT - 1392; v

AV - fail 318, fall down 25, cast 18, cast down 9, fall away 5, divide 5, overthrow 5, present 5, lay 3, rot 3, accepted 2, lie down 2, inferior 2, lighted 2, lost 2, misc 22; 434

GK - 5877 { lp'n:

1) to fall, lie, be cast down, fail

1a) (Qal)

1a1) to fall

1a2) to fall (of violent death)

1a3) to fall prostrate, prostrate oneself before

1a4) to fall upon, attack, desert, fall away to , go away to, fall into the hand of

1a5) to fall short, fail, fall out, turn out, result

1a6) to settle, waste away, be offered, be inferior to

1a7) to lie, lie prostrate

1b) (Hiphil)

1b1) to cause to fall, fell, throw down, knock out, lay prostrate

1b2) to overthrow

1b3) to make the lot fall, assign by lot, apportion by lot

1b4) to let drop, cause to fail (fig.)

1b5) to cause to fall

1c) (Hithpael)

1c1) to throw or prostrate oneself, throw oneself upon

1c2) to lie prostrate, prostrate oneself

1d) (Pilel) to fall

1393a µyliypinÒ

(neápéÆléÆm) giants, the Nephilim (Gen 6:4; Num 13:33, only).

While some scholars attempt to relate this term etymologically to naµpal I via the noun neµpel “untimely birth” or “miscarriage” (as productive of superhuman monstrosities), a more likely reconstruction is the proposal of a root naµpal II, akin to other weak verbs, puÆl II “be wonderful, strong, mighty,” paµlaµ< “be wonderful,” and even paµlaÆ “separate, distinguish,” paµlal “discriminate.” This pattern of semantically related groups of weak verbs with two strong consonants in common is a notably recurrent phenomenon in Hebrew lexicography. Actually, the translation “giants” is supported mainly by the LXX and may be quite misleading. The word may be of unknown origin and mean “heroes” or “fierce warriors” etc. The RSV and NIV transliteration “Nephilim” is safer and may be correct in referring the noun to a race or nation.