Exegesis of Genesis 6:4: The Nephilim

Genesis 6:4 (ESV) states:

"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown."

Meaning and Definition of the Nephilim

The term Nephilim (נְפִּלִים) appears in the Hebrew Bible and is often translated as "giants" or "fallen ones." The exact meaning of the word is debated. The root of Nephilim is commonly associated with the Hebrew verb naphal (נפל), meaning "to fall," leading to interpretations that they were "fallen ones"—either fallen angels, fallen warriors, or those who caused others to fall in battle.

Interpretations of the Nephilim

1. Nephilim as Offspring of Divine Beings and Humans

The immediate context of Genesis 6:4 suggests that the Nephilim were born as a result of unions between the "sons of God" (בני האלהים) and the "daughters of men." The term "sons of God" has been interpreted in various ways:

• Angelic Beings: This view, supported by ancient Jewish texts like the Book of Enoch and early Christian traditions, suggests that the Nephilim were the offspring of fallen angels who took human wives.

• Dynastic Rulers: Some scholars propose that "sons of God" refers to powerful rulers who took wives forcefully, leading to a class of mighty warriors.

• Godly Line of Seth: A traditional Christian interpretation sees "sons of God" as the righteous lineage of Seth and "daughters of men" as the ungodly lineage of Cain, leading to moral corruption.

2. Nephilim as Giants

The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, translates Nephilim as "gigantes" (giants). This has led to the widespread belief that the Nephilim were physically large and strong, an idea reinforced by the account of the Anakim in Numbers 13:33, where the Israelite spies report seeing Nephilim in Canaan.

Historical and Theological Significance

1. Ancient Near Eastern Context: The story of divine beings mating with humans parallels other Near Eastern myths, such as the Mesopotamian traditions of demigods and the Apkallu, semi-divine figures who brought wisdom to humanity.

2. Moral Decline and the Flood: Genesis 6 sets the stage for the flood narrative, showing a world corrupted by violence and divine-human transgressions, leading to God's judgment.

3. Later Biblical References: The Nephilim reappear in Numbers 13:33 in the report of the Israelite spies, linking them to the giant clans in Canaan.

4. Second Temple Jewish Literature: Books like 1 Enoch and Jubilees expand on the Nephilim, portraying them as monstrous beings who brought sin and chaos to the world.

Conclusion

Genesis 6:4 presents the Nephilim as enigmatic figures whose nature has been the subject of much speculation. Whether seen as fallen angels' offspring, mighty rulers, or simply giants, their presence in the biblical narrative signifies a period of great moral corruption that ultimately led to divine judgment through the flood. The debate over their identity continues to be a subject of theological, historical, and linguistic inquiry.