Who were the Nephilim?

Q: Who were the Nephilim in Genesis 6?

There are two main interpretations. The oldest clearly attested interpretation, found in pre-Christian Jewish texts such as 1 Enoch, understands the “sons of God” in Genesis 6 to be fallen angels who had intercourse with women. Their offspring were the Nephilim, a hybrid race described as “mighty men” and “men of renown” (Gen. 6:4).

The other interpretation, popularized by Augustine and embraced by many church fathers after him, including Luther, understands the “sons of God” as believers in the line of Seth who intermarried with the unbelieving “daughters of men” in the line of Cain. In this interpretation, the Nephilim were entirely human.

Q: Which interpretation is more likely?

I used to follow Augustine’s interpretation, but I now lean toward the older interpretation. One, because the Hebrew phrase behind “sons of God” refers only to heavenly beings elsewhere in the Old Testament (Job 1:6; 2:1; cf. 38:7) and, two, the NT evidence points in that direction (see below). That said, the evidence is too inconclusive to be dogmatic about either interpretation.

Q: Does the New Testament support the angelic interpretation?

Jude 6–7 and 2 Peter 2:4–5 speak of angels who sinned and were punished, with 2 Peter placing this immediately before the flood. Jude also draws upon traditions found in 1 Enoch and directly quotes 1 Enoch 1:9 (Jude 14–15). This does not settle the question, but it strengthens the argument that the “sons of God” were fallen angels.

Q: If the Nephilim died in the flood, why do they appear again in Numbers 13:33?

Some argue that their genetic traits survived through one of the wives of Noah’s sons. That is possible, but Scripture never says so. Others argue that there was a second angelic incursion after the flood, producing another generation of Nephilim. Genesis 6:4, which says the Nephilim were on the earth “in those days, and also afterward,” is sometimes cited in support of this view, although Scripture never describes such a second event.

I think a better explanation is that “Nephilim” became a generic title or nickname for extraordinarily large and terrifying warriors. So, the frightened spies in Numbers 13:33 see the Anakim and basically say, “These guys are Nephilim!” 

Written by: Chad Bird