The Mystery and Identity of the Biblical Nephilim

Genesis 6:4

4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

The Nephilim were a class of violent tyrants and men of great physical stature who lived in the antediluvian worldBHOTV1 32.3+1. While the term is often associated with "giants," it primarily signifies "men of violence" or those who "fall upon" othersBHOTV1 32.3+1.

The Identity and Character of the Nephilim

• Violent Tyrants: The Hebrew word Nephilim denotes those who are violent or "causing to fall," representing a period where might was prioritized over rightETI Giants.2+1.

• Men of Renown: These individuals were the "mighty men" of old, renowned for their physical strength, wisdom, and skill in devising cunning works, yet their guilt was proportionate to their mental ability because of their unbridled iniquity Genesis 6:4EGWSRGES 39.7+1.

• Physical Stature: These inhabitants of the ancient world were of giant-like stature, more than twice as tall as men living today, and were well-proportioned with high-order mindsEGWSRGES 39.7+1.

• Result of Apostasy: Their prevalence reached a peak when the "sons of God" (the Sethite line) forsook their integrity and intermarried with the "daughters of men" (the Cainite line) for sensual motives Genesis 6:1-2BHOTV1 32.1+1.

The Nephilim After the Flood

• Reappearance of the Term: The word Nephilim appears again in the report of the spies who searched the land of CanaanBHOTV1 32.1+1.

• The Sons of Anak: The ten unfaithful spies identified the "sons of Anak" as Nephilim, describing them as men of such great stature that the Israelites appeared as "grasshoppers" in comparison Numbers 13:33BHOTV2 148.1+1.

• Legacy of Giants: While the antediluvian Nephilim were swept away in the flood, various tribes of great stature existed later, such as the Anakim, Rephaim, and the Philistine giants like GoliathETI Anak.2+2.

The Spiritual Lesson

The history of the Nephilim serves as a warning that great physical and mental powers, when not devoted to the service of God, lead to corruption and violenceBEcho July 1, 1887, par. 4. Just as the inhabitants of the Noachian world were absorbed in worldly pleasure and ignored heaven-sent warnings until the flood took them away, the same conditions of lawlessness and indifference will prevail before the coming of the Son of man Matthew 24:37-39CCh 38.5+1. Today, God calls His children to separate from the world’s corrupting influences to be acknowledged as His sons and daughters 2 Corinthians 6:17-183MR 104.4+1.

The post-diluvian giants, often identified by the Israelites with the Nephilim of old, descended from the original inhabitants of Palestine who were of the same race as the Phoenicians and the Egyptian shepherd kingsETI Anak.2. While the Bible does not explicitly name which of Noah's sons the later giant tribes descended from, it identifies these groups as Cushite tribes originating from BabelETI Anak.2.

The Origin and Identification of Post-Diluvian Giants

• Identity as Anakim: The giants encountered after the flood are frequently referred to as the Anakim, who were the descendants of Anak, the son of Arba Joshua 15:13ETI Anak.2.

• Cushite Roots: These formidable people are recognized as a Cushite tribe that originated from Babel before inhabiting the regions of Palestine, Edom, and Moab Genesis 10:10ETI Anak.2.

• The Rephaim Connection: The Anakim were a branch of an aboriginal people known as the RephaimSBD Giants.4. Other branches of this same giant race included the Enim, Zuzim, and the Zamzummim Deuteronomy 2:20SBD Giants.4+1.

• Persistence After the Flood: The spies sent to search Canaan reported seeing the sons of Anak and identified them as coming from the same lineage as the antediluvian giants Numbers 13:33ETI Anak.2+1.

Notable Descendants and Their Fate

• King Og of Bashan: He was the last of the remnant of the giants in his region, famously possessing an iron bedstead over sixteen feet long Deuteronomy 3:11ARSH October 3, 1865, page 140.15+1.

• The Philistine Giants: Long after the time of Joshua, giant descendants remained among the Philistines in cities like Gath Joshua 11:22ETI Anak.2. This lineage included Goliath and other men of great stature who possessed six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot 2 Samuel 21:20ETI Anak.2+1.

• The Conquest by Faith: Caleb was instrumental in expelling the three sons of Anak—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai—from Hebron, demonstrating that the strength of God is superior to any giant stature Joshua 15:14PP 513.1+1.

The Continued Decrease in Stature

The generations born after the flood were less in stature than those who lived before the deluge1BC 1090.1. While the antediluvian races were more than twice as tall as men today, there has been a continual decrease in human size and vital force over time1BC 1090.1+1. The appearance of giants like the Anakim served as a terrifying reminder to the Israelites of the physical power of the ancient world, yet their existence proved that rebellion against God leads to ultimate destructionETI Anak.2+1.