Who were the Nephilim

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Shannon50

Shannon50

Senior Member
#1
May 9, 2015
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#1
Just putting it out there-- I've done a little research and I wanted to know if anyone has a take on The Nephilim, who they were, (what/ when /where/ why?)

They are first mentioned in Genesis 6 [SUP]4 [/SUP]The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Then they are mentioned later in the bible as well--- any thoughts? Let's try to keep it civil, please
 
F

flob

Guest
#2
#2
they're the children from (fallen) angels' intercourse with women.
When the sons of God, cf Job 1:6, went to the daughters of men and had children by them.
Cf also 1 Pet 3:19-20; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6
 
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santuzza

santuzza

Senior Member
#3
Feb 12, 2013
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#3
There have been numerous threads on this topic -- please do a search and you'll find plenty of input.

Thanks!
 
Bookends

Bookends

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#4
Aug 28, 2012
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Angles do not have intercoarse with mankind, angles are spiritual beings and can not manifest themselves as humans unless the Lord allows it. The Nephilim are nothing more then ancient giants, really tall people (like some of the basketball players you see :) )>...
 
Shannon50

Shannon50

Senior Member
#5
May 9, 2015
184
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#5
K-- sorry to post this new thread-- new to how this all works, Thanks!
 
J

JesusIsAll

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#7
#7
There is nothing but plausible answers to this. The one I find sensible is that they were demon controlled men, not angels incarnate into mortal man. Of course, they became capable of any evil, men of renown, probably willing to squash anything that got in their way. They surely polluted the human race with every conceivable evil, as is the nature of the demonic. The angels incarnate model comes in conflict with,

Matthew 22:30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

In Numbers 13:33 are the same giants, nephilim, post-flood, and, of course, Goliath was a big guy, that one is a giant not evidence of being a fallen angel, incarnate. Nephilim isn't, therefore, exclusive of incarnate angels, rather used of mortal men, who'd, granted, do well at basketball, but maybe not SciFi channel stuff?
 
kodiak

kodiak

Senior Member
#8
Mar 8, 2015
4,995
290
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#8
Shannon50 said:
Just putting it out there-- I've done a little research and I wanted to know if anyone has a take on The Nephilim, who they were, (what/ when /where/ why?)

They are first mentioned in Genesis 6 [SUP]4 [/SUP]The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Then they are mentioned later in the bible as well--- any thoughts? Let's try to keep it civil, please
Click to expand...
This is an interesting topic. If you want a very good explanation of the different views, check this website.
Answers in Genesis.
 
F

flob

Guest
#9
#9
Don't be sorry to post a question. If that gentleman wants to dwell on or recommend old threads, that's his privilege.
Just as it's yours not to.

To the contrary of the other poster's comments above, Moses wrote that the "sons of God [angels, cf Job 1:6]" both "saw that the daughters of men were attractive;" and "they took wives for themselves from all whom they chose" and "came in to [had
sexual intercourse with] the daughters of men," AND "they gave birth to children to them [reproduced]..."

Angels, though spirits, throughout the Bible appear as/resemble men. One even appeared as or incarnated as a Serpent.
Though such actions should be illegal, God, in the wisdom of His ultimate, eternal, purpose, allows many rebellions and sins.
This sin, however, of these angels, pollutes the human genome, touches on, and defiles, reproduction. Which is particularly
egregious. Which is referred to in 1 Pet 3:19-20; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6.

The nonmarrying angels in Matthew 22:30 are of course nonrebellious angels. Mt 22:30 all the more highlights the rebelliousness and evil of the fallen angels' actions in Genesis 6. To say that the whole topic of nephilim, including
Goliath, refers merely to 'basketball' giants, trivializes the messages and record of God
 
J

JesusIsAll

Guest
#10
#10
flob said:
Don't be sorry to post a question. If that gentleman wants to dwell on or recommend old threads, that's his privilege.
Just as it's yours not to.

To the contrary of the other poster's comments above, Moses wrote that the "sons of God [angels, cf Job 1:6]" both "saw that the daughters of men were attractive;" and "they took wives for themselves from all whom they chose" and "came in to [had
sexual intercourse with] the daughters of men," AND "they gave birth to children to them [reproduced]..."

Angels, though spirits, throughout the Bible appear as/resemble men. One even appeared as or incarnated as a Serpent.
Though such actions should be illegal, God, in the wisdom of His ultimate, eternal, purpose, allows many rebellions and sins.
This sin, however, of these angels, pollutes the human genome, touches on, and defiles, reproduction. Which is particularly
egregious. Which is referred to in 1 Pet 3:19-20; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 6.

The nonmarrying angels in Matthew 22:30 are of course nonrebellious angels. Mt 22:30 all the more highlights the rebelliousness and evil of the fallen angels' actions in Genesis 6. To say that the whole topic of nephilim, including
Goliath, refers merely to 'basketball' giants, trivializes the messages and record of God
Click to expand...
Then, by your reckoning, angels can become mortal man, can reproduce in the flesh, and must also struggle with lusting over human women. Somehow, they overcame that problem, since? And the model of demon control is spirits, inhabiting mortal flesh of the earth. Your model is fraught with theological and rational problems, and not shared by many learned theologians.
 
MarcR

MarcR

Senior Member
#11
Feb 12, 2015
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JesusIsAll said:
Then, by your reckoning, angels can become mortal man, can reproduce in the flesh, and must also struggle with lusting over human women. Somehow, they overcame that problem, since? And the model of demon control is spirits, inhabiting mortal flesh of the earth. Your model is fraught with theological and rational problems, and not shared by many learned theologians.
Click to expand...
No! The Hebrew Nephil means fallen Nephilim are the fallen ones. Only fallen angels would be inclined to such a union.
 
F

flob

Guest
#12
#12
By my reading of the Scriptures of God, specifically all the ones I've cited and quoted here so far,
certain (fallen) angels sinfully and illegally reproduced with human females in the flesh.
In an evil and grotesque and illegal and condemned counterfeit of God's design----
to Himself "become flesh" which He did, through reproduction (although not 'sexual'),
by His Holy Spirit fertilizing and conceiving a human egg within Mary to produce the sinless GodMan,
ManGod, Jesus Christ, who is now not only God, but also human permanently, irrevocably, and eternally,
as our Husband and Head, for His enjoyment, satisfaction, and expression eternally, and increasingly
unto eternity.

The fallen angels, and all angels (cf Heb 1:4-14), do not, and have not, "become men." The worst those
particular evil ones could, and did do was to reproduce.........evil 'hybrids,' Nephilim. Neither I, nor the Bible,
said that those principalities "became men." As far as "struggling" with lust, that also appears to misrepresent
both the Bible, Genesis 6, and me. The fallen angels had already rebelled, and fallen, before God created Adam,
before He created man. So they were actively rebelling and attacking God and God's purpose by seeking to corrupt
mankind. The situation at Noah's time was at least the "third" fall of man recorded in Genesis.

Lastly, the dear poster questioned or opined that "somehow they overcame that problem?"
Lol, I question your question. What do you mean? Those Genesis 6 angels, according to my reading of Peter and Jude,
were judged very soon after by the Lord, being chained in Tartarus. (Much like Satan, a fallen angel, himself will be
chained in the unpleasant part of Hades for 1000 years.) So the Genesis 6 angels didn't "overcome" their "problem."
They're locked away from human women! And all or most other fallen angels are.............deterred. By this divine "criminal
justice system." The poster mentions "demons." Which are another, separate, group of fallen beings allied with Satan.
Demons are not angels, nor men. Never were, never will be. Though the word "spirits" is also applied to them.
 
A

atwhatcost

Guest
#13
#13
Shannon50 said:
Just putting it out there-- I've done a little research and I wanted to know if anyone has a take on The Nephilim, who they were, (what/ when /where/ why?)

They are first mentioned in Genesis 6 [SUP]4 [/SUP]The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

Then they are mentioned later in the bible as well--- any thoughts? Let's try to keep it civil, please
Click to expand...
Half a century ago the word Nephilim could be found four times in all ancient text we still have today. Two of those times were in the Bible -- once before the flood and once after.

According to Strong's Concordance, it meant giants or fellers.
 
P

popeye

Guest
#14
#14
[video=youtube;LGnOA4DgWko]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGnOA4DgWko[/video]
 
K

Kaycie

Guest
#15
#15
They were the children of the sons of God. Who are the sons of God? A lot of people say they were angels, but Jesus says that angels do not marry, nor are they given in marriage. The sons (or children) of God are humans. I myself am a child of God. In the genealogy, I think it is Luke 3:38 (I'll double check and change it if I'm wrong) it says the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. So Adam is a son of God, and he is not an angel.

So then, why would God make such giants? In the Old Testament everything was represented physically that is now done spiritually in the New Testament. So, when the sons of God sinned, that created a big problem. How'd you like to change those diapers? It stinks- just like sin stinks.
 
MarcR

MarcR

Senior Member
#16
Feb 12, 2015
5,486
183
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#16
Kaycie said:
They were the children of the sons of God. Who are the sons of God? A lot of people say they were angels, but Jesus says that angels do not marry, nor are they given in marriage. The sons (or children) of God are humans. I myself am a child of God. In the genealogy, I think it is Luke 3:38 (I'll double check and change it if I'm wrong) it says the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. So Adam is a son of God, and he is not an angel.

So then, why would God make such giants? In the Old Testament everything was represented physically that is now done spiritually in the New Testament. So, when the sons of God sinned, that created a big problem. How'd you like to change those diapers? It stinks- just like sin stinks.
Click to expand...
Jesus indeed says that of 'the angels of God as distinct from the fallen angels.

Nothing is said of marriage. The daughters of men are said to have been taken i.e. as spoils of war.
 
K

kennethcadwell

Guest
#17
#17
Kaycie said:
They were the children of the sons of God. Who are the sons of God? A lot of people say they were angels, but Jesus says that angels do not marry, nor are they given in marriage. The sons (or children) of God are humans. I myself am a child of God. In the genealogy, I think it is Luke 3:38 (I'll double check and change it if I'm wrong) it says the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God. So Adam is a son of God, and he is not an angel.

So then, why would God make such giants? In the Old Testament everything was represented physically that is now done spiritually in the New Testament. So, when the sons of God sinned, that created a big problem. How'd you like to change those diapers? It stinks- just like sin stinks.
Click to expand...
MarcR said:
Jesus indeed says that of 'the angels of God as distinct from the fallen angels.

Nothing is said of marriage. The daughters of men are said to have been taken i.e. as spoils of war.
Click to expand...


Our Lord Jesus never said that about angels that they do not marry or are given in marriage.

The scripture you are referring to Kaycie is Matthew 22:30 and Mark 12:25 it is speaking of us after we are resurrected, not speaking of angels.

Matthew 22:30
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Mark 12:25
For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.

When we rise in the resurrection and transformed into our spiritual eternal bodies there will be no marriage or giving in marriage, and our spiritual bodies will be like those of the angels, not that we will be angels....

As for the Nephilim they are the offspring from the fallen angels and women as the bible clearly says in Genesis 6:4.
Job also speaks of the sons of God in Job 1:6, 2:1 and it is referring to angels in those verses....
 
Bookends

Bookends

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#19
Aug 28, 2012
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#19
If angles can masquerade around on earth as mere men, then how do we know who is and who isn't a genuine human? Jesus himself could have been an impostor.

Genesis 6 deals with the sins of men, not of angels, follow the context! Angels were not the one's being judged here.

When angels appeared as humans in the bible it was to communicate to God's people God's purposes. For God to allow angles to become men for the lustful purposes of fallen angles falls outside of God's character.

A fair balance of explanations I found here: Sons of God - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
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Bookends

Bookends

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Aug 28, 2012
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kedge said:
Obviously He did according to the Bible.
Click to expand...
There is nothing obvious about it, if it was, there wouldn't be some much confusion about the meaning of "Sons of God" in Gen. 6 among Christians.
 
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