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== Biblical References == |
== Biblical References == |
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| − | The Bible explains the Nephilim as the offspring of the "sons of |
+ | The Bible explains the Nephilim as the offspring of the "sons of Yahweh" and the "daughters of men" that lived both post and pre-flood.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%206:1-4&version=NASB Genesis 6:1-4]</ref> The spies that came back from spying out the Promised Land also ran into the Nephilim and mentioned that they felt like grasshoppers compared to their size.<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2013:33&version=NASB Numbers 13:33]</ref> |
== Etymology == |
== Etymology == |
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There are two major controversies that accompany the Nephilim. The first controversy arises when trying to define exactly who the Nephilim are and where did they come from. The second controversy arises when trying to explain how the Nephilim could have existed both pre and post-flood. |
There are two major controversies that accompany the Nephilim. The first controversy arises when trying to define exactly who the Nephilim are and where did they come from. The second controversy arises when trying to explain how the Nephilim could have existed both pre and post-flood. |
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| − | === |
+ | ===The "sons of Yahweh" Controversy=== |
| − | There are three leading theories on who the "sons of |
+ | There are three leading theories on who the "sons of Yahweh" are that are mentioned in Genesis 6. |
| − | *"Sons of |
+ | *"Sons of Yahweh" refers to fallen angels who lived on earth and took human women as their wives. Therefore the Nephilim are superhuman giants who were the offspring of these marriages. There are a few biblical references that seem to back up this theory. For example in the book of Job angels are referred to as "sons of Yahweh.”<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%201:6&version=NASB Job 1:6]</ref><ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%202:1&version=NASB Job 2:1]</ref> This being said angels in the book of Job are angels that did not fall and are mentioned separately from Satan who is also mentioned. In Jude it is mentioned that there are "angels who did not keep to their domain.”<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jude%206&version=NASB Jude 6]</ref> which could refer to angels who have come to live on Earth. There are also passages in the Bible that mention angels taking human form<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews%2013:2&version=NASB Hebrews 13:2]</ref><ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2019:1-3&version=NASB Genesis 19:1-3]</ref> but this does not prove that they could reproduce with humans as the theory suggests. |
| − | *"Sons of |
+ | *"Sons of Yahweh" refers to descendents of Seth who married the descendents of Cain ("daughters of men"). Therefore the Nephilim were not giants but brave men of their, or "heroes." There are places in the Bible where humans are referred to have “children of Yahweh”<ref>[http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2014:1&version=NASB Deuteronomy 14:1]</ref> although never “sons of Yahweh.” The descendants of Seth are described as Yahwehly in the genealogy in Genesis 5 but as they were not spared in the great flood the descendants of Seth were most likely not very Yahwehly. This theory requires that the phrases "men" and "daughters of men" have two different meanings within the same sentence. "Men" and "daughters of men" in v.1 would refer to all mankind and their daughters, but "daughters of men" in v. 2 would refer to Cainite women. |
| − | *"Sons of |
+ | *"Sons of Yahweh" can also be translated as "kings" or "sons of nobles." Therefore the "sons of Yahweh" were royalty or aristocrats who were corrupt and married common women, possibly against their will or despite their already being married and their offspring were merely half-nobles who went on to make a name for themselves. This theory runs into a cultural roadblock in that the Israelites never referred to their royalty as “sons of Yahweh.” |
| − | === |
+ | ===The Flood Controversy=== |
The Bible states that the Nephilim were alive before the flood and after the flood, yet the Bible also states everything but Noah's family was blotted out. How did they survive? |
The Bible states that the Nephilim were alive before the flood and after the flood, yet the Bible also states everything but Noah's family was blotted out. How did they survive? |
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| − | '''Pre-Flood:''' The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of |
+ | '''Pre-Flood:''' The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of Yahweh came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. – Genesis 6:4 |
'''The Flood:''' Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. – Genesis 7:23 |
'''The Flood:''' Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. – Genesis 7:23 |
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*Nephilim were rulers and therefore married non-nobles again after the flood. |
*Nephilim were rulers and therefore married non-nobles again after the flood. |
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| − | Unfortunately the Bible does not explain how the Nephilim existed both before and after the flood. However, it must accept that they did exist at both times as the Bible clearly states that they did. This controversy would be easier to solve if the "sons of |
+ | Unfortunately the Bible does not explain how the Nephilim existed both before and after the flood. However, it must accept that they did exist at both times as the Bible clearly states that they did. This controversy would be easier to solve if the "sons of Yahweh" controversy had solid answers as well. |
== Notes == |
== Notes == |
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Revision as of 22:24, 26 August 2013
The Nephilim are giant beings mentioned in the Bible.
Biblical References
The Bible explains the Nephilim as the offspring of the "sons of Yahweh" and the "daughters of men" that lived both post and pre-flood.[1] The spies that came back from spying out the Promised Land also ran into the Nephilim and mentioned that they felt like grasshoppers compared to their size.[2]
Etymology
The word Nephilim (Hebrew: נְפִילִים) does not have a clear origin or meaning. It probably derives from the root npl (נָפַל), "to fall," "to cause to fall" and "ones who have fallen".[3] Still, others have interpreted the word to mean "giants."[4]
Controversies
There are two major controversies that accompany the Nephilim. The first controversy arises when trying to define exactly who the Nephilim are and where did they come from. The second controversy arises when trying to explain how the Nephilim could have existed both pre and post-flood.
The "sons of Yahweh" Controversy
There are three leading theories on who the "sons of Yahweh" are that are mentioned in Genesis 6.
- "Sons of Yahweh" refers to fallen angels who lived on earth and took human women as their wives. Therefore the Nephilim are superhuman giants who were the offspring of these marriages. There are a few biblical references that seem to back up this theory. For example in the book of Job angels are referred to as "sons of Yahweh.”[5][6] This being said angels in the book of Job are angels that did not fall and are mentioned separately from Satan who is also mentioned. In Jude it is mentioned that there are "angels who did not keep to their domain.”[7] which could refer to angels who have come to live on Earth. There are also passages in the Bible that mention angels taking human form[8][9] but this does not prove that they could reproduce with humans as the theory suggests.
- "Sons of Yahweh" refers to descendents of Seth who married the descendents of Cain ("daughters of men"). Therefore the Nephilim were not giants but brave men of their, or "heroes." There are places in the Bible where humans are referred to have “children of Yahweh”[10] although never “sons of Yahweh.” The descendants of Seth are described as Yahwehly in the genealogy in Genesis 5 but as they were not spared in the great flood the descendants of Seth were most likely not very Yahwehly. This theory requires that the phrases "men" and "daughters of men" have two different meanings within the same sentence. "Men" and "daughters of men" in v.1 would refer to all mankind and their daughters, but "daughters of men" in v. 2 would refer to Cainite women.
- "Sons of Yahweh" can also be translated as "kings" or "sons of nobles." Therefore the "sons of Yahweh" were royalty or aristocrats who were corrupt and married common women, possibly against their will or despite their already being married and their offspring were merely half-nobles who went on to make a name for themselves. This theory runs into a cultural roadblock in that the Israelites never referred to their royalty as “sons of Yahweh.”
The Flood Controversy
The Bible states that the Nephilim were alive before the flood and after the flood, yet the Bible also states everything but Noah's family was blotted out. How did they survive?
Pre-Flood: The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of Yahweh came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. – Genesis 6:4
The Flood: Thus He blotted out every living thing that was upon the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky, and they were blotted out from the earth; and only Noah was left, together with those that were with him in the ark. – Genesis 7:23
Post-Flood: There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight. – Numbers 13:33
There are many theories regarding how the Nephilim could exist both pre and post-flood.
- The spies who spied out the Promised Land in the book of Numbers most likely saw large people who they mistakenly thought were Nephilim.
- The fallen angels came back after the flood and, again, took human wives.
- The term Nephlim must mean anyone who is of large stature.
- Noah, his wife, or one of his children must have been Nephilim.
- Nephilim were rulers and therefore married non-nobles again after the flood.
Unfortunately the Bible does not explain how the Nephilim existed both before and after the flood. However, it must accept that they did exist at both times as the Bible clearly states that they did. This controversy would be easier to solve if the "sons of Yahweh" controversy had solid answers as well.
Notes
- ↑ Genesis 6:1-4 (Link)
- ↑ Numbers 13:33 (Link)
- ↑ Hendel R. ed. Auffarth Christoph; Loren T. Stuckenbruck The Fall of the Angels. (Link)
- ↑ Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (Link)
- ↑ Job 1:6 (Link)
- ↑ Job 2:1 (Link)
- ↑ Jude 6 (Link)
- ↑ Hebrews 13:2 (Link)
- ↑ Genesis 19:1-3 (Link)
- ↑ Deuteronomy 14:1 (Link)