WHERE DO THE NEPHILIMS COME FROM?
Are they, Fallen Angels?
Genesis 6:1–4) are subject to interpretation and debate among scholars and theologians. The passage in Genesis states:
“When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. Then the LORD said, ‘My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal; their days will be a hundred and twenty years.’
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.”
The identity of the “sons of God” who interacted with human women and produced the Nephilim is not explicitly clarified in the biblical text. There are several interpretations that have been proposed:
Fallen Angels:
One interpretation suggests that the “sons of God” refer to fallen angels who rebelled against God and took human women as wives, resulting in the birth of the Nephilim. This view is based on the understanding that the phrase “sons of God” elsewhere in the Bible refers to angels (Job 1:6; 2:1).
Righteous Line of Seth:
Another interpretation posits that the “sons of God” were righteous descendants of Seth (Adam and Eve’s son), while the “daughters of humans” were descendants of Cain. According to this view, the intermarriage between the two groups resulted in the corruption of the godly line of Seth, producing wicked and powerful individuals, the Nephilim.
Ancient Kings or Heroes:
Some scholars suggest that the Nephilim were not the offspring of a supernatural union but rather ancient kings or heroes who were renowned for their strength, power, and influence.
It is important to note that the topic of the Nephilim is limited to a few verses in the Bible, and there is no extensive explanation given regarding their origin or nature. As a result, different interpretations and theories exist, and there is no universally accepted understanding among scholars.
John U. Ordillo
