24 best bible verses about nephilim

The Origin of the Nephilim:

Genesis 6:1-2

“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.”

Reflection: This verse sets the stage for the introduction of the Nephilim, highlighting the union between the “sons of God” and the “daughters of humans.” It raises questions about the nature of these beings and their offspring.

Genesis 6:4

“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.”

Reflection: This verse explicitly mentions the Nephilim, describing them as “heroes of old” and “men of renown.” It suggests that they were significant figures in ancient times, possibly due to their extraordinary abilities or stature.

The Nephilim and the Flood:

Genesis 6:5-7

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.'”

Reflection: The presence of the Nephilim is part of the broader context of human wickedness that led to the Flood. Their existence is intertwined with the moral decline that grieved God and prompted His decision to cleanse the earth.

Genesis 7:23

“Every living thing on the face of the earth was wiped out; people and animals and the creatures that move along the ground and the birds were wiped from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those with him in the ark.”

Reflection: This verse underscores the totality of the Flood’s destruction, which included the Nephilim. It emphasizes God’s judgment on the pervasive wickedness of the time.

Post-Flood Nephilim:

Numbers 13:32-33

“And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, ‘The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.'”

Reflection: This verse indicates that the Nephilim, or their descendants, were still present after the Flood. The spies’ report highlights their formidable size and strength, which instilled fear in the Israelites.

The Nephilim and Giants:

Deuteronomy 2:10-11

“The Emites used to live there—a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. Like the Anakites, they too were considered Rephaites, but the Moabites called them Emites.”

Reflection: This verse connects the Nephilim to other groups of giants, such as the Emites and Anakites. It suggests a continuity of these giant beings in the post-Flood world.

Deuteronomy 2:20-21

“(That too was considered a land of the Rephaites, who used to live there; but the Ammonites called them Zamzummites. They were a people strong and numerous, and as tall as the Anakites. The Lord destroyed them from before the Ammonites, who drove them out and settled in their place.)”

Reflection: This passage further elaborates on the presence of giant races, indicating that God had previously dealt with them through other nations. It underscores the recurring theme of divine intervention against these formidable beings.

The Nephilim in Battle:

Deuteronomy 3:11

“Og king of Bashan was the last of the Rephaites. His bed was decorated with iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites.”

Reflection: King Og of Bashan is described as a giant, linking him to the Rephaites and, by extension, the Nephilim. His enormous bed serves as a testament to his extraordinary size.

Joshua 11:21-22

“At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod did any survive.”

Reflection: Joshua’s campaign against the Anakites, descendants of the Nephilim, demonstrates God’s continued effort to remove these giant beings from the Promised Land. It highlights the Israelites’ role in fulfilling God’s judgment.

The Nephilim and David:

1 Samuel 17:4

“A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.”

Reflection: Goliath, a giant from Gath, is often associated with the Nephilim. His immense size and strength made him a formidable opponent, but his defeat by David underscores God’s power over even the mightiest foes.

2 Samuel 21:20-22

“In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David’s brother, killed him. These four were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men.”

Reflection: This passage recounts the defeat of other giants, descendants of Rapha, by David and his men. It highlights the ongoing conflict with these formidable beings and God’s deliverance of Israel.

The Nephilim in Prophecy:

Isaiah 13:3

“I have commanded those I prepared for battle; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath—those who rejoice in my triumph.”

Reflection: This verse, while not directly mentioning the Nephilim, speaks of God’s warriors who execute His judgment. It can be seen as a broader reference to divine intervention against powerful adversaries.

Amos 2:9

“Yet I destroyed the Amorites before them, though they were tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed their fruit above and their roots below.”

Reflection: The Amorites, described as giants, were defeated by God on behalf of Israel. This verse underscores God’s power to overcome even the mightiest of foes.

The Nephilim and the End Times:

Matthew 24:37

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

Reflection: Jesus’ reference to the days of Noah, which included the presence of the Nephilim, suggests that similar conditions of wickedness and divine judgment will precede His return.

Luke 17:26

“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man.”

Reflection: This parallel passage reinforces the idea that the end times will mirror the days of Noah, including the moral and spiritual challenges associated with that era.

The Nephilim in Apocryphal Texts:

1 Enoch 6:1-2

“And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and lusted after them, and said to one another: ‘Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men and beget us children.'”

Reflection: The Book of Enoch provides additional context to the Genesis account, describing the angels’ decision to take human wives and father the Nephilim. It offers a deeper insight into the origins of these beings.

1 Enoch 7:1-2

“And all the others together with them took unto themselves wives, and each chose for himself one, and they began to go in unto them and to defile themselves with them, and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants. And they became pregnant, and they bare great giants, whose height was three thousand ells.”

Reflection: This passage elaborates on the consequences of the angels’ actions, describing the birth of giants and their impact on humanity. It highlights the corruption and knowledge brought by these beings.

The Nephilim in Other Ancient Texts:

Jubilees 5:1

“And it came to pass when the children of men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, that the angels of God saw them on a certain year of this jubilee, that they were beautiful to look upon; and they took themselves wives of all whom they chose, and they bare unto them sons and they were giants.”

Reflection: The Book of Jubilees echoes the Genesis account, emphasizing the role of the angels in fathering giants. It reinforces the narrative of divine beings interacting with humans and producing extraordinary offspring.

Baruch 3:26-28

“There were the giants famous from the beginning, that were of so great stature, and so expert in war. Those did not the Lord choose, neither gave he the way of knowledge unto them: But they were destroyed, because they had no wisdom, and perished through their own foolishness.”

Reflection: This passage from Baruch highlights the downfall of the giants due to their lack of wisdom and divine favor. It underscores the theme of divine judgment against those who misuse their power.

The Nephilim in Historical Context:

Josephus, Antiquities 1.3.1

“For many angels of God accompanied with women, and begat sons that proved unjust, and despisers of all that was good, on account of the confidence they had in their own strength; for the tradition is, that these men did what resembled the acts of those whom the Grecians call giants.”

Reflection: The historian Josephus provides a historical perspective on the Nephilim, linking them to the giants of Greek mythology. His account emphasizes their moral corruption and the consequences of their actions.

Dead Sea Scrolls, 1Q23 Frag. 1

“They knew the secrets of all things. And some of the watchers were corrupt in all their ways.”

Reflection: The Dead Sea Scrolls offer additional insights into the Nephilim, describing their knowledge and the corruption of the watchers (angels). It highlights the broader impact of their presence on humanity.

The Nephilim in Modern Interpretation:

Jude 1:6

“And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.”

Reflection: This verse in Jude references the fallen angels, often associated with the Nephilim, who abandoned their heavenly positions. It underscores the consequences of their rebellion and the certainty of divine judgment.

2 Peter 2:4

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment.”

Reflection: Peter’s reference to the sinning angels reinforces the theme of divine judgment. It serves as a warning and a reminder of God’s justice against those who transgress His commands.