THE “NEPHILIM” OF VERSE FOUR
The diversity of interpretations of the nature of the nephilim in verse four makes it evident that the preceding three verses exert only minor constraining power on the definition of these antediluvian men. Probably because the Septuagint translates the word nephilim as giant, and the King James Version carried this definition through, the majority of scholars are inclined to the view that these were men of gigantic stature. This also appears consistent with the only other occurrence of the word in Numbers 13:33, where the returning spies describe themselves as being “grasshoppers” by comparison with the nephilim.
The word itself generally is considered to be derived from the verb naphal meaning “to fall.”43 From this, liberal critics interpret nephilim to mean “those fallen from heaven,” in reference to their progenitors’ angelic origins. Thus, in this line of thinking, the nephilim must be a fantastic race of some description because they are the offspring of the mythological marriages described in verse two.44 Or, extrapolating in the reverse direction, it is argued that the “sons of God” must be angels because the word nephilim means fallen from heaven. In either case, as Archer aptly argues, no one proposes that Goliath or the sons of Anak had angelic forbears, so why suggest it here?45 Note also that the “from heaven” part has to be provided artificially. In fact, Brown, Driver, and Briggs provide several definitions, including to fall by accident—by violent death; in prostration—upon (attack), and others.46
Although there is nothing wrong in proposing that a tribe of tall peoples lived in those days, the full explanation may lie beyond a mere physical interpretation. The whole problem with verse four is relating the allusion to these men who were mighty or strong and “men of renown [name]” to the context of thedegradation of humanity. An answer may lie in the reference to nephilim in Numbers 33. Note that when the spies returned from Canaan, they reported that the people were strong and the cities fortified, and the descendants of Anak lived there (vs. 28). But when Caleb challenged the people to possesses the land, the spies resorted to hyperbole, saying the inhabitants were stronger and bigger than they, “the land eateth its inhabitants,” and the nephilim, sons of Anak were there, with the Israelites being as grasshoppers in their sight (vss. 30-33). So, while these nephilim could have been tall and strong (with some exaggeration by the spies being considered), their obvious military prowess may have struck fear into the Israelites. This encounter could have been an early reference to the Philistines who occupied that region, who often were portrayed as fearsome fighters, and later included the champions Goliath and Saph. Thus, nephilim may not have been a reference to a racial group as such, but rather to those of a fearsome character.[continued]
