Anurag Rao, self-described as, “have spent the last ten years studying the Bible, Gnosticism, Greek mythology, Declassified texts, Apocalyptic prophecies, Hidden History, Numerology, Esoteric texts, Self-help books and Ethics,” wrote an article titled The Nephilim in the Bible: Unraveling One of Scripture’s Greatest Mysteries.
Rao noted:
The Nephilim appear in just two direct passages in the Bible, making their brief mentions all the more intriguing.
Genesis 6:1-4: The Primary Passage
The most detailed reference occurs in Genesis 6:1-4, which describes events before the great flood: “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… 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.”
Numbers 13:33: The Spies’ Report
The second reference appears in Numbers 13:33, when the Israelite spies report back from Canaan: “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.”
It’s too generic to write of, “The Spies’ Report…the Israelite spies report” since there are two reports in Num chaps 13 and there were 12 spies but the quoted report was labeled an, “evil report” and was by 10 of the 12: the 10 unreliable ones whom God rebuked.
Rao reviews, “Major Interpretations of the Nephilim” beginning with:
The Angelic Interpretation
This view holds that the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6 were angels who descended to earth and took human wives. Their offspring, the Nephilim, were supernatural hybrids possessing both divine and human characteristics. This interpretation finds support in ancient Jewish literature, including the Book of Enoch, and was popular among early church fathers.
Indeed, see my books On the Genesis 6 Affair’s Sons of God: Angels or Not?: A Survey of Early Jewish and Christian Commentaries Including Notes on Giants and the Nephilim and The Apocryphal Nephilim and Giants: Encountering Nephilim and Giants in Extra-Biblical Texts to include In Consideration of the Book(s) of Enoch.
Next is:
The Sethite Interpretation
Many Christian theologians favor this interpretation, which identifies the “sons of God” as descendants of Seth (Adam’s righteous son) who intermarried with the “daughters of men” (descendants of Cain). According to this view, the Nephilim were simply the offspring of these mixed marriages, notable for their physical stature and moral corruption rather than supernatural origin.
The case is, “Many Christian theologians” from centuries into AD days—mostly influenced by Augustine of Hippo.
This late comer of a view is based on myth and prejudice.
As for, “Nephilim…notable for their physical stature”: the dirty little secret is that since we’ve no reliable physical description of Nephilim then their height is a non-issue and that alone debunks 99% of un-biblical Nephilology—the modern branch of which is just un-biblical neo-theo sci-fi tall-tales.
There’s also:
The Ruler Interpretation
Some modern scholars suggest that “sons of God” refers to powerful rulers or nobles who took multiple wives, and the Nephilim were their offspring—mighty warriors or leaders who became legendary figures in ancient times.
This one seems like a too generic way out of the paranormal implications of the Angel view.
It also means that the only reason why there haven’t been such floods all along after Noah’s is because God, for some unknown reason, said He wouldn’t do it again after mere humans continuously practice polygamy.
Rao then notes:
The Nephilim and the Great Flood
The timing of the Nephilim’s mention in Genesis 6, immediately before the account of Noah’s flood, has led many to connect their presence with God’s decision to judge the earth. Some interpretations suggest that the corruption introduced by the Nephilim was a primary factor in God’s judgment, while others see them merely as part of the general wickedness of that era.
The phrase “and also afterward” in Genesis 6:4 raises questions about whether some Nephilim survived the flood or if similar beings appeared again later in history.
Logically, bio-logically, and theo-logically there was never nor could there ever have been, “Nephilim and the Great Flood” since God didn’t fail, didn’t miss a loophole, the flood wasn’t much of a waste, etc., etc., etc.
If, “corruption introduced by the Nephilim was a primary factor in God’s judgment” then God wouldn’t just let it all happen all over again post-flood.
As for, “merely as part of the general wickedness of that era”: same difference.
It actually can’t be that, “‘and also afterward’ in Genesis 6:4 raises questions about whether some Nephilim survived the flood” for the theological reason and also since those three English words are part of this complete thought, “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.”
V. 1 tell us the general timeline, “When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose” so it’s pointing us backward in time.
And if someone wants to grant that along with a but then it then points us forward but only up until the flood.
There’s no indication of, “similar beings appeared.”
We’re then told:
Connection to the Giants of Canaan
The reference to Nephilim in Numbers 13:33 creates a puzzling continuity issue. If the Nephilim existed before the flood and the flood destroyed all life except Noah’s family, how could they still exist during the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings? This has led to several theories, including the possibility that the spies were using “Nephilim” as a general term for giants, or that similar supernatural events occurred after the flood.
It’s actually not at all, “a puzzling continuity issue” since there’s no reliable indication that, “Nephilim…still exist during the Israelites’ wilderness wanderings.”
And, again, it wasn’t generically, “the spies.”
What we’re dealing with is:
- One single sentence
- From an “evil report”
- By 10 unreliable guys
- Whom God rebuked—to death
- Who made five mere assertions unbacked by even one single other verse in the whole Bible
- Who contradicted Moses, Cable, Joshua, God, and the rest of the whole entire Bible
I could go on but see my post, Chapter sample: On the Post Flood Nephilim Proposal.
Rao then notes, “Understanding the Nephilim requires considering the ancient Near Eastern context in which these texts were written” and refers to, “Similar stories of divine beings mating with humans appear in various ancient mythologies, including Mesopotamian and Greek traditions.”
See my book The Apocryphal Nephilim and Giants: Encountering Nephilim and Giants in Extra-Biblical Texts.
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