Under consideration is the article What is Nephilim in the Bible? by Pastor Duke Taber (“alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary…currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center”).
He notes, “Nephilim are mentioned only a few times in the Bible, primarily in the Old Testament” which is accurate if, “a few” means twice and, “primarily” means exclusively.
Taber notes, “The term ‘Nephilim’ is often translated as ‘giants,’ but its exact meaning is a subject of debate among scholars” which I will nitpick on a technical level so as to note that such is not a translation but a rendering.
He adds, “it is clear that the Nephilim were a race of beings distinct from ordinary humans, described as ‘giants’ or ‘mighty men’ who lived both before and after the great flood” yet, giants is not a description: that denotes a word-concept fallacy.
Yet, he actually thinks it is a description due to actually believing Num 13:33 and such is also way he believes they live post-flood.
He reviews, “Theories on the Origins and Nature of the Nephilim,” the first of which is the Angel view.
Duke Taber thinks that it, “is supported by other biblical passages such as Job 1:6 and 2:1” yet, as far as Job is concerned, 38:7 is a stronger reference since it, at the very least, elucidates that they are not human.
Yet, he notes, “this theory is controversial, as it raises questions about the ability of spiritual beings like angels to engage in physical relationships with humans” the solution to which is quite simple: he confused spiritual for spirit and that they are spirit is a faulty premise since they are always described as looking just like human males, performing physical actions, and without any indication whatsoever that such is not their ontology.
His next option is, “The Sethite Theory” which, “suggests that the ‘sons of God’ were the godly descendants of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve, while the ‘daughters of men’ were the ungodly descendants of Cain…This theory…has been criticized for not fully explaining the description of the Nephilim as ‘giants’ or ‘mighty men.’”
I will note that this theory only creates more problems than it solves: for example, why was it only exclusively male Sethites and only exclusively female Cainites?
Yet, one of the biggest problems with this theory is that it is premised on a myth since there is no indication that there were a wholly, “godly descendants of Seth” and wholly, “ungodly descendants of Cain.”
But if the comeback is to be that this is not about wholly then the question becomes why only exclusively godly male Sethites were exclusively interested in wedding only exclusively female Cainites.
Incidentally, that Seth was the third born son is an assumption: yes, he is third listed but that does not necessarily mean he was the third born nor even necessarily the third born male.
In any case, the third option is, “The Hybrid Theory” as per which, “Nephilim were the offspring of fallen angels who possessed or manipulated the human genetic code to create a hybrid race of beings. This theory seeks to reconcile the difficulties of angels engaging in physical relationships with humans by suggesting that the process was more akin to genetic manipulation than traditional reproduction. While intriguing, this theory is highly speculative and lacks direct biblical support.”
Intriguing indeed, and the stuff of which very lucrative neo-theo-sci-fi-tall-tales are made yet, the premise is faulty since there is no indication that Angels could possess humans. Now, if one were to argue that demons can possess humans and demons are fallen Angels, that view would be anachronistic since they became demons post-sin and likely, post-flood—see my article Demons Ex Machina: What Are Demons?
As for, “manipulated the human genetic code” well, the text is clear that it was done the good ol’ fashioned—birds and the bees—way.
Duke Taber then lists, “Christian Interpretations and Understandings of the Nephilim” including, “The Apocalyptic Interpretation” whereby Nephilim are viewed, “as a symbol of the spiritual warfare between good and evil” which is as escapist as it sounds.
Then there is, “The Allegorical Interpretation” which is akin to symbolic and so is just as escapist, “Nephilim as an allegory for the moral and spiritual decay of humanity…a metaphor.”
Then, “The Historical Interpretation” which treats, “Nephilim as real, historical beings who lived during the antediluvian period, serving as a testament to the reality of supernatural beings and events described in the Bible. According to this interpretation, the Nephilim were a race of giant or exceptionally powerful beings whose existence demonstrates the truth of biblical accounts and the active presence of God and supernatural forces in human history.”
He does not interact with the two texts which mention Nephilim and so we are left without knowing why he could actually believe the evil report recorded in Num 13:32-33, the utterly unreliable speakers of which were rebuked by God.
And so, we do not know how it is that he proposes Nephilim made it past the flood—which, depending on his tall-tale, may contradict the Bible five times and certainly implies that God failed: He meant to be rid of them but could not get the job done, He must have missed a loophole, the flood was much of a waste, etc.
Lastly, I was curious about the article’s title since it appears to be asking What is the Meaning of the Word Nephilim in the Bible? but may be a case of no understanding that the im ending of Hebrew words makes them male plural in which case the title ought to have been either What Are Nephilim in the Bible? or Who Were Nephilim in the Bible?
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