The Nephilim (נְפִלִים) appear in only two places in the Hebrew Bible:
Genesis 6:4 – Before the flood
Numbers 13:33 – When the Israelites spied on Canaan
Let’s examine these passages only within the context of the Old Testament.
1. The Nephilim in Genesis 6:4 – Their Origins
"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown."
(Genesis 6:4)
What This Verse Tells Us
The Nephilim were already present before the flood.
They were born from the union of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men."
They were called "mighty men of old" (גִּבֹּרִים, gibborim), meaning they were strong, influential people.
The Torah does not say they were giants, just that they were powerful and well-known.
Who Were the "Sons of God" (בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים)?There are two major interpretations in the Hebrew Bible:
1. The Sethite View (Most Common in Jewish Tradition)
The "sons of God" were righteous men from the line of Seth.
The "daughters of men" were women from Cain's wicked lineage.
This matches the pattern seen later in the Hebrew Bible, where righteous men are led astray by ungodly wives (Solomon, Samson, Ahab).
2. The Powerful Rulers ViewSome Jewish scholars believe the "sons of God" were ancient kings or rulers.
These kings took many wives and abused their power.
This interpretation fits with how the word "Elohim" can sometimes refer to powerful judges or rulers (Exodus 22:8).
Conclusion: In the Old Testament context, the sons of God were humans, not angels.
2. The Nephilim in Numbers 13:33 – Fear in Canaan
"There we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."
What This Verse Tells Us
The Israelite spies saw large men in Canaan and called them "Nephilim."
The phrase "we were like grasshoppers" is the spies' opinion, not a fact.
The Nephilim were linked to the Anakites, a tribe known for their size.
Conclusion: The Nephilim were associated with strong warrior clans in Canaan, but this does not mean they were supernatural or the same Nephilim from Genesis 6.
Ham’s Sin – Genesis 9:20-25
After the flood, Noah plants a vineyard, drinks wine, and becomes drunk in his tent:
"Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father; their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness."
(Genesis 9:20-23)