Were biblical Nephilim actual giants or large imagination?

[Zzyzx]

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According to the bible the Nephilim were offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Deluge according to Genesis 6:4; the name is also used in reference to giants who inhabited Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan according to Numbers 13:33

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." (Gen. 6:1-4).

Did such beings exist?

Is there evidence that the Earth was once (antediluvian) populated by such beings?

[AdHoc]

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According to the bible the Nephilim were offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Deluge according to Genesis 6:4; the name is also used in reference to giants who inhabited Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan according to Numbers 13:33

The Nephilim didn't inhabit Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest.

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." (Gen. 6:1-4).

Did such beings exist?

IMO yes

Is there evidence that the Earth was once (antediluvian) populated by such beings?

If the biblical narrative is true I'm not sure how there could be any evidence of their existence, as they were all destroyed in the flood.

However, if your question is "is there any evidence that giants have ever existed" then the answer is yes because there are giants (8 to 9 ft tall humans) living among us today and there is even some evidence of human beings possibly reaching the height of 11ft.

[Elijah John]

The Bible is full of Diamonds and dung. This story is dung. I call the absurdities and atrocities dung, and this is an absurdity.

Some of the absurdities lend themselves to deeper, allegorical or metaphorical intperpretations. Interpretations that inspire spiritual meaning.

However, I am unable to read ANY deeper meaning into these stories of giants.

Or as the movie "Noah" calls them, "watchers". I guess that's it, they make for a good story, science fiction or fantasy. Nothing more.

As to the explanation that the Flood wiped them out, or all traces of them...convenient nonsense, imo.

I've heard the same argument used by Fundamentalists, "young earth advocates" to try to explain the disapearance of the dinosaurs. (and make the dinos contemporary with humans). But that only raises another question, why didn't God save them too, at least two of them per species?

I guess Jesus didn't love the dinosaurs enough. Or maybe they were just too big for the Ark.

[bjs]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

The Bible does not claim that Nephilim were the offspring of the “sons of God� and the “daughters of men.� It only says that the Nephilim were on earth in those days, not that they were children of the “sons of God� and the “daughters of men.�

In this case “sons of God� most likely refers to people who followed the Lord, while “daughters of men� is a title used in contrast to “sons of God� to denote those who lived a more carnal life and rejected the ways of God.

The Bible also does not say that the Nephilim were giants.

Numbers 13:33 says, “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."

One could interpret this to mean that they Nephilim were tall in stature. However, another interpretation (one that in my opinion is more natural to the context of the text) is to say that the Nephilim were militarily superior to the Israelite. These spies felt that if they invaded then their opponents would defeat them as easily as crushing grasshoppers.


The Hebrew word Nephilim in a noun based on the verb “to fall.� The most common interpretations are that the Nephilim “fell� upon their enemies in violent attacks, or that the countenance of anyone who saw their approaching army fell in despair.

The Nephilim were almost certainly human warriors, or at most a symbolic way of speaking about powerful human warriors.

Yes, there is ample evidence that history is full of warriors who were militarily superior to the Israelites.

[Zzyzx]

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According to the bible the Nephilim were offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Deluge according to Genesis 6:4; the name is also used in reference to giants who inhabited Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan according to Numbers 13:33

The Nephilim didn't inhabit Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest.

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." (Gen. 6:1-4).

Did such beings exist?

IMO yes

Is this based on anything other than tales by ancients who also thought unicorns and satyrs existed, droughts were caused by displeasing gods, and diseases resulted from "sins"?

Is there evidence that the Earth was once (antediluvian) populated by such beings?

If the biblical narrative is true I'm not sure how there could be any evidence of their existence, as they were all destroyed in the flood.

We are discussing whether the bible narrative is true -- not assuming that it is true.

There is evidence of life forms that existed and became extinct long before biblical times (or proposed "worldwide flood") -- unless one chooses to dismiss scientific knowledge in favor or religious dogma.

With evidence of other animals before the flood, what would indicate that it selectively wiped out evidence of Nephilim?

However, if your question is "is there any evidence that giants have ever existed" then the answer is yes because there are giants (8 to 9 ft tall humans) living among us today and there is even some evidence of human beings possibly reaching the height of 11ft.

Are present large humans Nephilim?

[Zzyzx]

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The Bible does not claim that Nephilim were the offspring of the “sons of God� and the “daughters of men.� It only says that the Nephilim were on earth in those days, not that they were children of the “sons of God� and the “daughters of men.�

In this case “sons of God� most likely refers to people who followed the Lord, while “daughters of men� is a title used in contrast to “sons of God� to denote those who lived a more carnal life and rejected the ways of God.

The Bible also does not say that the Nephilim were giants.

Perhaps some version(s) of the bible say things differently, but the King James Version says:

0quote]Genesis 6:1-4King James Version (KJV)
1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
3 And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.[/quote]

Numbers 13:33 says, “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."

One could interpret this to mean that they Nephilim were tall in stature. However, another interpretation (one that in my opinion is more natural to the context of the text) is to say that the Nephilim were militarily superior to the Israelite. These spies felt that if they invaded then their opponents would defeat them as easily as crushing grasshoppers.

Yes, one can "interpret" the bible to mean whatever they wish to have it mean – and attempt to make ancient mythology appear to make sense (or be truthful somehow).

The Hebrew word Nephilim in a noun based on the verb “to fall.� The most common interpretations are that the Nephilim “fell� upon their enemies in violent attacks, or that the countenance of anyone who saw their approaching army fell in despair.

The Nephilim were almost certainly human warriors, or at most a symbolic way of speaking about powerful human warriors.

Yes, there is ample evidence that history is full of warriors who were militarily superior to the Israelites.

If all else fails, try maintaining that "translation errors" cause the bible to be unreliable as a source of truthful and accurate information.

I do not disagree that the bible is in error and does not say what it means or mean what it says.

[AdHoc]

.

According to the bible the Nephilim were offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men" before the Deluge according to Genesis 6:4; the name is also used in reference to giants who inhabited Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest of Canaan according to Numbers 13:33

The Nephilim didn't inhabit Canaan at the time of the Israelite conquest.

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." (Gen. 6:1-4).

Did such beings exist?

IMO yes

Is this based on anything other than tales by ancients who also thought unicorns and satyrs existed, droughts were caused by displeasing gods, and diseases resulted from "sins"?

Hmm... That's a loaded question. I don't even know what a satyr is. Unicorns, on the other hand, still exist today if you believe the incredible reports that they swim around the North pole. My opinion, in regards to Nephilim is only based on the bible.

Is there evidence that the Earth was once (antediluvian) populated by such beings?

If the biblical narrative is true I'm not sure how there could be any evidence of their existence, as they were all destroyed in the flood.

We are discussing whether the bible narrative is true -- not assuming that it is true.

There is evidence of life forms that existed and became extinct long before biblical times (or proposed "worldwide flood") -- unless one chooses to dismiss scientific knowledge in favor or religious dogma.

With evidence of other animals before the flood, what would indicate that it selectively wiped out evidence of Nephilim?

How would they be preserved? If they only came into existence just before the flood and then were drowned their flesh and bones would be eaten by benthic flora and fauna.

However, if your question is "is there any evidence that giants have ever existed" then the answer is yes because there are giants (8 to 9 ft tall humans) living among us today and there is even some evidence of human beings possibly reaching the height of 11ft.

Are present large humans Nephilim?

Naw and neither were the Canaanites

[Zzyzx]

.

I don't even know what a satyr is.

In Greek and Roman mythology, the satyr was a half-man/half-beast god and the word is used repeatedly in the Old Testament.

Unicorns, on the other hand, still exist today if you believe the incredible reports that they swim around the North pole.

Should one accept as truthful and accurate the incredible reports of such things if there is no other evidence to support the stories?

My opinion, in regards to Nephilim is only based on the bible.

It might be informative to learn what other sources, if any, discuss or document a race of giant people. If no other information is available to substantiate ancient stories they are often regarded as myth, legend, fantasy, etc.

There is evidence of life forms that existed and became extinct long before biblical times (or proposed "worldwide flood") -- unless one chooses to dismiss scientific knowledge in favor or religious dogma.

With evidence of other animals before the flood, what would indicate that it selectively wiped out evidence of Nephilim?

How would they be preserved? If they only came into existence just before the flood and then were drowned their flesh and bones would be eaten by benthic flora and fauna.

Unless there was only one generation of Nephilim before the supposed flood, earlier generations would have died by means other than drowning and their remains would / could be found in the form of fossils – just like other human or humanoid forms.

However, if your question is "is there any evidence that giants have ever existed" then the answer is yes because there are giants (8 to 9 ft tall humans) living among us today and there is even some evidence of human beings possibly reaching the height of 11ft.

Are present large humans Nephilim?

Naw and neither were the Canaanites

Where, then, were the Nephilim found? How do we know they existed (other than myth / legend / bible story – all unverifiable)?

[bjs]

Yes, one can "interpret" the bible to mean whatever they wish to have it mean – and attempt to make ancient mythology appear to make sense (or be truthful somehow).

It also appears that one can “interpret� the Bible to make it look like an unusual ancient myth instead of looking at the passage in context.

The Hebrew word Nephilim in a noun based on the verb “to fall.� The most common interpretations are that the Nephilim “fell� upon their enemies in violent attacks, or that the countenance of anyone who saw their approaching army fell in despair.

The Nephilim were almost certainly human warriors, or at most a symbolic way of speaking about powerful human warriors.

Yes, there is ample evidence that history is full of warriors who were militarily superior to the Israelites.

If all else fails, try maintaining that "translation errors" cause the bible to be unreliable as a source of truthful and accurate information.

Since we are talking in English about a document written in Hebrew translation is of considerable importance.

I do not disagree that the bible is in error and does not say what it means or mean what it says.

With all due respect, I did not say that the Bible is in error or that it does not say what it means or mean what is says. I said that claims you made about the Bible were in error. I stand by that statement.

[DanieltheDragon]

[Replying to post 7 by AdHoc]

Hmm... That's a loaded question. I don't even know what a satyr is. Unicorns, on the other hand, still exist today if you believe the incredible reports that they swim around the North pole. My opinion, in regards to Nephilim is only based on the bible.

I can't tell if you are being serious or joking but a narwhal does exist and I am not so sure that those reports are incredible as there is ample evidence they do exist and no they are not unicorns.....




Also considering that their environment is strictly limited to the artic HOW WOULD ANYONE WRITING THE BIBLE EVEN KNOW THEY EXIST.