Who are the Nephilim in Genesis 6 ?

Genesis 6:1-5

Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” There were giants (Nephilim) 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.

 

The sons of God refers to the godly descendants of Seth, while the daughters of men refers to the ungodly descendants of Cain. The righteous line of Seth intermarried with the unrighteous line of Cain resulting in the corruption of society.

 

Several statements in Genesis about Seth’s descendants indicate that sons of God applies to them.

Genesis 4:26

To Seth, to him also a son was born; and he called his name Enosh. Then men began to call upon the name of the Lord.

 

Genesis 5:24

Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

 

Genesis 6:8

But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.

We must  determine the meaning of words based on the full context of Scripture. Consider how Jehovah's Witnesses interpret the words Son of God. JW's believe Jesus is an angel. We know Jesus communicated that he was God [Jehovah's Witnesses]. Likewise,  the implication here is that the line of Adam through Seth constitutes the Sons of God.  Although Sons of God refers to angels in other passages, we have to determine the meaning of those words based on the full context of Scripture. 

Job 2:1

Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord,

and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord

 

Genesis 5:1-3

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God. He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them Man in the day when they were created. When Adam had lived one hundred and thirty years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, according to his image, and named him Seth.

 

The line of Cain 

Cain is driven out from the presence of God. 

Lamech, a descendant of Cain, takes two wives, contrary to the standard established in the garden. 

 

When Cain murders his brother, God confronts him with his deed. 

When Lamech commits murder, the absence of God is painfully obvious. 

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Cain laments that his punishment is too great to bear. 

Lamech boasts that he is able to take care of himself — he doesn’t need God’s protection. 

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The primary characterization of Cain’s line is that they were becoming increasingly separated from God. The godly line, who were supposed to walk with God, saw the daughters from the ungodly line. 

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Some hold the view that the Nephilim are mutants; half demon/half human. However, this can’t be true because demons (fallen angels) are nonsexual, nonphysical beings who are incapable of having sexual relations and producing offspring. 

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Angels don’t marry

Mark 12:24-27

Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

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Angels don’t reproduce

Luke 24:39

“Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

 

God’s living creations reproduce according to their kind

Genesis 1:24

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind”

Video: Hank Hanegraaff

Cited Sources: NKJ by God, equip.org (Article: JAG062 by Thomas A. Howe), The complete bible answer book by Hank Hanegraaff

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Can Fallen Angels Mate With Humans? 

Some Christians will rationalize a different view :

The Bible gives examples where angels were on earth in a human-like form. In Genesis 18-19 we read about angels who looked like men. They even ate and slept. A few chapters later we’re told that two angels went to the city of Sodom and the inhabitants simply considered them to be human visitors. 

Genesis 19:1-3

The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant's house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.” But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

 

Homosexuals wanted to have sex with the two men not knowing they were angels.

 

Genesis 19:4-5

But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”

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Hebrews 13:2

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

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Angels have the ability to take on physical form and wrestle with humans.

 

Genesis 32:24-30

And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”  Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.  So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 

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Can we see God face to face? ​

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Exodus 33:18-20

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.  But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

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Preincarnate Christ (Theophany) or Angel? 

If it is Christ, God's full Shekinah Glory is limited, being wrapped in physicality, much like the incarnation. 

Hosea's commentary also uses the word God and angel (Messenger). 

 

Hosea 12:2-4

The Lord has a charge to bring against Judah; he will punish Jacob according to his ways
and repay him according to his deeds. In the womb he grasped his brother’s heel;
as a man he struggled with God. He struggled with the angel and overcame him;
he wept and begged for his favor.​

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God is all powerful, yet allowed Jacob prevail. All of this points to the cross. What appeared to be a loss for Christ became the greatest blessing to those who believe. Jacob wouldn't let go until He received a blessing. Jesus gave Jacob the name Israel and blessed him.

 

The Apostle Paul refers to believers in Christ as True Israel. 

Romans 9:6-8 

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.

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The Nephilim are mentioned again after the flood. The Bible tells us that there were only 8 flood survivors (Noah and his family). So if the Nephilim were merely the result of the descendants of Seth and the descendants of Cain having children, all of those people would have been wiped out by the flood. But once again, this could point to the ungodly line. 

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Numbers 13:33

And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

Video: Peter Gentry