Nephilim - Genesis 6:1-4

Many theories have been tossed around as to what exactly the Nephilim were. The word "Nephilim" comes from the hebrew "npl" (נָפַל) which means "to fall", leading some to speculate that they were offspring of fallen angels who took women as wives some time before Noah's flood (Genesis 6:1-4), while others disagree, saying that angels and humans are incompatible. Giants are later mentioned when the Israelites were taking over Canaan and spies were sent out to observe the land. They came back with reports of seeing the Anakim (literally meaning the Long Necked) who made the Israelite spies appear as "grasshoppers by comparison" (Numbers 13:33). And of course, there is Goliath, who, for some reason, is the stereotypical image we see when the term "biblical giant" is mentioned. Scripture records Goliath's height to be "six cubits and a span (1 Samuel 17:4)" which, when translated into modern measurement, equals about nine feet and nine inches. Unfortunately, this is the only instance in which the exact height of a giant is recorded, although the book of Deuteronomy mentions the dimensions of a massive bed that was on display in the royal city of Rabbah (Deuteronomy 3:11), belonging to the Rephaite giant King Og.

Four other giants are mentioned during Israel's dispute with Philistia. Some have claimed that this is why David gathered five stones before battling with Goliath. It is possible they were related to Goliath, especially when Ishbi-Benob, one of the giants, was so bent on killing the King that David himself had to be saved by one of his own men (2 Samuel 21:15-17).

Another giant is mentioned later having "Six-fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot" (2 Samuel 21:20-22). One of David's men, Jonathan (not to be confused with Prince Jonathan), killed him and thus ended the giant's legacy. There have been countless tall people since then, but none have reached the heights of the Nephilim.

Thanks for reading,
Daniel