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Who are the Nephilim (giants) and sons of God in Genesis 6:4?
Bible study on the Nephilim.

This is one of the more difficult Scriptures to understand in the Bible. Thankfully, it is not necessary to understand Genesis 6:4 to be saved or serve God. So while contemplating the identity of the Nephilim and sons of God in Genesis 6:4 is interesting, a great deal of time and energy should not be spent on this topic when more pressing matters need our attention.

The two most popular opinions interpreting the phrase "sons of God" (Gen. 6:2, 4) are:

  • wicked angels (Jude 1:6) who did not keep their proper domain.
  • Seth's descendants.

The phrase "sons of God" is used of faithful followers of God (Deut. 14:1; 32:5; Lk. 3:38; Rom. 8:14; Gal. 3:26). It is used of faithful angels, but not wicked angels (Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; Dan. 3:25). Therefore, the expression would not be applicable to rebellious angels as some have suggested in connection with Jude 1:6. And note the context of Genesis Chapter 6, man was wicked - not angels (Gen. 6:5).

From Seth originated the spiritual seed of God (Gen. 4:25-26); thus, his descendants would have been called the sons of God. Note that Abraham is a descendant of Seth through whom Christians are called sons of God (Gal. 3:26-29). The sons of God, therefore, in Genesis 6:4 were the descendants of Seth.

With the aforementioned information, we are left to rely upon implications in the historical narratives to speculate as to the identity of the Nephilim (giants) in Genesis 6:4. We cannot be absolutely certain as to their identity since the implications are too speculative upon which to base absolute conclusions. But the evidence is conclusive enough to discredit such wild assertions that the "sons of God" were aliens or demons (wicked angels) who came to earth and fathered offspring (i.e., the Nephilim).

Although there is not a record in Scripture, at some point, God had apparently commanded that the spiritual seed (descendants of Seth) be kept pure (cf. Gen. 6:2, 4, 9). This would have been similar to the practice of the patriarchs (Gen. 34) and God's command to Israel (Ex. 23:32-33; 34:16). The Nephilim is the resulting offspring of the sons of God's (Seth's descendants) sinful intermarriages with the sons of men (Gen. 6:4).

Knowledge of this widely practiced sin during Noah's lifetime is helpful in understanding the story of Noah and the flood. God saved Noah by grace (Gen. 6:8) because he had obeyed God being perfect in his generations (Gen. 6:9). He was righteous, blameless, and walked with God (Gen. 6:9).