The Nephilim are one of the most mysterious groups mentioned in the Bible. Some believe they were giants. Others claim they were the offspring of fallen angels. But what does the Bible actually say?

The first and most direct reference comes from 📖 Genesis 6:4 - “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. These were the heroes of old, men of renown.”

However, before we dive into the Nephilim, let’s first take a look at 📖 Genesis 6:1–2 to understand the context—specifically, who the ‘Sons of God’ and ‘Daughters of Men’ really were."

📖  Genesis 6:1-2 says -  “When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose.”

So Who Were the “Sons of God”?

Some claim the “Sons of God” in 📖 Genesis 6 were fallen angels— or some divine person who came down on earth and married daughters of humans and had children by them.

However thats not the case, the Bible make it clear in 📖 Matthew 22:30 when Jesus said “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven.

If angels do not marry, and are not given in marriage, then the idea that angels came down and had children with humans goes directly against what Jesus taught.

Even more, Paul writes in 📖 Romans 8:14 - “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

So a more biblically grounded view is that the sons of God were men led by God’s Spirit likely from the line of Seth.

Who Were the “Daughters of Humans” ?

The phrase “daughters of humans” (or “daughters of men”) in 📖 Genesis 6:2 simply refers to ordinary women from the general population—likely outside God’s covenant path possibly from Cains linage.

What Happened When the Sons of God and the Daughters of Humans Married?

When the sons of God saw the beauty of the daughters of humans and married them, something far more significant happened than just love or attraction. Men who once walked closely with God began to follow their own desires. The line between godliness and worldliness started to blur.

And with that, the world began to change—violence, pride, and corruption grew. God’s heart was saddened. He saw that people were drifting far from Him, choosing their own way over His.

That’s when He said in 📖 Genesis 6:3 - “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever.”

What About the Nephilim Then? Who Were They?

Let’s look at  📖Genesis 6:4 again “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. These were the heroes of old, men of renown.”

This verse appears to speak of two distinct groups. First, the Nephilim—mysterious figures who were already present on the earth even before the sons of God took human women as wives. This detail suggests that the Nephilim weren’t the children of those unions, but rather a separate group altogether. Many believe they were giants or mighty beings who inspired fear and awe.

Then, there’s the second group—the children born from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of humans. These offspring became powerful warriors, remembered through the ages as “the heroes of old, men of renown.” It’s possible that what made them legendary wasn’t just their strength, but the fact that they stood up to the Nephilim. Perhaps they fought against them, challenged their dominance, and earned their fame in the process.

So, when we read this verse closely, it helps us understand that the Nephilim and these mighty offspring were not the same.

What About the Nephilim After the Flood in Numbers?

Now, fast forward to  📖Numbers 13:32–33, where the Israelite spies say - “…All the people we saw in it are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes…”

This raises a question: How can the Nephilim appear again after the flood, if they were wiped out along with the rest of humanity?

The likely answer is not that Nephilim reappeared supernaturally, but that the term "Nephilim" became a way to describe men of great size, strength, or reputation, much like legendary warriors. Since Noah and his sons lived through the time before the flood, they would have passed down stories of these mighty men. So when the spies saw giants in Canaan, they used the term “Nephilim” figuratively—they were saying, “These people are like the mighty ones we’ve only heard about in ancient stories.”