נְפִלִים (ne.phil)
ne.phil
Nephilim
N:N--TGQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--TG
Word Overview
The noun nephilim refers to a group described as giants or mighty warriors who appeared on the earth in ancient times. The term appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, first in Genesis 6:4 and again in Numbers 13:33. Its meaning is tied closely to its root, which suggests "fallen ones" or those who cause others to fall, though scholars debate whether this refers to their moral state or their physical stature.
In Genesis, the nephilim are associated with the descendants of divine beings and human women, creating a mixed lineage that contributes to the corruption of the earth before the flood. Later, in Numbers, the spies report seeing nephilim in Canaan, linking them to the Anakim and emphasizing their immense size and intimidating presence. This usage highlights how the term evoked fear and awe among the Israelites.
Translators often render nephilim as "giants," capturing the sense of physical dominance but potentially losing the nuance of their mysterious origins. The word's rarity makes it difficult to pin down a single definitive meaning, leaving room for various interpretations about who or what these figures were. Their brief appearances leave lasting impressions in Scripture, symbolizing both danger and divine judgment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Nephilim appears only twice in Scripture, yet it carries a heavy weight of mystery and fear. In Genesis, these figures represent a time when the world was deeply corrupted, leading to God’s judgment through the flood. Their presence reminds us that evil is not just abstract but has real, terrifying consequences that disrupt creation.
Centuries later, in Numbers, the Israelite spies report seeing descendants of the Nephilim in Canaan. The spies feel like grasshoppers compared to them, overwhelmed by their size and strength. This moment highlights how fear can distort our view of God’s promises, making obstacles seem insurmountable when they are not.
For your faith today, this word invites reflection on where you place your trust. When challenges feel giant-like, remember that the same God who judged corruption in Genesis also guided Israel through impossible terrain. You do not need to understand every mystery of the past; you only need to trust the God who walks with you now.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- the/ Nephilim3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/נְּפִלִ֞ים1×
- הַ/נְּפִלִ֑ים1×
- הַ/נְּפִילִ֛ים1×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 6:4
The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
This verse establishes the Nephilim as a sign of pre-flood corruption, linking their existence to the moral decay that prompted divine judgment.
-
Numbers 13:33
There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim. We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”
Here the word evokes terror in the spies, showing how the memory of these ancient giants was used to discourage faith in God's promise of land.