There were many thousands of Nephilim giants before and after the great flood of Noah’s day. However, only a few Nephilim giants are mentioned in the Holy Bible. The nephilim giants were an early group of hybrid humans, mentioned only twice in the Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33). The Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (the Septuagint) translated the name “Nephilim” as “giants,” and other versions followed this rendering, including the king James Version (KJV) and New King James Version (NKJV). Modern translations, however, usually designated them as Nephilim, thus identifying them with the Anakim (Deuteronomy 2:21) and the Rephaim (Deuteronomy 2:20) who were reputed to be large physically. The Nephilim are of unknown origin. Some writers have taken the Hebrew verb naphal, “to fall,” to imply that the Nephilim were “fallen ones”-that is, fallen angels who subsequently sexual intercourse with human females. This view comes from an interpretation of Genesis 6:1-4 that heavily reflects Greek mythology. The Genesis passage, however, deals with anthropology, not mythology.
The giant named Anak is mentioned several times in the Holy Scriptures. He was the ancestor of a race of giants in old Canaan. When Israel first reached Canaan, the Anakim were well established in Hebron. Ten of the 12 spies Moses sent into Canaan (Numbers 13:17-22) were terrified by the size of the Anakim (Numbers 13:31). Their terror led to a rebellion at Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 14:39-45; Deuteronomy 1:19-46) and another 38 years of wandering. When the Israelites were finally ready to enter Canaan, God promised his help against the famed Anak giants (Deuteronomy 9:1-3). The two spies who were not afraid of the Anakim were both involved in their defeat. Joshua defeated the Anakim living in Hebron, Debir, Anab, and all the region of Judah (Joshua 11:21-23). Those who survived were left only in the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. The other spy, Caleb, was responsible for the defeat of the Anakim chiefs Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai at Hebron; Caleb’s nephew Othniel was the hero of Debir (Joshua 15:14-17). Hebron had earlier been called Kiriath-arba for Anak’s father Arba, a great hero of the Anakim (Joshua 14:15; 21:11). The fact that the Anakim survived in the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod leads to the supposition that Goliath of Gath may have been a descendant of these giants (1 Samuel 17:4-7).
The giant named Og was a king whose fame came partly from his large size. “King Og of Bashan was the last of the giant Rephaites. His iron bed was more than thirteen feet [4.1 meters] long and six feet [1.8 meters] wide” (Deuteronomy 3:11). Og, king of Bashan, fell before Moses’ assault immediately after the defeat of King Sihon the Amorite (Numbers 21:33-35). Bashan lay along the northern part of the Transjordan. Og’s land stretched northeastward from the lower course of the Jarmuk (Yarmuk) River, and lofty mountain ranges protected him on the east from scorching desert winds. Og and his people had several settlements, primarily Ashtaroth and Edrei (Joshua 13:12). Og had fortified his land with sixty walled cities and was probably overconfident before Moses’ army. Moses completely destroyed the populace of those cities; he spared only the livestock and the spoils of war (Deuteronomy 3:5-6). Three tribes of Israel found the Transjordan particularly suitable for grazing their herds. So at the defeat of Sihon and Og, Moses assigned the newly won lands to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and half of Manasseh (Joshua 12:4-6).
The giant named Ahiman was one of Anak’s three sons. The Ahimanites were one of the Anakim clans living in Hebron when the 12 Israelite spies scouted the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:22; Joshua 15:13-14; Judges 1:10). He was the Levite gatekeeper in postexilic Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:17). The giant named Sheshai was a descendant of Anak who was at Hebron when the 12 spies searched out the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:22); he was defeated and displaced by Israel (Joshua 15:14; Judges 1:10). The giant named Talmai was the son of Anak and brother of Ahiman and Sheshai. Talmai and his people were observed by the 12 Israelite spies when they searched out the land (Numbers 13:22). Later, Caleb successfully defeated Talmai and his brothers, who were living in Hebron (Joshua 15:14; Judges 1:10).
Goliath of Gath is the most famous giant in the Holy Scriptures. This Philistine warrior challenged Israel to a battle of champions (1 Samuel 17). He was subsequently killed and decapitated by the young David. Goliath was around nine feet nine inches (3 meters) tall, wore armor weighing about 125 pounds (56.8 kilograms), and carried a spear of 15 pounds (6.8 kilograms). His sword, kept at Nob, was later given to David (1 Samuel 21:9; 22:10). Goliath may have descended from the Anakim (see Joshua 11:22), but his height could have resulted from a tumor in the pituitary gland in the brain. In 2 Samuel 21:19 his death is attributed to Elhanan, who in 1 Chronicles 20:5 is credited with killing Goliath’s brother.
Lahmi was the brother of Goliath the Gittite. According to 1 Chronicles 20:5, he was killed by Elhanan. However, 2 Samuel 21:19 says that Elhanan killed Goliath rather than his brother Lahmi. Most interpreters accept the 1 Chronicles passage as the correct reading, the 2 Samuel text being a textual corruption. Ishbi-Benob was the giant who nearly killed David. During one of his many battles with the Philistines, David grew faint and was nearly killed by Ishbi-benob. Abishai killed the giant, saving David’s life (2 Samuel 21:16). The gigantic warrior Saph was a descendant of the giants, killed by Sibbecai the Hushathite (one of David’s warriors) at Gad in a battle between Israel and Philistia (2 Samuel 21:18); alternately called Sippai (1 Chronicles 20:4).
Key history involving giants: The race of giants called Nephilim begins with fallen angels mixing with earthly women not only before but also after the flood (Genesis 6:1-4). Chedorlaomer, king of Elam (region of Persia), forms a coalition of kings who invade the region of Canaan and defeated several clans of giant people descended from the Nephilim during the day of Abraham (Genesis 14:5-6). The Spies sent by Moses discover giants (descendants of the Nephilim) living in walled cities in southern Canaan. Ten of the spies conclude that opposing the giants was hopeless, but Caleb and Joshua had faith that God would enable them to overcome (Numbers 13:27-33). Moses leads Israel in killing Og the giant king of Bashan and defeating his entire army. Israel then takes the region of Bashan as their own land (Deuteronomy 3:1-11). Caleb drives out and kills all the giants living in Hebron, formly called Kiriath-Arba, (Josh 10:36-37; 14:12-15). Othniel, Caleb’s son-in-law, drives out and kills all the giants living in Debir, formerly called Kiriath-Sepher, (Josh 10:38-39; 15:15-17). Joshua destroys all the Anakites except those in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod (Josh 11:22). The Philistines destroy the Avvites near Gaza (Deut 2:23) and subdue other giant clans in southern Canaan (1 Chron 20:4). Moabites subdue the Emim living in the region of Moab (Deut 2:11). Ammonites drive out the Zamzummim living in the region of Ammon (Deut 2:21). Edomites drive out the Horites living in the region of Edom (Deut 2:12). David kills the giant Goliath (1 Sam 17:51). Benaiah son of Jehoiada kills a 7.5 foot Egyptian (1 Chron 11:23). Elhanan kills the giant Lahmi (2 Sam 21:19; 1 Chron 20:5). Abishai kills the giant Ishi-Benob (2 Sam 21:16-17). Sibbachai kills the giant called Saph or Sippai (2 Sam 21:18; 1 Chron 20:4). Jonathan son of Shimea kills the unnamed giant with 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot (2 Sam 21:20-21; 1 Chron 20:6-7).
Analysis of Giant Origins: All giants in the Bible are descended from the Nephilim hybrids. The name Nephilim literally means “fallen ones”. The Nephilim came from angels mixing with human women (Gen 6:2), which occurred not only before but also after the flood (Gen 6:4). Not all theologians agree, but this is the only explanation that explains why their offspring (the Nephilim) would be unusually strong and tall. This analysis is based on a very ancient interpretation supported by the book of Enoch. Enoch is not part of the Bible, but its reliability is validated by the book of Jude in the Bible which includes a quote taken from the book of Enoch (Jude 14-15). The book of Enoch records how “in the days of Jared” (who lived before Noah and died just before the flood) angels disobeyed God (defiled themselves) by having sexual relations with women who gave birth to a race of giants called the Nephilim. The book of Enoch also reports that all this activity involving angels and women (activity giving rise to the Nephilim) took place in the region geographically located near (or on). Mount Hermon just north of Bashan (where the giant Og later reigned as king). This interpretation not only explains the origin of giants in the Bible, but also explains the reference in the New Testament to angels who are now imprisoned waiting judgment because in the days of Noah they “disobeyed” God (1 Pet 3:19) by “not keeping their position” and “leaving their properly assigned place” (Jude 6).
Nephilim Giant Observations: It appears that the race of giants mentioned in the Bible as existing after Noah’s flood began in the region of Mount Hermon, east of the Jordan and north of Bashan. Over time, this race of giants transformed into various clannal (tribal) groups some of whom migrated southward east of the Jordan River through the region of Ammon, then to Moab and lastly to Edom (south of the Dead Sea). Eventually some branches of this giant race migrated across the Jordan River with some settling into the hill country of southern Canaan, and some migrating as far as the coastal plain in the region of Gaza. While these giant descendants of the Nephilim were much larger and stronger than other men and for that reason struck fear in those who opposed them, it also appears they were not skilled in the art and science of warfare because they lost to everyone who opposed them—the coalition led by Chedorlaomer, the Philistines, the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Edomites, as well as the Israelites.
Over time this race of giants intermarried with non-giants, and king Og of Bashan seems to have been the last of the original race or pure blood descendants of the Nephilim. The post flood global climatic change also explains why giants in the Bible were growing shorter and weaker over time. Before the great flood, the giants were believed to be 6 meters tall (roughly 19 feet 8 inches tall). During the day of Moses, the giant Og was four meters feet tall ( approximately 13 feet 2 inches tall), but 400 years later in David’s day the giant Goliath was just 3 meters tall (about 9 feet 9 inches tall). And Goliath’s younger colleague, Ishbi-Benob, seems to have been weaker than Goliath because he used a spearhead that was only half the size of Goliath’s spearhead. The Israelites under Joshua (especially Caleb) destroyed most of the race of giants remaining in the region of Canaan. But they did not destroy all because they left a few who were living in the Philistine cities of Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. The giants killed by David and his men about 200 or 300 years later were not 100% pure blood giants (they were mixed blooded) and were the last remaining vestiges of tho
PRIMARY SOURCES: Dr. Chuck Missler; Learn the Bible in 24 hours. Dr. L.A. Marzulli; Politics Prophecy and the Supernatural (PPS) program. The New King James Version. The Book of Enoch. The Book of the Giants Dead Sea Scrolls. The New English Septuagint Translation. Rev Clarence Larkin Dispensational Truth.