Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked
What were The Nephilims in
Questions About Relationship to the Sons of God?
Christianity,
-by Tony Warren
Answered Honestly!

f there is one idea in some Christian circles that has always

puzzled me, it is the idea that when Genesis chapter 6 speaks
about the sons of God taking wives of the daughters of men, it
was somehow referring to angels, or heavenly beings mating
with human women. It amazes me that not only is such an idea is
unequivocally accepted by many in the Church, but that it is also put
forth by some theologians. In this brief study, we will take a look at what
God says, and the Biblical definition of these terms. Because rather than
come up with our own private interpretations of scripture, it is incumbent
upon all of us to study the scriptures circumspectly and let God's word
itself tell us what is in view. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual
things, God reveals the truth of the passages in question.

Genesis 6:1

● "And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of

the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the Sons of
God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took
them wives of all which they chose."

The first question we need to tackle is, who are the sons of God spoken
of here? And not who does this prominent theologian say the sons of God
are, or who we might suppose they are, but what do we find out about the
phrase when we search scripture. The only way to authoritatively find the
answer to the question of "Who Are The Sons of God," is to let God tell
us. And He does tell us very clearly!

John 1:12
 ● "But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become
the Sons of God, even to them that believeth on His name."

This gives us scriptural warrant to say the sons of God are believers. And
indeed, the overwhelming majority of the uses of the phrase
unquestionably refer to believers, or God's Covenant people. And those
few passages in which it can be said to be questionable, when studied
carefully, they are referring to the people of God also.

By contrast, there is no authoritative use of the phrase "sons of God" for

Angels in the Bible. Why then should we listen to the suppositions of
men, when we have the unadulterated word of God to exegete? All God's
covenant people are spoken of as the sons, or the children of God. This is
the phrase that God has signified to identify those who are of His family.
Angels don't qualify. It is by the blood of Christ that true believers
become sons of God.

Romans 8:14

● "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are Sons of
God."

1st John 3:1

● Behold, what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the Sons of God:..."

All God's people are Sons of God. Looking all through the scriptures, we
see over and over again, that those who are believers, God assigns the
title, "sons of God." So there really is no mystery in Genesis chapter 6
except the one that some people seek to create for their own purposes.
These sons of God were the children of God (believers) of that day. God
is a Father to all His people. This is why He called the nation Israel His
son. It was an outward representation (was a type of) the true body of
Christ. And the Children/Sons of Israel represented Christ, His true Son
Israel!

Exodus 4:22

● "And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is
my son, even my firstborn:"
Hosea 11:1

● "When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out
of Egypt."

Matthew 2:15

● "And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of
Egypt have I called my Son."

Christ was the true Son that the sons or children of Israel looked forward
to. These are the Spiritual things of the Lord which many in the Church
do not understand. All scripture is consistent with itself, and flows
together like a gigantic spiritual picture puzzle, with every piece in place.
We are true sons of God, children of Israel, only because of Christ. For
He is the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the earth. In other
words, His atoning efficacy reaches from Abel, to those who are saved
today. Without Him, there is no true belief and no eternal Israel of God,
there is only the superficial.

The fact is, at any time on this earth, there have been believers (sons of
God) and the pagans or heathen who regarded not God. And these
believers and unbelievers were inherently at enmity, and were not to
come together in any kind of union of marriage. Those who are His
people, God declares that He is their Father, and they are His Children.
Just as When the nation Israel came along. They were corporately the
sons of God.

Deuteronomy 14:1-2

● "Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut
yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the
dead.
● For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the
LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself,
above all the nations that are upon the earth."

The Hebrew words translated "children of the Lord your God" [ben
Yehovah elohiym] are the very same words sons of God [ben elohiym],
illustrating God's people have a covenant family relationship with him.
i.e., they are sons of God, and were commanded to be a nation that
remained "set apart" from the heathen nations, for the service of God.
This principle for God's people is demonstrated for us in the New
Testament in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 6.

2nd Corinthians 6:17

● "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith

the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing: and I will receive you,
● And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My Sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

You see, there are two families in this world. The family of God, and the
family of the Devil. And the two are to remain separate, so that the
family of God is not polluted by the ideas of the Heathen/Godless
peoples. Even from the beginning with Cain and Able, God has always
separated his children from the unbelievers. Able was a child of God,
Cain lived in unbelief. Cain slew Able, and he was "SEPARATED" from
the family of God. He was cast out from among them. Why? Because
God cursed him, not wanting him among His People. The same thing
down through the ages as God told the nation of Israel not to not mix
with the nations around them. Sadly, there are some misguided souls who
think that this was all because of some racist idea. Not at all, it's because
Israel was the Old Testament representation of the family of
congregation of God. They were representatives of the children, or sons
of God! And they were not to be unequally yoked or joined together with
those in unbelief. The heathen nations around them were those in
unbelief. It's not that God was any respector of persons, it was just that
these were the children/sons of God, the representation of His family,
and as such they were not to mix with the unbelieving, that they not be
tempted by their idolatry.

Ezra 9:1

● "..The priests and the Levites, have not Separated themselves

from the people of the lands, doing according to their
abominations, even of the canaanites, the hittites, the perizites, the
Jebusites, the Amonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, the
Amorites. For they have taken of their Daughters for themselves,
and for their sons: so that the HOLY SEED have mingled
themselves with the people of those lands.."

Note the error of what the children or sons of Israel (the Sons of God)
had done here? They had done the exact same thing Genesis 6 speaks
about. They had gone after the daughters of men (unbelievers), the
heathen people around them, and this was the abomination to God. Look
at the language there. God says they mingled the Holy seed. Believers
(Sons of God) are not to be yoked with unbelievers. They are not to take
of their daughters for wives or let their sons go after these daughters.
God has decreed His congregation a SEPARATE nation or family set
apart from the world. That they are not to intermarry with unbelievers.
This is exact same principle we have today. Although it seems the
Church today has chosen to abandon God's laws concerning this precept.

2nd Corinthians 6:14

● "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what

fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness."

God's law has not changed. This is the same principle that Israel was
under, that was the reason Cain was cast out, and that God's children in
Genesis chapter 6 erred in. What communion hath light with darkness?
None! When we become the sons Of God, we are to be a light shinning
in darkness. But you can't mix light with darkness. They have no
communion together. Either the light will overcome the darkness, or
there will be no light, and the darkness rules. But you can't have them
both working together. They are two separate entities.

Philippians 2:15

● "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,

without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine as lights in the world."

That is the principle for all who are of God, and it was the principle in
Genesis chapter 6. The sons of God were to shine as the light of the
world, not mix with the darkness of those outside God's covenant family.
They were not to marry the daughters of men, because they were of two
totally different people. Yet we read that they did this anyway, and the
results were devastating. by letting their flesh rule over them, seeing how
the daughters of (unsaved) men were fair or beautiful, they disregarded
these principles and took them to wife. This is much like the Church
today. The result was that the world changed because of their evil
unfaithfulness. For that is what happens when you mix believers with
unbelievers. The continual or daily candle goes out and eventually you
have darkness ruling in the family. Wickedness abounds because you
can't have two rulers in one family. This is what the Sons of God did.

Genesis 6:2

● "that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were
fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose."

They took wives of the un-saved daughters of the giants [nephil] of that
time, and gave birth to unsaved children who became mighty champions,
men of renown (famous). Probably much like what we think of as
famous gladiators. An analogy today would probably be the man's
heroes, like football players, or basketball players, or a movie star.
Someone who is a hero, famous, renown, or a champion. People were
looking up to them and all the laws of God were left behind (sound
familiar). That's what happens when you have the children of God yoked
with unbelievers. The seed is mingled with unbelief and falls away
because one spouse being unsaved doesn't want to follow God's laws.
And of course (not coincidentally) God says after this the world became
evil continually (again, sound familiar), and because the wickedness of
man was great, God destroyed the world with the flood. He saved none
alive but Noah and his family. The sons of God by this unrighteousness
had become virtually wiped out except the 8 in the Ark! Is it any wonder
God uses both Noah and Lot as pictures or examples of the end of the
world and the apostasy of man preceding it? It is a signification of how it
will be in the world when Christ shall make His second appearing? but to
think that these sons of God In Genesis were angels, or that the giants
were super beings (as others surmise), is such a warped form of
eisegesis, it is nothing short of ridiculous.

There are many things to be considered here. Number one, didn't Jesus
Christ Himself tell us that when we get to heaven, we will be like the
angels, who neither marry nor are given in marriage?

Matthew 22:30

● "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in

marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven."

So how can Christians then simply ignore this, and say these were angels
marrying women of this earth in genesis chapter six? One popular way is
to rationalize this away and claim that they're no longer angels. But how
then are they called by God, sons of God (which they claim means
angels)? It makes no sense. They just are not studying the scriptures
carefully, or they are not taking everything into account and receiving
what they are reading. They cannot be angels, and take women to wife.
And if they are not angels, what else can they be? If we say they are
anything else, where is the Biblical justification for saying it? We
certainly can't just guess at it! We must use scripture to interpret scripture
and say these are exactly what God says they are. i.e., Sons Of God! That
may not be the most intriguing or sensationally interesting interpretation,
but it will be the most faithful and biblical interpretation. Of course,
faithfulness seems to be a novel approach to studying scripture these
days.

Another point is that Genesis Chapter 4:26 leading up to this chapter

says, "..then began men to call themselves by the name of the Lord." In
the literal, "..then a beginning to call after the name of Jehovah." This is
when people were called after the name of the Lord, "Sons of God!" That
those who knew the Lord, were sons of the father.

Also note "who" God is angry with in Genesis chapter 6, and who He
brings this judgment upon. It is with men, and not with angels! Let us use
simple logic here. If these were angels, God would be angry with angels
for coming down and taking daughters of men to wife, not angry at men
for what's taking place. Once we understand what is happening here, we
see that these can only be sons Of God, (believers) who went after the
daughters of men, (unbelievers) and their seed became unrighteous
because of it. Thus the world became corrupted and wicked because of
this violation of the law of separation of the family of God from
unbelievers. This happened because of the error of the sons of God,
which by the time of Noah, had dwindled down to just his family. And so
God brought judgment upon the world for their unrighteousness.

Again, note also a most telling statement. When we read in verse 2 that
the sons of God took the daughters of men to wife, what is God's
response in the very next verse?

● "And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man,
for that he is also flesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty
years."

Again, Sons of God take daughters of men, and God is angry with man,
not angels and not angel children. Flesh and Blood human beings! His
spirit will not always strive with man, not with angels. Man is but flesh,
and his error is in the flesh. In other words, God is going to bring
judgment upon him for his weakness of the flesh. The sons of God were
sinning according to the flesh, by taking wives of the unsaved, simply
because they were fair to look upon (beautiful in our vernacular). This is
the reason for judgment upon the earth, it's always been! Not because
Super angels copulated with humans, but because God's people went
after strange flesh!

Let us touch briefly on a few other verses that are sometimes used to try
and prove these were angels.

Job 1:6

● "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them."

Job 2:1

● "Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present
themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to
present himself before the Lord."

Any Bible that you have that translates these words as angels is a
mistranslation. The words sons of God in these verses are the exact same
Hebrew as found throughout scripture for sons, and for God. The same in
Genesis chapter 6. It's [ben 'elohiym] or [bane el-o-heem] which is
literally children or Sons/God. The exact same words in all the verses.
Not the Hebrew word "angels" [mal'ak] or Messenger, but Sons of God.
Any Bible that translates this angel is making a "commentary" and not a
translation of the Hebrew. And there is a difference! I don't mind people
making commentaries, but when they find themselves on the pages of
scripture "as Scripture" that's when I draw the line. It is an unrighteous
thing for anyone to translate [ben 'elohiym] as angels when it is the
Hebrew "Sons of God." If God had wanted to say angels, He very well
could have had the Holy men of old use that Hebrew word He has
prescribed and uses for angel throughout scripture. He did not. Case
Closed!

Some people have been confused by the language "they came to present
[yatsab] (meaning, to "station" or position) themselves before the Lord."
Some think that this means that they went into heaven. That's not the
case. We have to keep in mind the times that we are reading about. These
were the early years of the world. The language of "presenting
themselves before God", is common in Biblical History, and doesn't
denote an appearance in Heaven. It is simply language denoting coming
to the place or presence of God to inquire of Him. Today, we'd go to a
Church and pray. That would be our coming to inquire of God. In those
days, they would have their own designated Holy place, and often God
would speak to them directly. For example in,

Deuteronomy 31:14-15

● "...call Joshua, and Present Yourselves in the tabernacle of the

congregation, that I may give him a charge. And Moses and
Joshua went, and Presented themselves in the tabernacle of the
congregation.
● and the Lord Appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud:...."

God told Moses to Present [yatsab] (same word) himself and Joshua
before Him in the tabernacle, and "God" spoke to them. And note, they
did not appear in Heaven. Comparing scripture with scripture we see this
language of presenting oneself before the Lord doesn't denote an
appearance in heaven. Here they presented themselves before God, but it
was in the tabernacle. It's the exact same thing as the sons of God
presenting themselves. In these early days, God spoke to His servants the
Prophets in a special way. And often times that meant an appearance or
His presence in a special way. Again, don't take my word for it. Compare
scripture with scripture.

1st Samuel 10:19

● ..Now therefore Present Yourselves before the Lord by your

tribes, and by your thousands."

Present (same Hebrew word) themselves before the Lord, and they'd
inquire of God. Did that mean the tribes of Israel went into Heaven to
present themselves before the Lord? Certainly not, but this is the
language God uses to describe the gathering together to inquire of God.
Another verse is, Numbers 11:16 where the Lord tells Moses to gather 70
into the tabernacle to STAND (same Hebrew word PRESENT)
themselves with Moses, and "GOD" would come down and talk with
Him there. You see, this was simply the language in the old days of when
the believers, the sons of God, (whatever you want to call them), would
come to inquire of the Lord. They would present themselves before the
Lord to inquire and for instruction. So it's really no different from saying,
"the sons of God came to present themselves before the lord," and of
saying "the believers came to present themselves before the Lord." It's
human beings in view here, not angels, and not in heaven.

Literally, Job 1:6 says "..and there doth come Satan in their midst." So
the sons of God came to present themselves before God, and Satan came
in the midst of them. It's no mystery! It's not unlike the 12 Disciples with
Christ in Jerusalem, and Satan indwelling Judas to be in the midst of
them. There we have an example of Satan coming in the midst of the
sons of God. Where is the mystery? There is none! Satan makes his
appearance on earth, through men. Another passage people bring up is
Job 38.

Job 38:7

● "When the morning star sang together, and all the Sons of God
shouted for Joy."

The passage in Job 38:7 may be a little more difficult to understand, but
the chapter becomes clear once we compare scripture with scripture. The
entire chapter is speaking in symbolical terms. God talks about where the
foundations of the earth are fastened together (or sockets been sunk). The
Earth isn't sunk by sockets. It says who laid the corner stone. The earth
wasn't laid on corner stones. It says the sea is shut with doors. The sea
doesn't have any doors on it. It says the sea bursts forth as a womb. The
sea is not a womb. It talks of the clouds as a swaddling bands, and bars
being set, God talking and commanding the morning, taking hold of the
wings or ends of the earth, it being as a clothes or a garment, a broken
arm, etc., etc., etc. The point I'm making is, all these things symbolize
something. It's not a literal broken arm in view here, or literal bars and
doors or literal stars bursting forth singing. So why should we take this
alone to be literally angels, when everything else in the chapter speaks
symbolically? This all has a Spiritual significance no doubt, which is
beyond the scope of this study. But God is talking about His Creation
process and using spiritual language of creation, stars and sons to signify
Christ and His kingdom. Stars don't literally sing, nor the world literally
sat on stones. God says these things to paint a spiritual picture puzzle
which we must discern by rightly dividing the word. God has always
used the stars as tokens for believers, just as He uses the Sun to signify
Christ. These significations or symbolic terms started from the very
beginning in Genesis. The stars are part of the lights of the world created
from the Beginning, and all are symbolic of the light of the lord!
Likewise, those in Christ are called by these things. lamps, candles, stars,
etc., because we are reflections or vessels of Christ. The House or
Temple of the lord. It's these "Spiritual Things" which so many
Theologians don't really comprehend. But this is the House of God, the
sons of God, the foundation laid. Consider Chapters like Ezra and
compare scripture with scripture knowing that the Lord does nothing by
accident.

Ezra 3:10-12

● "And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the
LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the
Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD,
after the ordinance of David king of Israel.
● And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks
unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for
ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout,
when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house
of the LORD was laid.
● But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who
were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the
foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a
loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

The same Picture of the stars singing and shouting for Joy and the
foundation laid, which God's original creation mirrors. Because it's
"meant" to show a spiritual truth which has nothing to do with literal
stars or angels! But as I said, that's a whole other Study in itself, and
beyond the scope of this one.

Mark 12:25 makes it perfectly clear angels could not have been in view
in Genesis chapter 6, taking the daughters of Men to wife. it should settle
the whole issue right there, but it won't. Because some people make up
their minds, and they just refuse to be confused with triviality like, the
Biblical facts. I've found that many people will believe whatever they are
taught no matter what evidence you bring to the table. But this article is
for those who have spiritual ears and keep God's word, and know the
righteousness of comparing scripture with scripture, Spiritual things with
spiritual things (1st Cor. 2:13), to come to the Truth of it.
One other thing that some people seem to get hung up on is the word
translated Giants (KJV) in verse 4 of Genesis chapter 6. In the Hebrew
[nephel]. They like to throw the word Nefeel, Nephel or Nephelims
around like it's a name for a alien race. The fact is, it's not a name for an
alien race of people, it's a description of a type of people. Nephel in the
original means "FELL'er". i.e., one who would make you fall, or one who
you would fall at the sight of. Like as a "BIG" or "GIANT" person. Thus,
it is correctly translated Giants here. But there is no mystery. We can
prove that very easily. Because The Giants [nephel] is spoken of in
Genesis before the Flood, and again after the flood. Now since we (Bible
Believers) know that everyone on earth was destroyed by the flood of
Noah's day, and only Noah and His own survived, and they weren't
NEPHEL (if nephel means this alien race) then we know by simple
common sense and logic that this "so called" race of Nephel could not
have survived. It makes absolutely no sense unless we are unreasonable
and refuse to listen to the facts.

A Reasonable man adapts himself to the

facts of scripture which He reads.
An unreasonable man seeks to have the facts
of scripture adapt to his teachings"

-WiseManSay

Nephel is simply a old word used in description of "Big" People. Could

be literally big in stature, or big in position, as in famous or a champion.
In other words, it's a word meaning big, not a name of a tribe or a race.
We have a tribe of people in Africa today who are very, very tall. There
is also a tribe that is very very small, or short. When talking about them,
we can say they're big, or giants, or they're small, or little. If we were of
the old way of naming things, we would say they were Nephel (Giants).
But we don't ascribe them to being "angels" just because their size is
unusual. And we shouldn't do it with the scriptures either. They're Big.
They're Fellers, they're Giants. But they are not the product of angels
mating. The whole idea is preposterous! It means Giants, nothing more.
And that's how the word Nephel is used in the scriptures. As there are
today, there were some tribes or families of people that were very big, or
giants in those days. Goliath was one of these, and the sons of Anak also.
The word Giants, just means they were big, or of great stature. It didn't
identify a alien race or angels. In fact, we can see that clearly as we read,

Numbers 13:33
 ● "And there we saw the giants [nephel] the sons of Anak, which
come of the giants [gibbowr], and we were in our own sight as
grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

You see, here we have that word again. Nephel, the sons of Anak. That's
proof again that the word nephel is not describing a new race, but a
attribute. Because they were the sons of the anakims, who Joshua
destroyed in canaan. These could hardly be the same race of nephilims
that were "before" the flood. The whole idea is ludicrous! Or did angels
drop by again after the flood also to mate with Human women? No, the
whole idea is silly. Notice that second word translated Giants [gibbowr].
It means warriors or strong Champions. And note the fear of these men
because they were what? ..BIG! That's why they were called nephel
(Giants). They were BIG, not angels! Verse 32 says "of great stature".
They were afraid of them because they were unusually large people. But
it has nothing to do with angels mating, anymore than the tall people in
Africa today have anything to do with mating with angels. They were
simply a tribe of Big people who would frighten you if you had to battle
them. Would you rather to go to battle against a army of people the size
of Wilt Chamberlain, or an army standing 5 feet 9 inches. The answer is
obvious. So that's what that verse above illustrates. They were afraid
because these were an army of big People. Nephels. Giants! Champions!
Nothing more. The natural man delights in creating a mystery where
there is none because the truth doesn't seem exotic enough for them.
They want something more. But the truth is that these were Giants in the
land. Nothing more.

The synopsis of Genesis chapter 6, is that the sons of God took the
daughters of men to wife. They were believers who disobeyed God and
went after the unsaved women who looked good, and in turn they
brought forth unsaved seed who corrupted the earth so that there was
nothing but evil continually. And God saw what they had done and sent
the flood to wipe out the wickedness. And all perished except Noah and
His own family.

let that be a lesson to all of us. We must not be unequally yoked with an
unbeliever, for that will cause terrible repercussions down the road.
Unfortunately, this is "Exactly" what is happening today. Not only with
believers going after, and marrying unbelievers literally, but also
spiritually as the church is unequally yoking themselves with
unbelievers. They are making all kinds of excuses for their actions, and
they just don't realize what this error will bring upon the Church. Just as
it did when Israel went after the women and men of the heathen nations
 around her. These turned them to false Gods and abominations. Slowly
but surely (like a creeping vine or spreading cancer) it became their
destruction. I speak out about this, but somehow, this just doesn't seem
important to the Church today. I sadly say, "we learn from history, ..that
we do not learn from History." I know this is as it must be, but my
earnest Prayer is that some (though few that must be), will by Grace of
God begin to learn from History. ..Bible History.

Peace,

Copyright ©1992 Tony Warren

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