What does Genesis 6:4 Actually Say?

Paleouss said:

Greetings d taylor. Thank you for your reply.

I was looking for more of a verse breakdown from Genesis 6:4. I'll do some of the breakdown for you and then you can present your position.

Genesis 6:4 breakdown...
Subject (A): "The Nephilim"
Time Referene for Nephilim: "were on the earth in those days, and also afterward"

The verse starts telling us that the Nephilim were on the earth. To denote a more precise "when" the verse gives an event reference and says that the Nephilim were on the earth at that very same time as the event presented.

So what event reference does the text in Genesis 6:4 give? It gives this event specifically...when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them.

So this is what I'm looking to be explained, that is, how can the Nephilim also be the children if the children are part of the event that is being given as "when" they were "also" on the earth?

Surly the writer isn't saying...The Nephilim were on the earth when they were born and also after they were born. That seems like a, duh.

So I'm at a loss to what grammatical evidence (from Genesis 6:4) you think the Nephilim are also the children? Can you explain this for me?




Peace to you brother

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Paleouss said:

Greetings to all and hope and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.

My general question is, what does Genesis 6:4 actually say? In other words, does Genesis 6:4 present 3 subject groups or 4 subject groups? Here are the possible subject groups...

1. Nephilim (han-nə-p̄i-lîm)
2. sons of God (ḇə-nê- hā-’ĕ-lō-hîm)
3. daughters of man (bə-nō-wṯ hā-’ā-ḏām)
4. "and bore children to them"

After the presentation of the subject groups within Genesis 6:4, there is this statement (I provided various translations below)...

(Gen 6:4d KJV) "...the same [became] mighty men which [were] of old, men of renown."
(Gen 6:4 ESV) "...These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown."
(Gen 6:4 NASB20) " Those were the mighty men who [were] of old, men of renown."

So the question is, to which subject group is this ending statement referring? Is it referring to subject group #1 or #4?

If you assert that subjects #1 and #4 are the same subject group, then please explain how this verse can be read where subjects #1 and #4 are the same entity because this is what appears to be happing within the verse...

A. The Nephilim are brought up as being on earth
B. A time reference it given to the reader in the form of an event and said the Nephilim are on earth at the same time as this event was happening.
C. Then the event is presented, the event consists of children who are born in the union of sons of God and daughters of men.

In other words the Nephilim are contrasted within the verse with subjects #2, #3, #4. Therefore, it doesn't appear that subject group #4 is the same as subject group #1.

So back to the original question...does this ending statement refer to subject group #1 or group #4?


Keep seeking God's truth as if it were hidden treasure (Prov 2)

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