Were the Nephilim to blame? Were they evil?

[disciple Clint]

I am confused a great deal about this because it has rarely been talked about in the 47 years I've attended church. It is in Genesis 6 where the title is The corruption of mankind. This is the only part of the Bible that I know of where it speaks about the Nephilim (children fathered by an angel); for reference I'm using NASB version of the Bible (Genesis 6:1-7).

To summarize, it says that the sons of God found the daughters of men beautiful. In verse 4 it says, The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

This is where my questions come in to play. My first question is this:

1. Were the Nephilim evil?

The only thing I can find that speaks of their character, is in the verse above where it says they were "men of renown." It says they were also mighty. But nowhere can I find anything that says they were evil. Neither "might" or "renown" seems to make reference to evil in these verses. If they were evil, were they born that way? It wouldn't be the child's fault that their father was an angel. My next question is 2 parts:

2. Did God view the Nephilim different from other humans? Were they born evil?

From what I can gather, the Nephilim still had a human soul. While they were mighty and renown...the Bible gives no reference to them having angelic powers or abilities. Did God give them the same chances to repent of their sins as He did with regular humans? If they were still human, I would have to say yes.

However, it was only after the Nephilim were born that God says in verse 5, Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

I know that God is just and His judgement is true. I found 2 references stating that the angels who fathered them were the ones that fell with Lucifer. I might be wrong in my interpretation, and I hate thinking it, but this makes me think that the Nephilim were evil. I hate that thought because it wouldn't have been the child's fault to be born from a fallen angel.

So in the end, I am curious to know how did God judge them when they died? Did He view them differently than regular humans? Were they born evil?

good source of information on this subject: Who / what were the Nephilim? | GotQuestions.org

 

[Sorn]

I use Nephilim flakes to keep moths away from my clothes!

 

[Sheila Davis]

Consider that they being a hybrid of mortal and immortal, that they may not have slept upon the death of their flesh but became legion, for they were many.

Yes that is possible .

 

[RickReads]

I am confused a great deal about this because it has rarely been talked about in the 47 years I've attended church. It is in Genesis 6 where the title is The corruption of mankind. This is the only part of the Bible that I know of where it speaks about the Nephilim (children fathered by an angel); for reference I'm using NASB version of the Bible (Genesis 6:1-7).

To summarize, it says that the sons of God found the daughters of men beautiful. In verse 4 it says, The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

This is where my questions come in to play. My first question is this:

1. Were the Nephilim evil?

The only thing I can find that speaks of their character, is in the verse above where it says they were "men of renown." It says they were also mighty. But nowhere can I find anything that says they were evil. Neither "might" or "renown" seems to make reference to evil in these verses. If they were evil, were they born that way? It wouldn't be the child's fault that their father was an angel. My next question is 2 parts:

2. Did God view the Nephilim different from other humans? Were they born evil?

From what I can gather, the Nephilim still had a human soul. While they were mighty and renown...the Bible gives no reference to them having angelic powers or abilities. Did God give them the same chances to repent of their sins as He did with regular humans? If they were still human, I would have to say yes.

However, it was only after the Nephilim were born that God says in verse 5, Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

I know that God is just and His judgement is true. I found 2 references stating that the angels who fathered them were the ones that fell with Lucifer. I might be wrong in my interpretation, and I hate thinking it, but this makes me think that the Nephilim were evil. I hate that thought because it wouldn't have been the child's fault to be born from a fallen angel.

So in the end, I am curious to know how did God judge them when they died? Did He view them differently than regular humans? Were they born evil?

The book of Enoch is controversial but it gives lengthy, detailed accounts of the angels who spawned the Nephilim. The book is a question mark but it is a fascinating read for anyone interested in details about Noah's world. I put some time into studying this book years ago. I found a lot of things that aren't in the Bible but nothing that contradicts it. There is a reference to it in our Bible that in my opinion gives it some benefit of the doubt credibility.

 

[Skye1300]

I am confused a great deal about this because it has rarely been talked about in the 47 years I've attended church. It is in Genesis 6 where the title is The corruption of mankind. This is the only part of the Bible that I know of where it speaks about the Nephilim (children fathered by an angel); for reference I'm using NASB version of the Bible (Genesis 6:1-7).

To summarize, it says that the sons of God found the daughters of men beautiful. In verse 4 it says, The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

This is where my questions come in to play. My first question is this:

1. Were the Nephilim evil?

The only thing I can find that speaks of their character, is in the verse above where it says they were "men of renown." It says they were also mighty. But nowhere can I find anything that says they were evil. Neither "might" or "renown" seems to make reference to evil in these verses. If they were evil, were they born that way? It wouldn't be the child's fault that their father was an angel. My next question is 2 parts:

2. Did God view the Nephilim different from other humans? Were they born evil?

From what I can gather, the Nephilim still had a human soul. While they were mighty and renown...the Bible gives no reference to them having angelic powers or abilities. Did God give them the same chances to repent of their sins as He did with regular humans? If they were still human, I would have to say yes.

However, it was only after the Nephilim were born that God says in verse 5, Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

I know that God is just and His judgement is true. I found 2 references stating that the angels who fathered them were the ones that fell with Lucifer. I might be wrong in my interpretation, and I hate thinking it, but this makes me think that the Nephilim were evil. I hate that thought because it wouldn't have been the child's fault to be born from a fallen angel.

So in the end, I am curious to know how did God judge them when they died? Did He view them differently than regular humans? Were they born evil?

the Bible doesn't give any more information than what you posted, but the book of Enoch breaks it all down and answers those questions. The book of Enoch explains how the Nephilim were the offspring between fallen angels and human women. They were evil because their primordial origin was from the fallen angels. When they perished in the flood, their souls remained disembodied on the earth as demons. They didn't go to God like humans because they did not come from God. It also explains how they were smarter than average humans but that smartness was used for evil purposes and they ruled over humans. They were smarter as well as larger. They taught men how to do evil things. That was the reason for the flood. The earth was corrupted by them.

 

[Sorn]

the Bible doesn't give any more information than what you posted, but the book of Enoch breaks it all down and answers those questions. The book of Enoch explains how the Nephilim were the offspring between fallen angels and human women. They were evil because their primordial origin was from the fallen angels. When they perished in the flood, their souls remained disembodied on the earth as demons. They didn't go to God like humans because they did not come from God. It also explains how they were smarter than average humans but that smartness was used for evil purposes and they ruled over humans. They were smarter as well as larger. They taught men how to do evil things. That was the reason for the flood. The earth was corrupted by them.

In addition to that there is also the view that the Nephilim were effectively out breeding normal humans or out competing normal men so that eventually everyone on the planet would have some nephilim DNA in them and that God viewed this corruption of the human genome or genetic lineage as unacceptable.

So He acted to start afresh with an uncontaminated gene pool, while at the same time cleansing a lot of evil and bad practices etc (which could have included some knowledge superior to what we have today in areas of genetics for example).

 

[Skye1300]

In addition to that there is also the view that the Nephilim were effectively out breeding normal humans or out competing normal men so that eventually everyone on the planet would have some nephilim DNA in them and that God viewed this corruption of the human genome or genetic lineage as unacceptable.

So He acted to start afresh with an uncontaminated gene pool, while at the same time cleansing a lot of evil and bad practices etc (which could have included some knowledge superior to what we have today in areas of genetics for example).

Yes, exactly!

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I am confused a great deal about this because it has rarely been talked about in the 47 years I've attended church. It is in Genesis 6 where the title is The corruption of mankind. This is the only part of the Bible that I know of where it speaks about the Nephilim (children fathered by an angel); for reference I'm using NASB version of the Bible (Genesis 6:1-7).

To summarize, it says that the sons of God found the daughters of men beautiful. In verse 4 it says, The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of mankind, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

This is where my questions come in to play. My first question is this:

1. Were the Nephilim evil?

The only thing I can find that speaks of their character, is in the verse above where it says they were "men of renown." It says they were also mighty. But nowhere can I find anything that says they were evil. Neither "might" or "renown" seems to make reference to evil in these verses. If they were evil, were they born that way? It wouldn't be the child's fault that their father was an angel. My next question is 2 parts:

2. Did God view the Nephilim different from other humans? Were they born evil?

From what I can gather, the Nephilim still had a human soul. While they were mighty and renown...the Bible gives no reference to them having angelic powers or abilities. Did God give them the same chances to repent of their sins as He did with regular humans? If they were still human, I would have to say yes.

However, it was only after the Nephilim were born that God says in verse 5, Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of mankind was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. So the Lord was sorry that He had made mankind on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

I know that God is just and His judgement is true. I found 2 references stating that the angels who fathered them were the ones that fell with Lucifer. I might be wrong in my interpretation, and I hate thinking it, but this makes me think that the Nephilim were evil. I hate that thought because it wouldn't have been the child's fault to be born from a fallen angel.

So in the end, I am curious to know how did God judge them when they died? Did He view them differently than regular humans? Were they born evil?

There are two camps when interpreting these verses in Genesis. The one you are speaking of and the one where the "sons of God" are of Seth's lineage and the daughters of men are of Cain's lineage. The discendants of Cain were evil and the descendants of Seth were worshipers of God.
As far as the Nefilim , they were powerful tall men in great number.
Blessings

 

[JulieB67]

The nephilim were the offspring of fallen angels and human women. A plot devised by satan, to keep The Messiah form coming into the world.

This is what I believe as well and Jude really nails it down just what the sin was -going after strange flesh -this case human.

And we know Noah and his family we know were the only ones that hadn't mixed by that time.

As to the OP -I leave it in our Father's hands. I know it wasn't in his plan for them to mix. And for the individuals and if they were truly evil I'll leave that up to him as well.

"sons of God

The "sons of God" description is only used in reference to angels as noted in the Job scriptures.

 

[d taylor]

This is what I believe as well and Jude really nails it down just what the sin was -going after strange flesh -this case human.

And we know Noah and his family we know were the only ones that hadn't mixed by that time.

As to the OP -I leave it in our Father's hands. I know it wasn't in his plan for them to mix. And for the individuals and if they were truly evil I'll leave that up to him as well.

The "sons of God" description is only used in reference to angels as noted in the Job scriptures.

Also noted in Genesis this union produced only males no female nephilim, so if this would have continued on. There would have been no women left for God to come into the world through and take on true humanity.

 

[Sorn]

Also noted in Genesis this union produced only males no female nephilim, so if this would have continued on. There would have been no women left for God to come into the world through and take on true humanity.

Or the women ones were just overlooked as it was a male dominated and oriented society

 

[Ligurian]

In addition to that there is also the view that the Nephilim were effectively out breeding normal humans or out competing normal men so that eventually everyone on the planet would have some nephilim DNA in them and that God viewed this corruption of the human genome or genetic lineage as unacceptable.

So He acted to start afresh with an uncontaminated gene pool, while at the same time cleansing a lot of evil and bad practices etc (which could have included some knowledge superior to what we have today in areas of genetics for example).

So, the Neanderthals would be the Nephilim... and CroMagnon are the Adamites.

 

[Hvizsgyak]

It's a shame so much of the time between the Garden and Noah was left out of official scripture. It's as if to erase Adam and Eve and substitute Noah and clan as the origins of our mankind.

I often wondered if God may have wanted it that way. Maybe He thought that the history between Adam and Eve, and Noah was unnecessary for us to know. He may have wanted short and simple and to the point so His followers would focus more on the future than on the past. All we needed to know was that these men (or creatures) were evil and they needed to be destroyed. By knowing how evil they were could cause the faithful to question God's judgement.

Just a hunch; nothing scientific in it.

 

[d taylor]

Or the women ones were just overlooked as it was a male dominated and oriented society

I do not read verse 4 in that way, that they were just not mentioned.

There were nephilim(fallen ones) on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

 

[timothyu]

He may have wanted short and simple and to the point so His followers would focus more on the future than on the past.

Or... He may have wanted us to focus on our mistakes rather than those of His other creations.

 

[timothyu]

All we needed to know was that these men (or creatures) were evil and they needed to be destroyed.

Mention has been made that our dna was being messed with cross breeding with those others or something like that, which resulted in God's anger at the tampering with His work. Patent infringement. What will He think of the current plan to incorporate digital and human to create new super human beings?

"Many of these innovations are in their infancy, but they are already reaching an inflection point in their development as they build on and amplify each other in a fusion of technologies across the physical, digital and biological worlds”

“These technologies will operate within our own biology and change how we interface with the world. They are capable of crossing the boundaries of body and mind, enhancing our physical abilities, and even having a lasting impact on life itself “.

* “active implantable microchips that break the skin barrier of our bodies”, “smart tattoos”, “biological computing” and “custom-designed organisms”

* “sensors, memory switches and circuits can be encoded in common human gut bacteria”, “Smart Dust, arrays of full computers with antennas, each much smaller than a grain of sand, can now organize themselves inside the body”, “implanted devices will likely also help to communicate thoughts normally expressed verbally through a ‘built-in’ smartphone, and potentially unexpressed thoughts or moods by reading brain waves and other signals”

* “Synthetic biology” “the ability to customize organisms by writing DNA”

... Klaus Schwab ~ WEF

 

[Sorn]

Mention has been made that our dna was being messed with cross breeding with those others or something like that, which resulted in God's anger at the tampering with His work. Patent infringement. What will He think of the current plan to incorporate digital and human to create new super human beings?

"Many of these innovations are in their infancy, but they are already reaching an inflection point in their development as they build on and amplify each other in a fusion of technologies across the physical, digital and biological worlds”

“These technologies will operate within our own biology and change how we interface with the world. They are capable of crossing the boundaries of body and mind, enhancing our physical abilities, and even having a lasting impact on life itself “.

* “active implantable microchips that break the skin barrier of our bodies”, “smart tattoos”, “biological computing” and “custom-designed organisms”

* “sensors, memory switches and circuits can be encoded in common human gut bacteria”, “Smart Dust, arrays of full computers with antennas, each much smaller than a grain of sand, can now organize themselves inside the body”, “implanted devices will likely also help to communicate thoughts normally expressed verbally through a ‘built-in’ smartphone, and potentially unexpressed thoughts or moods by reading brain waves and other signals”

* “Synthetic biology” “the ability to customize organisms by writing DNA”

... Klaus Schwab ~ WEF

Digital enhancements won't affect the DNA that is passed onto the next generation so i'd say He'd have no issue with it.

 

[timothyu]

Digital enhancements won't affect the DNA that is passed onto the next generation so i'd say He'd have no issue with it.

Even if we hack into our own brains and steal data intended for the Great Server?

 

[Jipsah]

The book of Enoch is controversial but it gives lengthy, detailed accounts of the angels who spawned the Nephilim.

Yeah, it gives extraordinarily detailed descriptions of the workings of the "Heavenly Luminaries" as well, and all of it the worst kind of rubbish. I have little regard for "the book of Enoch".

The book is a question mark but it is a fascinating read for anyone interested in details about Noah's world.

Fictional details, if the descriptions of the movements of celestial bodies like the sun and moon are any example.

I put some time into studying this book years ago. I found a lot of things that aren't in the Bible

The same may be said for the Koran.

 

[Jipsah]

the Bible doesn't give any more information than what you posted, but the book of Enoch breaks it all down and answers those questions.

So can I, if you don't mind it being hogwash.