Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Numbers 13 is not indicating "nephlim" as the offspring of the union between the sons of God and daughters of men. "nephlim" is from a root meaning "to fall", they fell on others in a sense these are men who overpower others. It was an exaggeration by comparing these huge men to those giants conceived through an unnatural union prior to the flood.
Very true, but the word used for simply a giant is rapha' and this specific type of giants - nĕphiyl - is recorded prior to the flood and after only twice, indicating that they were the same breed, and if read in the context of their geneology, the sons of God and the daughters of men are the sons of Seth and the daughters of Cain, and the sin the mingling of the two seeds, defiling the line, which caused evil and wickedness to multiply within the covenantal line of Seth.
The Nephilim that are mentioned are a mysterious group of people. The phrase Nephilim, as you pinted out, is based on the Hebrew word for “to fall” and most commentators understand the name Nephilim to refer to the “fallen ones.” That works particularly well with the idea of “fallen angels” but it may not be a good idea to press that too far.
Anak was a Caananite, who was cursed outside of the covenantal line of Adam, and the Nephilim, which as we noted is rooted to means to "fall upon" or even "overthrow," referring to their warlike nature.
Since the Old Testament describes Nephilim both before and after the flood, if the Nephilim were a race then it would contradict the rest of Scripture, which indicates pretty clearly that there were only eight survivors of the flood, that is if you adhere to a Global Flood.
Now if you adhere to a Local Flood, then it doesn't contradict scripture at all, in any way shape or form, which, exegetically, in regards to ERETZ, is quite possible to be local, and not global.
In ancient Hebrew - the entire world or earth is - Tebel
In ancient Hebrew - the land is - Eretz
Since the Bible indicates that angels are asexual beings, it makes sense that they could not be the "sons of God" who produced children with the "daughters of men." The best exegetical interpretation is that the "sons of God" were men who were descended from Seth, the covenantal line, who followed the Lord for a time (in contrast to the line of Cain, which produced the "daughters of men", who were outside the covenant.)
However, right before the Flood, even the "sons of God" took wives among the line of Cain, and, therefore, became corrupted themselves through their unbelieving wives, tainting the covenantal line. This is one of the reasons God determined to destroy the coveanantal line of Seth, except for the eight people who still followed the Lord and remained true to the One Lord God. Some more things to think about.
Very true, but the word used for simply a giant is rapha' and this specific type of giants - nĕphiyl - is recorded prior to the flood and after only twice, indicating that they were the same breed, and if read in the context of their geneology, the sons of God and the daughters of men are the sons of Seth and the daughters of Cain, and the sin the mingling of the two seeds, defiling the line, which caused evil and wickedness to multiply within the covenantal line of Seth.
.
Sorry but I don't see nephlims (offspring) surviving the flood.
Numbers 13:33: "There also we saw the nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the NEPHILIM); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight."
This is post flood.
The sons of God were not angels nor fallen angels.
Moses referred to the sons of God as point of reference for the people of the Bible: Israel.
Luke 3: 38Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
In the Book of Job, whenever the sons of God presented themselves to the Lord, Job was mentioned several times because he was one of them. Why point Satan outside the sons of God when they were presenting themselves to God unless to show off Job as one of the sons of God?
Also.. Jesus said that God has ordained this about marriage:
Matthew 22: 29Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
Since it is God that joins male and female together, He is not going to join an angel nor a fallen angel for women to be called wives to them in the Bible.
Mankind today may marry two men and two women together, but they are not married in the eyes of God for He has not joined the two together.
God has spoken and has ordained this that marriage be between a man and a woman.
So the sons of God were of the lineage from which Israel came from as a point of family reference in the Bible.
As far as I know sons of God" in the OT ALWAYS refers to angels. Please give the verse where you see it referred to as humans?
Luke 3: 38Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
The lineage is pointing the reference for the Israelites reading the scriptures of their Biblical heritage.
Job 1:1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 6Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.7And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. 12And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
Here, while the sons of God were presenting themselves to the Lord, God pointed out Job among them to the devil by which the devil made a dare in testing Job.
Now when the sons of God presented themselves to the Lord again, Job was pointed out again, having passed the test, but yet the devil dared another test again.
Coincidence? I think not. Job was one of the sons of God presenting themselves to the Lord.
Job 2: 1Again 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. 2And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 3And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.4And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. 5But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. 6And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
As far as I know sons of God" in the OT ALWAYS refers to angels. Please give the verse where you see it referred to as humans?
Job 38: 6Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; 7When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
If you are referring to this verse as implying angels, God was referencing to Job about His act in creation by which he should have known when he with the sons of God shouted for joy which is obviously what they did when coming together to present themselves to the Lord.
Job would not have any reference to the sons of God doing that about creation if they were angels for he would not have been among them.
It is still written in the Book of Job.
If all that breathe the breath of air perished in the flood and only eight souls survived the flood:
1 Peter 3:20Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
Then the nephilium after those days are results of Israel mingling with other nations: which doesn't mean they always produced giants: but that explains Goliath among the Philistines.
If we consider the act of creation where God have ordained that kind can only produce after their own kind, then Jesus meant what He had said that angels do not marry nor given in marriage for God would not join women to angels or even fallen angels to be called wives to them for they cannot.
1 Corinthians 15: 38But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body. 39All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.....44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Angels were not created to reproduce. And they did not gain that ability in their fallen state. God's words stand. Kind can only beget after their own kind.. each to his seed.
In the resurrection.... we will be like the angels. What assurances be that if we will have the choice to marry if the angels as the sons of God could?
Fallen angels would not be called the sons of God still, so no way would God marry off the angels to join them to women and no way would the Bible call fallen angels the sons of God.
So there is a conundrum in referring the sons of God as being angels.
Also... throughout the NT, believers in Christ are called the sons of God.
John 1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 8:14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Romans 8:19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Philippians 2:15That 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;
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
