Unseen Realm 10: Nephilim Were Real

The scripture reveals that the Nephilim were actual beings present on the earth, both before and after the incident involving the "sons of God" and "daughters of man," as recorded in Genesis 6:4. This verse plainly states, "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man..." This indicates their concrete existence, not merely as a mythical concept, but as a real part of terrestrial history described in the biblical narrative.
This biblical thread concerning the Nephilim is far more significant than a mere obscure verse; it is not a minor detail to be disregarded. The scriptures consistently weave the Nephilim into a larger narrative that includes the events of Genesis 6, the later memory of giant clans among the inhabitants of the land, pervasive violence, corrupted forms of rule, and the overarching story of rebellion against divine order. For instance, Numbers 13:33 recounts the fearful observation of the spies, "There we saw the Nephilim... and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them," demonstrating that memory of them persisted and profoundly impacted Israel's experience. Furthermore, Deuteronomy 3:11 explicitly links Og, the king of Bashan, to this lineage, stating, "Only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim," thereby integrating this giant-clan tradition directly into Israel's history of conquest.
Understanding the biblical emphasis on the reality of the Nephilim and related giant traditions encourages us to approach all scripture with seriousness, recognizing that even passages that seem strange at first are integral to the complete story of God's interaction with the world. It shapes our faith by revealing a consistent biblical witness to a world that included more than just typical human experience, urging us to consider the full scope of biblical history and prophecy without dismissing details that might challenge modern sensibilities. This understanding reinforces the truthfulness of God’s Word in all its parts, inviting a deeper trust in its comprehensive narrative.