Christian Standard Bible
Genesis 6:4
4The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men.
Genesis 6:4 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
- New International Version (NIV)The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.
- New King James Version (NKJV)There were giants 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.
Context of Genesis 6:4
2the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were beautiful, and they took any they chose as wives for themselves. 3And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.” The Nephilim were on the earth both in those days and afterward, when the sons of God came to the daughters of mankind, who bore children to them. They were the powerful men of old, the famous men. 5When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.
Read all of Genesis 6Genesis 6:4 word by word
הַנְּפִלִ֞ים הָי֣וּ בָאָרֶץ֮ בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵם֒ וְגַ֣ם אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָבֹ֜אוּ בְּנֵ֤י הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־בְּנ֣וֹת הָֽאָדָ֔ם וְיָלְד֖וּ לָהֶ֑ם הֵ֧מָּה הַגִּבֹּרִ֛ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר מֵעוֹלָ֖ם אַנְשֵׁ֥י הַשֵּֽׁם׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- There were giantsנְפִלִיםnephîyl nephil · NephilimH5303
- in the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- in those daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
- and also afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- thatכֵּןkên · soH3651
- whenאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
- the sonsבֵּןbên · son: type ofH1121
- of Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- came inבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto the daughtersבַּתbath · daughterH1323
- of menאָדָם'âdâm · manH120
- and they bareיָלַדyâlad · to begetH3205
- to them, the sameהֵ֫מָּהhêm hêmmâh · they(masc.)H1992
- mighty menגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
- of oldעוֹלָם‛ôlâm ‛ôlâm · forever: antiquityH5769
- menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- of renownשֵׁםshêm · nameH8034
Cross-references for Genesis 6:4
- Numbers 13:33We even saw the Nephilim there — the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.”
- Deuteronomy 2:20This too used to be regarded as the land of the Rephaim. The Rephaim lived there previously, though the Ammonites called them Zamzummim,
- Deuteronomy 3:11(Only King Og of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. His bed was made of iron. Isn’t it in Rabbah of the Ammonites? It is 13½ feet long and 6 feet wide by a standard measure.)
- 1 Samuel 17:4Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall
- 2 Samuel 21:15The Philistines again waged war against Israel. David went down with his soldiers, and they fought the Philistines, but David became exhausted.
- Genesis 6:3And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”
- Genesis 11:4And they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the sky. Let’s make a name for ourselves; otherwise, we will be scattered throughout the earth.”
- Numbers 16:2two hundred fifty prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses.
Commentaries on Genesis 6:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4There were giants in the earth - נפלים nephilim, from נפל naphal, "he fell." Those who had apostatized or fallen from the true religion. The Septuagint translate the original word by , which literally signifies earth-born, and which we, following them, term giants, without having any reference to the meaning of the word, which we generally conceive to signify persons of enormous stature. But the word when properly understood makes a very just distinction…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-8Verses 1-8 - The Growth of Sin 3. דון dı̂yn “be down, strive, subdue, judge.” בשׁגם bāshagām “inasmuch, as also.” The rendering “in their error” requires the pointing בשׁגם beshāgām and the plural form of the following pronoun. It is also unknown to the Septuagint. 4. נפילים nepı̂lı̂ym “assailants, fellers, men of violence, tyrants.” Having traced the line of descent from Adam through Sheth, the seed of God, to Noah, the author proceeds to describe…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4The Nephilim: This term might mean "fallen ones." The context suggests they were the children of the sons of God and God would destroy them in the great flood. Numbers 13:31–33 uses the same term for other giants who opposed God's people and would also be destroyed. Deuteronomy 2:11 connects the Anakite nephilim with another group called the Rephaim (Hebrew repa’im).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. giants--The term in Hebrew implies not so much the idea of great stature as of reckless ferocity, impious and daring characters, who spread devastation and carnage far and wide.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 6:4
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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