New King James Version
Genesis 6:4
4There 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)In those days, and for some time after, giant Nephilites lived on the earth, for whenever the sons of God had intercourse with women, they gave birth to children who became the heroes and famous warriors of ancient times.
Context of Genesis 6:4
2that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. 3And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” 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. 5Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
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 13:33There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
- Deuteronomy 2:20(That was also regarded as a land of giants; giants formerly dwelt there. But the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
- Deuteronomy 3:11“For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the giants. Indeed his bedstead was an iron bedstead. (Is it not in Rabbah of the people of Ammon?) Nine cubits is its length and four cubits its width, according to the standard cubit.
- 1 Samuel 17:4And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
- 2 Samuel 21:15When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint.
- Genesis 6:3And the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
- Genesis 11:4And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.”
- Numbers 16:2and they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown.
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries