New Living Translation
Genesis 6:4
4In 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.
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 the beautiful women and took any they wanted as their wives. 3Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.” 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. 5The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke 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 13:33We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too!”
- Deuteronomy 2:20(That area was once considered the land of the Rephaites, who had lived there, though the Ammonites call them Zamzummites.
- Deuteronomy 3:11(King Og of Bashan was the last survivor of the giant Rephaites. His bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide. It can still be seen in the Ammonite city of Rabbah.)
- 1 Samuel 17:4Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!
- 2 Samuel 21:15Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted.
- Genesis 6:3Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”
- Genesis 11:4Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”
- Numbers 16:2They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly.
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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