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GIANTS

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. Genesis: 6:4 (ESV)

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And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Numbers 13:33 (KJV)

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Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars  and who was as strong as the oaks; I destroyed his fruit above and his roots beneath. Amos 2:9

WHO ARE THEY?

Many don't believe there were actual giants that existed at one time.  They're a topic of fantasy or mythology.  However, Goliath wasn't just a big, muscular guy. He was an actual giant and had a giant family that included several brothers.  He was part of a tribe of other giants as were many others.  Below we'll dive into this topic for a better understanding.

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Other names names, references and titles for Giants: Nephilim, Rephaim, Mighty Men, men of reknown, hybrids

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The Hebrew Bible spells Nephilim two different ways: Nephilim and Nephiylim

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Hebrew translations of some of the names and terminology used in the scripture:

  • Bne-Ha-Elohim = Sons of God (the parents of the giants, the fallen angels referenced in Genesis 6)

  • Bnoth-Ha-Adam = daughters of men (those the fallen angels mated with to produce the giants)

  • Hans-Nephilim = giants

  • Hog-Gibborim = mighty men

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They are earth-born offspring of the fallen beings (aka 'sons of God') and daughters of men (human women) - Genesis 6:4

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​Rephaim is translated as 'giant' in various scriptures. To name a few: 2 Samuel 21:16, 18, 20, 22 / I Chronicles 20: 4, 6, 8 / Deuteronomy 2:11, 20 and 3:11,13 / Joshua 12:4

 

However, in Hebrew, Rephaim means 'dead' or 'the dead'.

 

​As the supernatural progeny of fallen angels and human women, they're not meant to receive the gift of salvation as the human race is.  They weren't meant to be.   

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A few of the more well-known giants of the Bible:

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  • Goliath, a Philistine - killed by David (1 Samuel 17:4, 23 and 45; 21:9; 22: 9-10

  • Og of Bashan - he was of the remnant of the Rephaim.  His bed size was: 18 ft. 9 in. long and 8 ft 4 in. wide (Deuteronomy 3:11)

  • Nimrod may have been a giant - he was called a "mighty" hunter and a "mighty man".  He established the first kingdom and first universal false religion since the flood of Noah.  He also taught men not to ascribe their happiness to God, but to him as the cause of it and defied God to send another flood (Genesis 10:8-10) 

  • Anak and his three sons, Sheshai, Ahiman & Talmai - these four giants conquered and built the city of Hebron.  They renamed it the city of Arba, after Anak's father, Arba, who was a great giant among the Anakims (Joshua 14:15)

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Who they are not: Men

 

While they had human characteristics, fallen angels mating with human women don't produce mere men.  As the offspring of human women and fallen angels created by God, these were supernatural, hybrid beings.

WHEN WERE THEY ALIVE?

There were giants (Nephilim) in the earth in those days (the days before the flood) and after that (after the flood). Genesis 6:4

PRE-FLOOD: 

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Genesis tells us that there were 'giants in the earth' in those days, pre-flood.  However, we don't have any specific names of these giants.

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POST-FLOOD:

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Genesis 6:4 (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. 

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There are a few theories as to why giants were still around after the flood:

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1) The flood of Noah, referenced in Genesis, was possibly regional and not world-wide allowing for humanity to survive in other areas resulting in more Nephilim.

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2) There could have been a world-wide flood, but other sons of God (fallen angels) after the flood (not the original group referenced in Genesis 6), produced more giants with human women.

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Dr. Michael S. Heiser goes into this in great detail in his book, Reversing Hermon: Enoch, The Watchers & The Forgotten Mission of Jesus Christ.  A phenomenal book!

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A few examples of giants referenced after Noah's flood:

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  • Arba, Anak and his sons (Anakim) were encountered in Canaan by Joshua & the Israelites - Numbers 13:33

  • Og, King of Bashan - Deuteronomy 3:11; Joshua 12; Numbers 21:21-35

  • Sihon, King of the Ammorites - Numbers 21:21-35​

GIANTS 
Tribes & Individual Giants called out in Scripture

All are referenced throughout the Old Testament and can be found in other texts, such as the Book of Enoch

TRIBES of GIANTS

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Amalekites 

  • Referenced in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers,  Deuteronomy, Judges, 1 Samuel  

Amorites

  • Sons of Beni-Anak

  • Possessed the land of Canaan before the Israelites

  • Referenced in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers,  Deuteronomy 

Anakims/Anakites

  • The descendants of Anak, one of the most powerful giants

  • Flavius Josephus, Jewish Historian, Diplomat &  Military Leader, said their bodies were so large & countenance very different from men; he also noted that they were also terrible to hear (Book V, Ch 2)

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy, Joshua 

Ashdothites

  • Referenced in Joshua ​

Avites

  • Referenced in Joshua and 2 Kings

Canaanites

  • Referenced throughout most of the old ​

       testament​

Caphtorims

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy​

Ekronites

  • Referenced in Joshua and 1 Samuel​

Emins

  • Referenced in Genesis​

Eshkalonites

  • Referenced in Joshua​

Gazathites

  • Referenced in Joshua​

Geshurites

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Samuel​

Gibeonites

  • Referenced in Joshua and 2 Samuel​

Giblites

  • Referenced in Joshua​

Girgashites

  • Referenced in Genesis, Deuteronomy, Joshua,

       1 Chronicles, Nehemiah

Gittites

  • Inhabitants of Gath, the town of Goliath, his brothers and other giants

  • References in Joshua and 2 Samuel

Hittites 

  • Referenced in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers,​

       Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Kings,  

       1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah

Hivites

  • Referenced in Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy,​

       Joshua, Judges, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles

Horims

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy​

Horites

  • Seir was the father of the Horites

  • Their land was called Mount Seir & later became the  land of Edo

  • Esau, the red, hairy brother of Jacob was born & lived here

  • Referenced in Genesis and Deuteronomy

  • Horite means 'cave dweller' in Hebrew

Jebusites

  • Referenced in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah

Kadmonites

  • Referenced in Genesis â€‹

Kenites

  • Referenced in Genesis, Numbers, Judges, 1 Samuel,

      1 Chronicles

Kenizzites

  • Referenced in Genesis

Maachathites

  • Referenced in Joshua

Manassites

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 2 Kings

Perizzites

  • Referenced in Genesis, Exodus, Deuteronomy, Joshua,​ Judges, 1 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah 

Philistines

  • Goliath and his brothers were Philistines​

  • Referenced all throughout the Old Testament

Rephaim / Rephaites

  • Referenced in Genesis​

Sidonians

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2

        Kings, 1 Chronicles, Ezekiel 

Zamzummins

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy​​

Zuzims

  • Referenced in Genesis​

NAMED GIANTS

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Adonizedec

  • A king of Jerusalem

  • Referenced in Joshua 10​

Agag

  • King of the Amalakites

  • Referenced in Numbers, 1 Samuel, Esther

Ahiman

  • A son of Anak

  • Referenced in Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 Chronicles

Amalek

  • Son of Adah​

  • Referenced in Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy,

  • Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles, Psalms

Ar of Moab

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy and Isaiah​

Anak

  • One of the most powerful giants

  • Head of the Anakites

  • Father of Arba

  • Referenced in Deuteronomy and Joshua

Arba

  •  An Anikim and the father of Anak

  •  Referenced in Joshua â€‹

Gog

  • Referenced in 1 Chronicles and Ezekiel​

Magog

  • Referenced in Genesis and 1 Chronicles

Goliath

  • He and his brothers were a remnant of the giants left in Israel

  • Referenced in 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles

Hoham

  • King of Hebron

  • Referenced in Joshua

Horam

  • King of Gezer

  • Referenced in Joshua

Ishbibenob

  • Almost killed David until Abishai intervened & killed him

         saving David

  • Referenced in 2 Samuel 

Jabin

  • King of Hazor

  • Referenced in Joshua, Judges, Psalms

Jobab

  • King of Madon

  • Referenced in Genesis, Joshua, 1 Chronicles

Lahmi

  • One of Goliath's brothers ​

  • Referenced in 1 Chronicles

Nimrod

  • ​The jury is still out as to whether or not Nimrod was a 

  giant.  However, he was referred to as a 'mighty man'

  just as some of the giants were, so it's possible.

  • A mighty warrior

  • Referenced in Genesis, 1 Chronicles, Micah

Og of Bashan

  • 'Og' means chief or most high

  • Bashan was also called the 'land of the giants'

  • Referenced in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges,1 Kings, Nehemiah, Psalms

Saph

  • Also called ' Sippai' 

  • A descendant of the Rephaites/Rephaim

  • Son of a giant slain in a battle with the Philistines

  • Referenced in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles

Sheshai

  • A descendant of Anak

  • Referenced in Numbers, Joshua, Judges

Sihon

  • King of the Amorites

  • Defeated Ar and took Moab.  The Israelites then took 

       Moab from the giants.

  • Referenced in Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, â€‹

Talmai

  • A descendant of Anak

  • Referenced in Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 2 Samuel, 1 Chronicles

NOTE: Different versions of the Bible sometimes reference different names for these tribes and giants.  The King James Version (KJV) and New International Version (NIV) were referenced here.

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PHYSICAL TRAITS and CHARACTERISTICS

There are numerous references to some of the physical traits and characteristics of giants throughout the Bible, the Book of Enoch, and other ancient texts. Below are a few.....

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  • Born of spirit and flesh (human women and fallen angels).

  • Terrestrial; born on earth; earth is their habitation since they are terrestrial.

  • They have no resurrection (Isaiah 26:14), which confirms that they were not just ordinary men since all ordinary men are to be resurrected.  This proves that giants were a different class from us.

  • Some had extra fingers and toes - 2 Samuel 21: 20 references a giant with 6 fingers on both hands and 6 toes on each foot.

  • Varying heights - According to the Bible, Goliath was roughly 13 feet tall (25 inches as a 'cubit' and 10 inches as a 'span'). Other extra biblical texts reference varying heights.

  • They had incredible strength.

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ARMOR:

 

Goliath - 1 Samuel 17:4-7

  • His coat of armor weighed 194.5 lbs (224 grains to the shekel)

  • His spearhead of iron weighed 23.5 lbs

  • Sword - 10 lbs 

  • Helmet - 10 lbs  

  • Leg greaves - 20 lbs  

  • Breastplate - 20 lbs  

 

Based on this, he could have weighed upwards of 600-700 lbs being roughly 13 feet tall. He was wearing 278 lbs of gear! 

 

Goliath's brother - 2 Samuel 21:19

  • His spear was like a weaver's beam (6-8 feet in length possibly)

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Ishbibenob - 2 Samuel 21:16

  • His spear weighed 300 shekels of brass, which is half that of the spearhead of Goliath, about 11 3/4 lbs​

A FEW THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

In Numbers 33:33 the children of God (Israelites) and Reuben were given two kingdoms: 1) the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and 2) the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan.  They were given these kingdoms as an inheritance by Moses upon their request.  This means that they were living in cities formerly inhabited by giants.  Some of the buildings and various structures may have been huge.

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Some of the Gittites may have been giants.  The Gittites were friends of David.  Some served him (2 Samuel) and are described as his 'mighty men'.  So, we may have had a population that included giants who supported David and were willing to serve him to the point of death. If this is the case, it makes you wonder what they thought about their own existence, their origins, and their fate.

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Joshua 13:1-4 references the unconquered lands in Canaan, lands that were still unconquered by Joshua and his people.  Knowing that Joshua may still plan to conquer them, some of the remaining giant tribes may have escaped when fleeing Joshua and made their way to other parts of the world, including North America.  This may be one the reasons that skeletal remains of very tall people, including Indians, mound builders, and those who pre-date the mound builders, have been found. 

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2 Chronicles 17:17 (KJV) - And of Benjamin; Eliada a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred thousand. There seems to be a distinction between a singular 'mighty man' and a group of armed men.  Could Eliada have been a giant as many giants have been referred to as 'mighty men'? or, was he just a successful, experienced military veteran leading these troops? Can't help but wonder....

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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

  • Genesis 6:1-5

  • Genesis 11

  • Genesis 13:7 - Canannite & Perizzite were in the land Abram & Lot were in

  • Genesis 14:5-7 - Raphaims, Zumims, Emims were of the greatest giant tribes; these giants were attacked & conquered by Chedorlaomer & other kings that were with him (who were then later killed by Abram)

  • Genesis 15:19-21 - references multiple giant tribes

  • Genesis 36:20 - references the Horites

  • Genesis 38:1 - references Judah running into an 'Adulamite' - Adulam was the ancient capital of the Canaanites/Giants - Southern Canaan

  • Genesis 45:22

  • Genesis 48:22 - Jacob (aka Israel) fought an Amorite giant with a sword & bow for the portion he was leaving his son, Joseph

  • Numbers 13:22 - references children of Anak -  Ahimon, Sheshai & Talmai - tribes of giants of the Anakim giant races

  • Numbers 13: 28-33 - prove that giants had children

  • Numbers 13:33

  • Numbers 14:25 - references the Amalekites & Canaanites

  • Numbers 22:28 - references Ar of Moab

  • Numbers 24:7

  • Numbers 33:33 - references various giant kingdoms/land being given to the children of God & Reuben as an inheritance by Moses 

  • Numbers 33:39 - references more Amorites being conquered

  • Numbers 33:33

  • Numbers 33:39

  • Deuteronomy 1:28 - references physical height & the Anakims

  • Deuteronomy 2:10-12 - Emims, Anakims & Horims are referenced

  • Deuteronomy: 2:19-23 - Zamzummins, Anakims, Avites, Avims & Horims referenced

  • Deuteronomy 3:1-13 - Og, king of Bashan is references 

  • Deuteronomy 9:2 - references the Anakims, their great cities with fences/walls that go up to heaven

  • Isaiah 14:9 - references 'the dead' (Raphaim) being in sheol

  • Isaiah 16:5 - valley of Rephaim (giants)

  • Isaiah 26:13-14 - 'other lords' (Raphaim); references no resurrection

  • Job 26:5 - references 'dead' things under the waters - the Septuagint reads, 'are the giants going to rise up from beneath the waters'

  • Joshua 11: 19-22 - references Joshua & this army destroying giants in Debir, a city of giants of the Anakim tribe

  • Joshua 12:2 & 4 - references the Kings Sihon & Og

  • Joshua 12:11   

  • Joshua 13:3 - references the Philistines, Gazathintes, Ashdothites, Eshkalonites, Gittites, Ekronites, and the Avites

  • Joshua 13: 19 - references a town, Kirjathaim, originally inhabited by the Emims

  • Joshua 14:2 - references the Anakims & their great cities/fences

  • Joshua 14:15 - Arba, the father of Anak, is referenced

  • Joshua 15:8 - a valley of the giants is referenced

  • Joshua 15:14 - Caleb drives out the 3 sons of Anak

  • Joshua 17:15 - Joshua references the giants who should have been destroyed by the people of Manasseh

  • Joshua 18:16 - references the valley of the giants

  • Joshua 18:23 - references the Avims

  • Joshua 17:15

  • Joshua 18:6

  • Joshua 18:16

  • Joshua 18:23

  • Judges 11:21-22

  • 1 Samuel 17 - references the David & Goliath story

  • 2 Samuel 5:18, 22 - Valley of the Rephaim (giants) referenced

  • 2 Samuel 21:15-22 - references four Philistine giants killed by David & his men.  Another battle with the Philistines referenced. Goliath's brother was killed.

  • 2 Samuel 23:8 - references David's 'mighty men'

  • 2 Samuel 23:21 - references a huge Egyptian being struck down by one of David's mighty men

  • 2 Kings 17:30 - references the Avites

  • 1 Chronicles 4:43 - references the Amalakites

  • 1 Chronicles 11:15 - references the valley of hte Rephaim (giants)

  • 1 Chronicles 11:23 - references an Egyptian man of great stature (5 cubits high / 10 ft. 5 in.)

  • 1 Chronicles 14:9 - references the valley of the Rephaim

  • 1 Chronicles: 20:4-8

  • Job 1:6

  • Job 26:5

  • Job 38:4

  • Psalms 88:10-11 - the dead being referenced are the Rephaim

  • Proverbs 2:18 - 

  • Proverbs 9:18 - the dead being referenced are the Rephaim

  • Proverbs 21:16 - congregation to the Rephaim

  • Isaiah 14:9 - Stirreth up the Rephaim

  • Isaiah 16:5

  • Isaiah 26:19 - the earth shal cast out the Rephaim

  • Isaiah 45:14 - Ethiopians & Sabeans, men of stature - Herodotus said they were the tallest among men; Solinus affirms they were 12 ft. tall

  • Ezekiel 28

  • Ezekiel 16:3, 12, 27

  • Amos 2:9 - references the Amorites

  • Jude 1:6

MAPS

The land of Canaan, now Israel, was once scattered with a variety giant tribes before Joshua and the Israelites showed up.  Below is a map reflecting the location of some of these tribes, as well as links to a few other sites with maps you may want to take a look at.

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To find more information click on any of the following:

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Bible History Online

 

Beginning and End

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Bible Study

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Articles Updates and Archaeology section

ARTICLES, UPDATES & ARCHAEOLOGY

Were Giants in the Bible Derived from Demons? Bill Wiese - Charisma

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Archaeological Evidence for Giants in the Bible? Joel Kramer - YouTube

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Mysterious 'giants' of Bible get probed in new TV series - will air sometime in the Fall 2022

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Why Did Fallen Angels Need a Nephilim Solution? - Dr. Douglas Hamp - Chapter 6: Fallen Angels Crave a Habitat & Chapter 7: The Nephilim Solution from Corrupting the Image 2

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The Nephilim and The Sons of God - Bible History Daily / Biblical Archaeology Society

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Giants in Writings of the First Century - Giants in the Bible / Knowledge Base

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Who are the Nephilim? - Biblical Archaeological Society

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Giants on the Earth - Gen 6 Giants

RESOURCES, RESEARCH & REFERENCES

Check out the Nephilim & Giants section of our Resources, Research & References page for books, documentaries, DVD’s, articles, biblical and extra-biblical information on this topic

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