What is the significance of the fact there were giants in those days (Genesis 6:4)?

Response

Genesis 6 recounts the growth of the human population and its decline into further depravity. The author mentions the presence of “giants on the earth in those days” “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.”, (Genesis 6:4, NKJV) and provides a brief explanation of how this occurred.

As the human population grew and became numerous on the earth “And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,”, (Genesis 6:1), the “sons of God” married “that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.”, (Genesis 6:2), and their population increased. Due to the rapid growth of humanity and its wickedness, God decided to limit human lifespan to one hundred and twenty years “And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.”, (Genesis 6:3). Before this decree, people lived exceptionally long lives—even up to around nine hundred years (refer to Genesis 5). Although lifespans were naturally decreasing, God intervened to significantly reduce them. Despite this notable restriction, there were giants (referred to as Nephilim in Hebrew) in those days—during Noah’s time. These were renowned mighty men who seemed to be the offspring of unions between the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men” “ThThere were giants on the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” (Genesis 6:4).

The giants in those days were extraordinary, leading some to suppose that the “sons of God” in Genesis 6:2 and Genesis 6:4 are fallen angels and not merely regular people. In that theory, these fallen angels took on physical form and procreated with women. The demon-human hybrid DNA resulted in giant size and, apparently, enhanced physical abilities. There are three objections to this theory: First, there is nothing in the text that suggests the “sons of God” are angels. While the phrase can be used of angels as it is apparently in Job 1:6, 2:1, and 38:7, it is also regularly used of people (e.g., Matthew 5:9 and Luke 20:36). Second, there is no indication that angels are physiologically compatible with women and can procreate with them (unless this is the only instance). Third, the theological implications are significant enough that one might expect some further explanation. Instead, we only see the offspring referred to as “giants” (Nephilim) and mighty, but nothing beyond that.

Others have suggested that the sons of God might be people possessed by demonic beings. As in the other view, the phrase sons of God would still refer to fallen angels. While this view would resolve the physiological implications, there is nothing in the text that would suggest this possibility.

A third view is that there were giants in those days simply because humanity hadn’t been fully genetically corrupted—everyone was big and tall and mighty—and God intervenes to shorten human lifespans. This theory takes the biblical account at face value, that these sons of God were simply men. In any case, there were giants in the land at this time before the flood and “afterward.”

Ants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men who were of old, men of renown. », (Genesis 6:4). There were still giants during the time of Israel’s conquest of Canaan «And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, who come from the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.», (Numbers 13:33) and David’s time (1 Samuel 17:4-7). If these Nephilim were superhumans resulting from demonic and human cohabitation, it seems they would have died in the flood (Genesis 7:21-23). The fact that they were still around after the flood is either evidence that the fallen angels performed the same act again at some point after the flood, or it is another indicator in support of the third view that these giants on the earth from time to time were exceptional, but not superhuman.

Whatever the case, Genesis 6:4 states that there were giants in the land in those days. The passage does not explicitly say how these giants came to be. It is best to not be dogmatic on an issue that the Bible says so little about and that is not theologically significant in the grand scheme of things.