Do Nephilim exist in the world today?

Definition of the Nephilim

The term “Nephilim” appears in certain biblical passages to describe an ancient group sometimes rendered as “giants.” The Berean Standard Bible uses “Nephilim” directly in Genesis 6:4: “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men, and they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.” The word typically carries an implication of unusual stature or strength. References to “giants” also arise in other related Old Testament passages.

Biblical Passages Regarding the Nephilim

1. Genesis 6:1–4 – This passage introduces “the sons of God” and “the daughters of men,” resulting in offspring described as “the mighty men of old.” The text states: “When men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful, and they took as wives whomever they chose.”

2. Numbers 13:33 – The term “Nephilim” surfaces again when the spies sent by Moses to Canaan describe giants they encountered: “We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!” This text also ties the Anakim—an apparently tall people—to the Nephilim.

These primary references fuel questions about whether such beings endured post-Flood or exist in the present day.

Origins and Identity

Scripture raises questions about the exact nature of the Nephilim. Some interpret them as the offspring of fallen angels (“sons of God”) and human women, while others suggest they might have been powerful human rulers or warriors. Supporters of the angelic interpretation point to passages such as Job 1:6 or Job 2:1 using “sons of God” in a heavenly assembly context. Others argue that “sons of God” might indicate godly descendants of Seth intermarrying with the ungodly line of Cain.

Post-Flood Considerations

A central question is whether the Nephilim or their lineage could have survived Noah’s Flood. Genesis 7:23 affirms that the flood destroyed “every living thing that had moved upon the face of the earth,” sparing only those on the ark. While Genesis 6:4 says, “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well,” some interpret “and afterward” to mean that a similar group, not the exact same pre-Flood individuals, emerged after the Flood. Proposals include:

1. Second Incursion Theory – Some writers propose that the same phenomenon (an unholy union) recurred even after the Flood.

2. Reuse of the Term “Nephilim” – Others contend that references to “giants” in later texts may be descriptive hyperbole or a term for various large-statured tribes like the Anakim, Rephaim, or Emim (Deuteronomy 2:10–11) rather than pointing to the exact same Nephilim pre-Flood.

References to Giants After the Flood

Many Old Testament passages document groups described as “giants,” such as the Rephaim (Deuteronomy 3:11) and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4–11). However, these references do not necessarily confirm that the Nephilim themselves continued as a distinct group. Instead, these references typically speak of large and formidable adversaries but do not use the exact Hebrew word behind “Nephilim” except in the Numbers 13 context, which might reflect the spies’ fearful exaggeration or their comparison of the Anakim to the legendary pre-Flood Nephilim.

Archaeological and Historical Perspectives

Claims occasionally surface regarding discoveries of giant skeletons or bones in various regions of the world. While artifacts of large human skeletons have circulated in the realm of popular media, peer-reviewed research and credible documentation are generally lacking or debunked. Typically, these claims likely highlight anomalies or hoaxes, rather than providing verified evidence of presently existing Nephilim. Moreover, the biblical timeline places the destruction of the original Nephilim in the Flood narrative. If any giant peoples arose later, the Old Testament portrays them as distinct groups that existed during the centuries following the Flood, rather than continuing into modern times.

Do Nephilim Exist in the World Today?

Most biblical references point to the Nephilim as a phenomenon or group tied to a very specific era—pre-Flood and possibly near the time of Israel’s early encounters in Canaan. The comprehensive witness of Scripture indicates that humanity’s line continued through Noah and his family (Genesis 9:1), without further mention of the Nephilim as an active people group in later history beyond the Old Testament era. Furthermore, ancient Christian interpreters and Jewish tradition hold that the Flood narrative brought a decisive end to the corrupted pre-Flood world, supporting the view that the Nephilim do not persist in modern times.

Conclusion

Given the biblical data and the lack of reliable extrabiblical evidence, there is no credible indication that the Nephilim—understood as a distinct group of giant or hybrid beings—exist in the world today. References to towering individuals or tribes in the Old Testament beyond Genesis 6 are typically linked to historically recognized groups or figurative comparison. As such, the accumulated evidence from Scripture, alongside archaeological and historical considerations, strongly indicates that the Nephilim do not continue as a literal people group in modern times.