Gen 6:4, 14:5 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 4. There were giants in the earth ] nephilim , from naphal , "he fell." Those who had apostatized or fallen from the true religion. The Septuagint translate the original word by γιγαντες, 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 between the sons of men and the sons of God; those were the nephilim, the fallen earth-born men, with the animal and devilish mind. These were the sons of God , who were born from above; children of the kingdom, because children of God. Hence we may suppose originated the different appellatives given to sinners and saints ; the former were termed γιγαντες, earth-born, and the latter, αγιοι, i.e. saints, persons not of the earth , or separated from the earth . The same became mighty men-men of renown .] gibborim , which we render mighty men , signifies properly conquerors, heroes , from gabar , "he prevailed, was victorious." and anshey hashshem , "men of the name," ανθρωποιονομαστπι, Septuagint; the same as we render men of renown , renominati, twice named , as the word implies, having one name which they derived from their fathers, and another which they acquired by their daring exploits and enterprises. It may be necessary to remark here that our translators have rendered seven different Hebrew words by the one term giants , viz., nephilim, gibborim, enachim, rephaim, emim , and zamzummim ; by which appellatives are probably meant in general persons of great knowledge, piety, courage, wickedness, &c., and not men of enormous stature, as is generally conjectured.

‏ Genesis 6:4

Verse 4. There were giants in the earth] nephilim, from naphal, "he fell." Those who had apostatized or fallen from the true religion. The Septuagint translate the original word by γιγαντες, 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 between the sons of men and the sons of God; those were the nephilim, the fallen earth-born men, with the animal and devilish mind. These were the sons of God, who were born from above; children of the kingdom, because children of God. Hence we may suppose originated the different appellatives given to sinners and saints; the former were termed γιγαντες, earth-born, and the latter, αγιοι, i.e. saints, persons not of the earth, or separated from the earth.

The same became mighty men-men of renown.] gibborim, which we render mighty men, signifies properly conquerors, heroes, from gabar, "he prevailed, was victorious." and anshey hashshem, "men of the name," ανθρωποιονομαστπι, Septuagint; the same as we render men of renown, renominati, twice named, as the word implies, having one name which they derived from their fathers, and another which they acquired by their daring exploits and enterprises.

It may be necessary to remark here that our translators have rendered seven different Hebrew words by the one term giants, viz., nephilim, gibborim, enachim, rephaim, emim, and zamzummim; by which appellatives are probably meant in general persons of great knowledge, piety, courage, wickedness, &c., and not men of enormous stature, as is generally conjectured.

‏ Genesis 14:5

Verse 5. Rephaims] A people of Canaan: Ge 15:20.

Ashteroth] A city of Basan, where Og afterwards reigned; Jos 13:31.

Zuzims] Nowhere else spoken of, unless they were the same with the Zamzummims, De 2:20, as some imagine.

Emims] A people great and many in the days of Moses, and tall as the Anakim. They dwelt among the Moabites, by whom they were reputed giants; De 2:10, 11.

Shaveh Kiriathaim] Rather, as the margin, the plain of Kiriathaim, which was a city afterwards belonging to Sihon king of Heshbon; Jos 13:19.