Genesis 6:4 Daily Devotional & Meaning – The Nephilim and the Corruption of the World
- Benjamin Michael Mcgreevy
- Mar 5
- 3 min read
Daily Verses Everyday! Day 30
“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.”
This verse continues the theme of the increasing corruption and moral complexity of the world, adding a layer of both physical and societal consequence to the union between the “sons of God” and human women. The “giants” mentioned here, often translated from the Hebrew Nephilim, have been understood by many scholars as extraordinary beings, perhaps physically imposing or symbolically representing great power and influence. Their presence displays the tangible impact of the boundary-crossing that occurred in the previous verse. The mingling of divine or exalted beings with humanity produced a generation that was not only morally problematic but also notable in strength and reputation. These were not ordinary humans; they were “mighty men of old, men of renown,” suggesting both extraordinary abilities and a lasting legacy, though often tied to violence and pride.
Close your eyes and imagine for a second what some of these people probably looked like. 1 Samuel 17:4 tells us that a descendant of the giants was named Goliath, who stood either 6’9” or 9’9” tall, but even he is far removed from the generation described in Genesis 6:4.
These original Nephilim would have towered over ordinary humans at astonishing heights, likely well over 10 feet tall. Their sheer physical presence would have inspired awe and fear, making them dominant figures in society because of their strength and because of the intimidation their size and power could generate. As an adult, encountering such beings would still feel overwhelming, like seeing the world through the eyes of a child, with every giant towering over you. Their height and physical dominance would have created an environment where ordinary humans were constantly aware of their vulnerability and powerlessness in comparison. It’s easy to imagine how their presence could inspire fear, awe, or even submission, shaping social hierarchies and human interactions around sheer physical might.
However, the Nephilim represent more than just physical power as they embody the moral and spiritual consequences of humanity’s growing rebellion. Their extraordinary size mirrors the extraordinary reach of corruption in the pre-Flood world. Just as their bodies loomed over ordinary humans, so too did their actions and reputations overshadow righteousness, amplifying sin and moral decay throughout society. The text’s description of them as “men of renown” suggests that their notoriety and influence were widespread, yet often connected to violence, pride, and defiance of God’s order.
The Nephilim serve as a stark reminder that human sin, when combined with extraordinary circumstances—whether through power, influence, or unnatural unions—can have consequences that span over generations. Their existence provided enough of a reason that God’s intervention through the Flood became necessary: when corruption grows to such a scale, ordinary human repentance may no longer be sufficient, and divine action becomes the means of restoring order and justice.
If you would like to explore Genesis in a sustained, verse-by-verse way with space to reflect, journal, and trace how these foundational truths unfold through Scripture the Verse by Verse book expands these reflections into a unified reading experience. The book gathers these meditations into a structured journey through Genesis, designed to help readers linger in the text and engage God’s Word more deeply over time.
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