What the Bible Actually Says About the Nephilim, Anakim, and Rephaim
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The spies found giants in the land!
David defeats Goliath with faith in Yahuah!
Introduction: Scripture clearly teaches that giants existed—before and after the Flood. The Nephilim of Genesis 6, the Anakim who terrified the spies, King Og with his 13-foot iron bed, and Goliath the Philistine champion are all recorded as historical figures in Yahuah's Word. But what does the Bible actually say about these beings? Where did they come from? And what spiritual lessons do we learn from their ultimate defeat?
This workbook examines Scripture's testimony about giants while avoiding sensationalism and speculation. We prioritize the biblical text over archaeological claims, Book of Enoch traditions, or conspiracy theories. The spiritual lesson is clear: Yahuah defeats the enemies of His people—no matter how large they are.
What You Will Learn:
Sacred Names Used: Yahuah (not LORD), Elohim (not God), Yahusha (not Jesus). These are the restored Hebrew names.
Target Audience: Teens (14+) and Adults
Study Time: 6-8 hours for complete workbook
The most famous biblical reference to giants appears in the lead-up to the Flood. This mysterious passage has sparked centuries of debate.
David and Goliath
Giants Archaeological
Genesis 6 Nephilim Study
Genesis 6 Nephilim Study
Who are the "sons of Elohim" (bene ha-elohim)?
| View | "Sons of Elohim" = | Key Proponents |
|---|---|---|
| Fallen Angel View | Angels who mated with human women | Book of Enoch, Justin Martyr, early Jewish sources |
| Sethite View | Godly descendants of Seth marrying ungodly Cainite women | Augustine, many modern evangelicals |
| Ruler/Tyrant View | Powerful kings or elite rulers taking multiple wives | Some modern scholars |
1. The Hebrew word "Nephilim" comes from the root "naphal" which means to .
2. Genesis 6:4 says the Nephilim were on the earth "in those days—and also ."
3. The Sethite view says the "sons of Elohim" were godly descendants of .
4. The fallen angel view says they were mating with human women.
5. Early Church Father Martyr supported the fallen angel view.
6. The Nephilim only existed before the Flood and were completely destroyed.
7. Genesis 6 describes the Nephilim as "heroes of old, men of renown."
8. The term "bene ha-elohim" (sons of Elohim) is only used for humans in Scripture.
9. All three interpretations agree that the result was great wickedness on earth.
10. Which interpretation of "sons of Elohim" makes the most sense to you based on the text? Explain your reasoning using Scripture.
11. Why do you think Scripture calls the Nephilim "heroes of old, men of renown"? Is this a compliment or an observation of how the world viewed them?
12. What does "and also afterward" tell us about giants existing after the Flood?
Forty years after the Exodus, Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan. Their report would shape Israel's destiny for a generation.
Flood Geology Evidence
1. The spies said they felt like compared to the giants.
2. The Anakim were descendants of , who was the son of Arba.
3. Joshua destroyed the Anakim except in Gaza, Gath, and .
4. The giant champion was from the city of Gath.
5. Numbers 13:33 uses the same Hebrew word as Genesis 6:4.
6. All twelve spies agreed they should NOT enter the Promised Land.
7. Caleb later conquered Hebron where the Anakim lived.
8. The Anakim were completely wiped out by Joshua with none surviving.
9. The 10 faithless spies brought an "evil report" of the land.
10. Look up Numbers 14:6-9. What did Joshua and Caleb say about the giants?
11. Look up Joshua 14:10-12. How old was Caleb when he finally conquered Hebron? What did he say about the Anakim?
12. Ten spies saw giants and felt like grasshoppers. Two spies (Joshua and Caleb) saw the same giants but trusted Yahuah for victory. What made the difference? How does this apply to challenges you face today?
EXPOSED Heliocentrism History
Deuteronomy 2-3 provides a fascinating catalog of giant groups who inhabited the land before Israel's arrival. These were real clans displaced by various nations—and by Israel herself.
| Group Name | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Anakim | Canaan (Hebron area) | Descendants of Anak; terrified the spies |
| Rephaim | East of Jordan (Bashan) | Ancient tall race; Og was the last king |
| Emim | Moab | "Terrible ones"; counted as Rephaim (Deut 2:10-11) |
| Zamzummim | Ammon | Also called "Zuzim"; displaced by Ammonites |
| Horim | Seir (Edom) | Displaced by descendants of Esau |
1. The Rephaim lived of the Jordan River.
2. The Emim lived in the land of .
3. King Og's bed was cubits long.
4. In modern measurements, that equals approximately feet.
5. Og was the last of the (giant race).
6. The Zamzummim were displaced by the .
7. Og's bed was made of gold.
8. The Emim were counted as Rephaim by Scripture.
9. Israel destroyed King Og and took his territory.
10. The Amorites are described as tall as cedars in Amos 2:9.
11. Deuteronomy 2 shows that other nations (Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites) also drove out giant clans. What does this tell us about Yahuah's sovereignty over ALL nations, not just Israel?
Education System History
The most famous giant encounter in Scripture is David's battle with Goliath—but Goliath was not alone. Scripture records an entire clan of Philistine giants.
| Text Source | Height Given | Modern Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Hebrew Masoretic Text | 6 cubits and a span | ~9 feet 9 inches (2.97 m) |
| Greek Septuagint (LXX) | 4 cubits and a span | ~6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) |
| Dead Sea Scrolls (4QSam) | 4 cubits and a span | ~6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) |
| Giant Name | Details | Killed By |
|---|---|---|
| Ishbi-Benob | Spear 300 shekels; tried to kill David | Abishai son of Zeruiah |
| Saph (Sippai) | Descendant of the Rephaim | Sibbecai the Hushathite |
| Lahmi | Brother of Goliath; spear like weaver's beam | Elhanan son of Jair |
| Unnamed Giant | 6 fingers and 6 toes on each hand/foot (24 total) | Jonathan son of Shimea (David's nephew) |
1. In the Masoretic Text, Goliath's height was cubits and a span.
2. Goliath's coat of mail weighed shekels of bronze.
3. Goliath's brother's name was .
4. One giant had fingers on each hand and toes on each foot.
5. All these Philistine giants were descendants of the (Rephaim).
6. David killed Goliath with a and a stone.
7. Goliath was the only Philistine giant David's men encountered.
8. The Septuagint (Greek) text gives Goliath's height as 4 cubits and a span.
9. Goliath wore leather armor for flexibility in battle.
10. David's nephew killed a giant with extra fingers and toes.
Constantine Sunday Law
11. Read 1 Samuel 17:45-47. Write out David's declaration to Goliath in your own words:
12. Goliath had advanced weapons, superior armor, military training, and overwhelming size. David had a sling and five smooth stones. What lesson does this teach about Yahuah's power versus human strength?
No discussion of giants is complete without addressing the Book of Enoch—an influential ancient text that greatly expanded the Genesis 6 narrative. But is it Scripture?
Bible Giants 05
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Type | Jewish apocalyptic literature (pseudepigraphal) |
| Date Written | 300-100 BCE (scholarly consensus) |
| Original Language | Aramaic (Dead Sea Scroll fragments found) |
| Canon Status | NOT in Protestant, Catholic, or Eastern Orthodox Bibles |
| Exception | Included in Ethiopian Orthodox Bible |
1. The Book of Enoch claims giants were cubits tall.
2. The fallen angels in Enoch are called ("Watchers").
3. The book of in the New Testament directly quotes from 1 Enoch.
4. The Book of Enoch is included in the Orthodox Bible.
5. Scholars date 1 Enoch to approximately - BCE.
6. The Book of Enoch is included in most Protestant and Catholic Bibles.
7. Jude's quotation of Enoch proves the entire book is inspired Scripture.
8. Fragments of 1 Enoch were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.
9. Enoch's claim that giants were 300 cubits tall matches biblical descriptions.
10. Why is it important to distinguish between Scripture (inspired, inerrant) and historical documents (useful but not authoritative)?
Biology Cell Design
11. What dangers arise when believers build doctrine on non-canonical books like Enoch?
Giant legends appear in nearly every culture worldwide—from Greek Titans to Native American cannibal giants. What explains this universal phenomenon?
| Culture | Giant Legend |
|---|---|
| Greek/Roman | Titans (giant gods overthrown by Olympians); Cyclopes (one-eyed giants) |
| Norse | Jotunn (frost giants); enemies of the gods |
| Native American (Paiute) | Si-Te-Cah: Red-haired cannibal giants in Lovelock Cave |
| Mesopotamian | Gilgamesh epic features giant Humbaba guardian of cedar forest |
| South American (Inca) | Legends of giants who built megaliths before the Inca |
| European Folklore | Jack the Giant Killer; Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum legends |
| Maori (New Zealand) | Te Kahui Tipua: Legendary giant race |
| Explanation | Description |
|---|---|
| Biblical View | Common memory of actual pre-Flood giants; all nations descended from Noah preserved this memory |
| Megafauna Fossils | Ancient peoples discovered large bones (mammoths, dinosaurs) and imagined giant humans |
| Exaggerated Tales | Unusually tall individuals (gigantism) became legendary over time |
| Universal Symbolism | Giants represent primal chaos that ordered civilization must overcome |
1. Giant legends appear in all cultures worldwide.
2. Greek mythology includes the (giant gods overthrown by Olympians).
3. Norse mythology calls giants (frost giants).
4. The Paiute legend describes -haired cannibal giants.
5. Giants are almost always depicted as being defeated by or exceptional humans.
6. Only Middle Eastern cultures have legends about giants.
7. Many giant legends include cannibalism as a common trait.
8. Giants in mythology are often credited with building massive structures.
9. The Gilgamesh epic from Mesopotamia features a giant named Humbaba.
10. Which explanation for worldwide giant legends do you find most convincing? Why?
11. If all peoples descended from Noah's family, how might this explain the universal nature of giant traditions?
Biblical Cosmology Model
Have giant skeletons been discovered? Is there a cover-up? This lesson examines claims honestly, distinguishing documented facts from hoaxes and misinformation.
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| "2014 Supreme Court ordered Smithsonian to release giant evidence" | CONFIRMED HOAX — No such case exists; originated as satire |
| Lovelock Cave red-haired giants (7-8 ft) | DISPUTED — Remains found were normal human size; hair color from taphonomy |
| Grand Canyon underground giant city | UNVERIFIED — Based on single 1909 newspaper article; no evidence found |
| Paracas elongated skulls as "giants" | DEBUNKED — DNA shows human origin; elongation from cranial binding, not genetics |
Biblical Cosmology Complete
1. The tallest verified human was Robert at 8 ft 11 in.
2. The "Smithsonian Supreme Court admission" story is a confirmed .
3. No verified giant skeletons exist in any worldwide.
4. Paracas skull elongation came from cranial , not genetics.
5. We don't need to believe what Scripture says about giants.
6. Many 19th/early 20th century newspaper reports of giant skeletons have been verified.
7. Human biology has physical limits that make giants beyond ~9 feet unlikely to survive.
8. Gigantism is a real medical condition caused by pituitary tumors.
9. If archaeology never verifies giant bones, Scripture is proven false.
10. Why is it important for believers to honestly evaluate claims rather than accepting every sensational story that seems to "prove" the Bible?
11. How does spreading debunked claims (like the Smithsonian hoax) damage Christian credibility and witness?
Throughout Scripture, giants represent the enemies of Yahuah's people—overwhelming obstacles that seem impossible to overcome. Yet every giant is defeated. What spiritual lessons do we learn?
| The 10 Spies (Fear) | Joshua & Caleb (Faith) |
|---|---|
| "We were like grasshoppers in our own sight" | "Yahuah is with us; do not fear them" |
| Focused on giant's size | Focused on Yahuah's power |
| Saw themselves as victims | Saw themselves as conquerors |
| Result: Died in wilderness | Result: Inherited the land |
1. David declared "the is Yahuah's."
2. The 10 spies saw themselves as compared to the giants.
3. Joshua and had faith to conquer the Anakim.
4. Giants represent enemies of Yahuah's .
5. The size of our matters more than the size of our giant.
6. Every giant in Scripture was ultimately defeated.
7. David defeated Goliath through superior military training and weapons.
8. The 10 fearful spies died in the wilderness without entering the land.
9. Caleb was 85 years old when he finally conquered Hebron where the giants lived.
10. What "giants" are you facing in your life right now? (Fears, obstacles, enemies, challenges)
11. Are you responding like the 10 spies (focus on the giant's size) or like Joshua and Caleb (focus on Yahuah's power)? Be honest.
12. Write a prayer declaring Yahuah's power over your "giants" using David's declaration (1 Samuel 17:45-47) as a model:
13. How has this study of giants in Scripture changed your perspective on the challenges you face?
Comprehensive answers for fill-in-the-blank and true/false questions. Discussion and application questions will vary—evaluate for biblical reasoning and personal reflection.
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What Scripture Clearly Teaches:
What We Should NOT Do:
The Spiritual Lesson:
Giants represent the overwhelming obstacles and enemies we face. But the size of our giant doesn't matter—the size of our Elohim does. Faith defeats giants. "The battle is Yahuah's."
Note: Discussion and application questions are open-ended. Evaluate student responses for: