Through a misapprehension of the Septuagint, which we will…
““Through a misapprehension of the Septuagint, which we will presently explain, the English version renders Nephilim by “giants.” But the form of the Hebrew word indicates a verbal adjective or noun, of passive or neuter signification, from Naphal, to fall: hence it must mean “the fallen ones,” that is, probably, the fallen angels. Afterwards, however, the term seems to have been transferred to their offspring, as we may gather from the only other passage in which it occurs. In the evil report which the ten spies give of the land of Canaan, we find them saying;—“All the people which we saw in it were men of great stature. And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, descended from the Nephilim: and we seemed to ourselves as grass- hoppers, and so we did to them.”[279]””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The term “Nephilim” likely means “fallen ones,” possibly fallen angels, rather than literal giants, and the biblical passage describes them as large and intimidating.
In simple terms: Nephilim may refer to fallen beings, not just giants.
Key Takeaway
Consider original language when interpreting texts.
Themes
theology
language
interpretation
Mood
analytical
inquisitive
Type
scholarly
theological
When to use this quote
- religious study
- academic research
- literary analysis
Key Concepts
biblical exegesis
etymology
mythology
Questions to Reflect On
- What impact does translation have on belief?
- How should we handle ambiguous ancient terms?
A Different Perspective
Interpretations can vary, leading to differing theological views.