Genesis 6:4
What does Genesis 6:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Genesis 6:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Genesis 6:4 means
The Nephilim, described as \"mighty men\" and \"men of renown,\" were present on the earth both before and after the unions between the \"sons of God\" and the \"daughters of men.\" Their presence and especially their perpetuation through these unions underscore a time of unusual and perhaps intimidating figures, further contributing to the narrative of a deeply corrupted world. Their existence highlights the extraordinary nature of the wickedness prevalent in those days, marking a period of giants, both physically and in reputation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000The Nephilim were 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 were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.
KJV
King James Version · 1611There 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.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901The Nephilim were 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 were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949There were men of great strength and size on the earth in those days; and after that, when the sons of God had connection with the daughters of men, they gave birth to children: these were the great men of old days, the men of great name.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862The fallen ones were in the earth in those days, and even afterwards when sons of God come in unto daughters of men, and they have borne to them--they <FI>are<Fi> the heroes, who, from of old, <FI>are<Fi> the men of name.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Now giants were upon the earth in those days. For after the sons of God went in to the daughters of men, and they brought forth children, these are the mighty men of old, men of renown.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890In those days were the giants on the earth, and also afterwards, when the sons ofGod had come in to the daughters of men, and they had borne [children] to them; these were the heroes, who of old were men of renown.
Context
Following the ominous declaration of God's Spirit not striving forever with man (verse 3), this verse details a direct consequence or concomitant phenomenon: the emergence of the Nephilim. This explanation connects the previously mentioned unions to specific individuals or groups, thus providing a concrete manifestation of the profound wickedness that is about to be condemned by God. It defines the character of that age.
v.3And Jehovah said, My Spirit shall not strive with man for ever, for that he also is flesh: yet shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.
v.4This passage
v.5And Jehovah saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 17:4
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
- Deuteronomy 3:11
(For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.)
- Numbers 16:2
and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown;
- Numbers 13:33
And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
- Deuteronomy 2:20
(That also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim,
- 2 Samuel 21:15
And the Philistines had war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines. And David waxed faint;
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