In Genesis 6:4, what does it mean that there were giants?
If the sons of God were merely the righteous offspring of Seth and the daughters of men were the female descendants of Cain, then why were the children of these unions giants and mighty men? How do we explain the offspring of these unfortunate but human marriages?
Well, I believe this might simply be a law of genetics, called “genetic vitality,” going into effect.
First, we need to remember that human genetic vitality at this period in history was greater than it is today. Men and women nearer the time of creation were stronger, healthier, and naturally more intelligent. Many Bible scholars even believe that humans stood much taller than they do today. However, the term “giants” might not even necessarily refer to physical size, but to other traits like character and disposition.
Second, giants have always been around … before and after the Flood, as the passage in Genesis says.
For example, take Robert Wadlow, born in Alton, Illinois, in 1918. At birth he weighed a normal eight pounds, six ounces. At six months, he weighed 30 pounds. A year later, at 18 months, he weighed 62 pounds. He wasn’t fat; he was tall. He continued to grow at an astounding rate, reaching 6 feet, 2 inches and 195 pounds by the time he was eight. When he was 13, he became the world’s tallest Boy Scout. At 13, he was 7 feet, 4 inches tall. Eventually, Robert reached a height of nearly 9 feet! (In comparison, Goliath was about 9 feet, 6 inches.) Robert’s height actually qualified him as the tallest person in modern history.
But this oversize fame wasn’t always easy for him. His clothing required three times the normal amount of cloth, and his size 37 shoes cost thousands of dollars a pair—and that’s back during the Great Depression. When Robert turned 20, the International Shoe Company provided his shoes for free and hired him to promote the company. That’s all he did for an income. He visited more than 800 towns in 41 states and traveled 300,000 miles on his goodwill tour. The shoe company had to modify a car so he could get in, removing the front seat so he could sit in the back and stretch out his long legs.
Even though he was of enormous size, he was very good natured, intelligent, and gentle. People were always giving him shocked stares. They would ask him, “Does it bother you when everyone stares at you?” He would reply, “Oh, I just look above it all.” He tried to maintain a normal life, enjoying stamp collecting and photography. He’d even take pictures of people taking pictures of him.
Robert was a modern-day giant, with no need of fallen angels nor aliens to produce him or explain his existence. The giant offspring of the sons of God and daughters of men could simply result from genetic vitality. When a people group is isolated for years and only intermarry with one another, like some Pacific Islanders do, the gene pool becomes restricted and more prone to birth defects and genetic abnormalities. After several generations of this kind of isolation, when they finally marry outside their island or tribe, the children of those unions tend to be more healthy, robust, and, yes, even bigger. The biggest cats in the world are ligers, a hybrid between tigers and lions.
But whatever the reason behind these mighty men, it's enough to know that these weren't supernatural beings. It doesn't make sense. I hope you'll read my article Who Are the Sons of God? to find out why. Just use the link below.
- For more about the sons of God and who they might be, click here.