Genesis 6:4

There were . Not became, or arose, as if the giants were the fruit of the previously-mentioned misalliances; but already existed contemporaneously with the sons of God (cf. Keil, Havernick, and Lange). Giants . Nephilim, from naphal, to fall; hence supposed to describe the offspring of the daughters of men and the fallen angels (Hoffman, Delitzsch). The LXX , translate by γι ì γαντες ; whence the "giants" of the A . V . and Vulgate, which Luther rejects as fabulous; but Kalisch, on the strength of Numbers 13:33 , accepts as the certain import of the term. More probable is the interpretation which understands them as men of violence, roving, lawless gallants, "who fall on others;" robbers, or tyrants (Aquila, Rosenmüller, Gesenius, Luther, Calvin, Kurtz, Keil,. Murphy, 'Speaker's Commentary'). That they were "monsters, prodigies" (Tueh, Knobel), may be rejected, though it is not unlikely they were men of large physical stature, like the Anakim, Rephaim, and others (cf. Numbers 13:33 ). In the earth. Not merely on it, but largely occupying the populated region. In those days . Previously referred to, i.e. of the mixed marriages. And also — i.e. in addition to these nephilim— after that ,— i.e. after their up-rising— when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men . Ha'gibborim, literally, the strong, impetuous, heroes (cf. Genesis 10:8 ). "They were probably more refined in manners and exalted in thought than their predecessors of pure Cainite descent" (Murphy). Which were of old . Not "of the world," as a note of character, taking olam as equivalent αι ̓ ω Ì ν to but a note of time, the narrator reporting from his own standpoint. Men of renown. Literally, men of the name ; "the first nobility of the world, honorable robbers, who boasted of their wickedness" (Calvin) or gallants, whose names were often in men's mouths (Murphy). For contrary phrase, "men of no name," see Job 30:8 .