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נְפִיל

𐤍𐤐𐤉𐤋

nᵉphîyl

H5303 noun

SILEX Entry

Root נפל to fall, to collapse, to be cast down

Definition

Human or part-divine figures of extraordinary size or strength referred to in early Israelite traditions; most often understood as legendary heroes or formidable beings, sometimes described as giants. The term can denote individuals regarded as possessing overwhelming physical stature or martial prowess, whether due to their lineage, renowned acts, or intimidating presence. In certain contexts, the term may also connote those who cause others to fall or who themselves have fallen in some sense (e.g., fallen from heaven or fallen in battle), but the primary connotation in the Hebrew Bible is of extraordinary beings rather than generic tyrants or warriors.

Semantic Range

legendary heroic figures; beings of great size or strength; giants; ancient formidable warriors; (by extension in later tradition) beings fallen from heaven, mythic or semi-divine beings

Root / Etymology

From the root נָפַל (npl), 'to fall, to drop, to collapse'. The noun נְפִיל (nephîl) likely originally meant 'one who has fallen' or 'faller', but its specific reference developed in Israelite tradition to denote legendary beings of enormous size and strength. The precise manner of derivation from the root to this specific noun is debated, but the connection to 'fall' is agreed upon by most scholars.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term נְפִיל (nephîl) is rare in the Hebrew Bible, appearing only in Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33, both times in narratives emphasizing primordial or legendary times. In Genesis 6:4, the Nephilim are identified with the 'sons of God' and 'daughters of humans', suggesting beings of hybrid or ambiguous origin and highlighting their renown and might. In Numbers 13:33, the Nephilim are described by the Israelite spies as giant inhabitants of Canaan, although the text may reflect legendary exaggeration or rhetorical strategy rather than literal ethnographic report. Later tradition and translations (such as the Septuagint, which renders Nephilim as 'giants' in Greek: γίγαντες) further cemented the association with extraordinary size. The English 'giant' follows this tradition but may narrow the sense, as the Hebrew arguably encompasses the broader idea of formidable and alarming pre-flood or legendary figures, not merely individuals distinguished by stature. Not to be conflated with the terms רְפָאִים (Rephaim) or עֲנָקִים (Anakim), which have different origins and refer to distinct legendary groups or lineages in different biblical contexts. Modern translation sometimes uses 'giant', but this fails to capture the mythical and semi-divine undertones of the original.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or נְפִל; from נָפַל; properly, a feller, i.e. a bully or tyrant; giant.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

נפל (n-p-l) — to fall, to collapse, to be cast down

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H4651 מַפָּל fallen-off fragments of
H4654 מַפָּלָה to a collapse
H4658 מַפֶּלֶת in their downfall
H5307 נָפַל I will cause to fall
H5308 נְפַל falling ones

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H5303-01 הַ/נְּפִלִ֞ים hanefilim HTd/Ncmpa the Nephilim the fallen-giants 3

Occurrences in Scripture

3 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H5303-01 Genesis 6:4 הַ/נְּפִלִ֞ים hanefilim HTd/Ncmpa The Nephilim the fallen-giants
H5303-01 Numbers 13:33 הַ/נְּפִילִ֛ים hanefilim HTd/Ncmpa the Nephilim the fallen-giants
H5303-01 Numbers 13:33 הַ/נְּפִלִ֑ים hanefilim-2 HTd/Ncmpa the Nephilim the fallen-giants
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