A Complete Bible Study on Giants in the Bible

Giants in the Bible are not just “big people” in a children’s story. They sit at key turning points in Scripture: before the Flood, during Israel’s fear at Kadesh Barnea, and in the battles that shaped the kingdom years. Studying them helps us take the unseen world seriously, understand why God judged the ancient world, and learn how faith responds when the enemy looks unstoppable. This study will walk through the main passages about the Nephilim and other giant clans, keep the focus on what the Bible actually says, and apply it to everyday believers who want to stand strong in a dark age.

The First Mention of Giants and Why It Matters

Genesis 6 sets the stage for judgment

“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’ There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were mighty men who were of old, men of renown.” (Genesis 6:1-4)

This is the first place the Bible uses the word Nephilim (often translated “giants”). The passage connects them to a time of increasing wickedness and coming judgment. Whatever else we say, we must say this: God did not treat that era as normal human sin only. He treated it as a corruption of the world that demanded a global judgment.

Notice the text places three things side by side: the “sons of God,” the “daughters of men,” and the “giants.” Then it adds the phrase “and also afterward,” which signals that something like this shows up again later in history. That matters when we meet giant clans in the land of Canaan centuries after the Flood.

Who are the “sons of God”?

In the Old Testament, “sons of God” most naturally points to heavenly beings, not ordinary men. The clearest cross-reference is Job, where the “sons of God” present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also comes among them (Job 1:6; 2:1). That scene is not about human believers. It is about the heavenly court.

Some teachers argue “sons of God” means the godly line of Seth marrying the ungodly line of Cain. That view tries to keep Genesis 6 purely human. But it struggles with the wording and the result. The text does not say “sons of Seth.” It says “sons of God.” And the offspring are described in unusual terms: “mighty men,” “men of renown,” and “giants.” The passage reads like something more than mixed marriages and bad parenting.

We should be careful here. Scripture does not satisfy every curiosity. Yet it gives enough to say that there was an abnormal, rebellious intrusion into God’s design, and it contributed to the collapse of that world into violence and corruption.

Why would this provoke the Flood?

Genesis 6 quickly moves from the Nephilim to the Lord seeing that “the wickedness of man was great” and that “the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:5, 11). The Nephilim are not named as the only cause, but the text places them in the center of a broader picture of extreme evil.

God’s judgment was not random. It was moral, measured, and announced in advance. The “one hundred and twenty years” statement appears to be a window of patience before the Flood came. God warned, waited, and then acted.

“And also afterward”

That small phrase matters because it prepares us for later accounts. It does not require that Nephilim survived the Flood. It simply tells us the same kind of giant presence appeared again after the Flood era. Scripture later connects certain giant clans to the land Israel was commanded to possess. That is where fear becomes a major theme.

Giants in the Promised Land and the Crisis of Fear

Numbers 13 and Israel’s turning point

“There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”

The spies were sent to bring back facts, but ten of them brought back fear. Their report did not deny that the land was good. It denied that God was able to give it.

Notice what they emphasized. They did not center on God’s promise. They centered on the size of the enemy and the strength of the cities. Fear always magnifies obstacles and shrinks God.

What did they mean by “descendants of Anak”?

Anak was the forefather of a clan known for unusual size and strength. Scripture later names these people as the Anakim. They were associated with key cities in the hill country of Canaan, including Hebron (Numbers 13:22).

The spies also connected them to the Nephilim. That does not mean they had a full genealogy chart. It means they saw a giant presence and used the oldest frightening label they knew. In either case, the point is clear. Israel faced enemies that looked beyond normal.

Fear rewrites identity

The spies said, “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight.” That line is more than poetry. It is a confession that they forgot who they were.

Israel was not a random tribe looking for land. They were the redeemed people of God, brought out by blood and power. They had seen plagues, the Red Sea, manna, and water from the rock. Yet fear made their past miracles feel distant and unreal.

Faith speaks differently: Caleb and Joshua

Caleb answered the fear with a simple confession of confidence:

“Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30).

Later Joshua joined him, reminding the people that the Lord was with them and that the enemy’s

“protection has departed from them” (Numbers 14:9).

Caleb and Joshua did not deny the giants. They denied the giants the right to define reality. Faith does not pretend danger is small. Faith insists God is greater.

The cost of giving fear authority

Israel’s refusal at Kadesh Barnea led to a whole generation dying in the wilderness (Numbers 14:28-35). Giants became the test that revealed what was inside the nation.

God’s promise did not fail. Israel’s first attempt failed because they would not trust the Lord. This is one of the Bible’s clearest warnings: it is possible to be delivered from Egypt and still refuse Canaan because of unbelief.

Which Giant Peoples Lived in Canaan?

Several clans, one theme

The Bible uses several names for giant groups. Sometimes the terms overlap, sometimes they seem regional. The main point is that the land had entrenched strongholds, and God commanded Israel to face them with obedience.

Here are the main names you will see.

Anakim

The Anakim are the best-known giants in the conquest narratives. They are tied to Anak and to the city of Hebron and its region (Numbers 13:22; Joshua 14:12-15).

Joshua’s campaign broke their power in most of the land, though remnants stayed in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod (Joshua 11:21-22). That detail matters later when we meet Goliath from Gath.

Rephaim

Rephaim can refer to a people group in Canaan and nearby regions (Deuteronomy 2:20-21; 3:11, 13). The term can also be used in other contexts for the dead, but in the conquest setting it clearly points to a formidable population remembered for size.

Og king of Bashan is linked to the Rephaim. His bed is described as an iron bed, about nine cubits long and four cubits wide (Deuteronomy 3:11). The text is not trying to entertain. It is showing that Israel’s enemies could be physically overwhelming, yet God still commanded His people to go forward.

Emim and Zamzummim

Deuteronomy names the Emim and the Zamzummim as peoples “great and many and tall, like the Anakim” (Deuteronomy 2:10-11, 20-21). These groups were displaced before Israel arrived, showing that the Lord had already been judging and moving nations according to His purposes.

This also teaches a quiet lesson: giants were not unbeatable. God had already removed them in other places, and He could do it again.

Why list these clans at all?

These names underline two truths at once. First, Israel’s warfare was not against harmless villagers. Second, Israel’s victory would not be explained by human strength. God was making it clear that possession of the land would be by promise, not by muscle.

Joshua and the Breaking of Giant Strongholds

Joshua 11 and the Anakim

Joshua 11:21-22 says Joshua “cut off the Anakim” from the hill country, with survivors only in a few Philistine cities. This is important for two reasons.

First, it shows that God kept His word. The same giants that caused panic in Numbers 13 were later driven out when Israel walked in obedience.

Second, it explains why Israel still faced giant champions later. Joshua broke the main power centers, but pockets remained. The enemy often survives in remnant form and later tries to intimidate a new generation.

Caleb’s inheritance: faith gets specific

Caleb asked for the hill country where the Anakim lived (Joshua 14:12). He did not request an easy retirement plot. He wanted the hard place that had once terrified the nation.

That is what steady faith looks like. It does not only believe in general. It believes God can handle the very area where fear once ruled.

Judgment and mercy in the conquest

Some believers struggle with the conquest narratives. We should speak plainly. God is the Judge of all the earth. He judged the Canaanite nations for long-standing wickedness (Genesis 15:16). Israel was not free to kill at will. They acted under specific commands in a unique period of redemptive history.

We should also remember that mercy was available. Rahab was spared by faith (Joshua 2; 6). The Gibeonites sought terms and were spared (Joshua 9). God’s judgments are real, and His mercy is real. Both are on display.

Giants in the Kingdom Era: Goliath and His Kind

Why the giant story returns

After Joshua, Israel’s spiritual life rose and fell. When the nation drifted, enemies gained ground. The Philistines became a major threat, and among them arose a giant champion from Gath.

The return of a giant figure at this stage is not random. It is a spiritual picture of intimidation. The enemy does not need to destroy faith if he can paralyze it.

Goliath as a weapon of fear

Goliath’s strategy in 1 Samuel 17 was not mainly combat. It was mockery, delay, and psychological dominance. He challenged Israel for forty days. Saul and the army were “dismayed and greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:11).

This mirrors Numbers 13. Once again, the people of God were staring at a giant and forgetting the Lord.

David’s mindset: covenant, not confidence tricks

David did not walk forward because he thought he was exceptional. He walked forward because he believed God was faithful.

David asked, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26). That question reveals his frame. Circumcision marked covenant. David saw the battle as a covenant issue. The giant was not merely threatening Israel’s safety. He was defying God’s name.

David also remembered God’s past help: the lion and the bear (1 Samuel 17:34-37). He did not build faith on a mood. He built it on God’s track record.

The stone and the sword

David used a sling and a stone, then took Goliath’s own sword to cut off his head (1 Samuel 17:49-51). The details matter. God often uses simple means to bring down proud strength. The victory was so clear that nobody could argue it was a fair fight won by human power.

David said it plainly: “The battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). That is not a slogan. It is theology.

Other giants after Goliath

Later texts show more giant warriors connected to Gath. 2 Samuel 21:15-22 and 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 mention “descendants of the giants” who fell to David and his men.

This keeps us from treating Goliath as a one-time fairy tale. Israel faced multiple large, intimidating champions. God gave victory through faithful servants over time, not only in one famous moment.

How Should We Understand “Giants” Today?

Do not build a mythology beyond Scripture

Many modern stories turn Nephilim into a full system of speculation: secret bloodlines, hidden empires, and endless conspiracies. The Bible does not invite that. It gives real information, but it also sets limits.

We should stay with what is written. Giants in Scripture are real opponents and real symbols of intimidation. They show that evil can be unusually strong at times, and that God is still Lord.

Recognize the unseen war without obsession

Genesis 6, Job, and the broader biblical storyline teach that there is a spiritual realm with rebellion in it. The New Testament confirms this by speaking of rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

But the New Testament does not tell believers to hunt for Nephilim. It tells believers to stand firm, resist the devil, and hold to the gospel (Ephesians 6:10-18; James 4:7).

Giants as a pattern of intimidation

In practical life, “giants” often appear as circumstances that make obedience feel impossible. A diagnosis. A financial crisis. A persistent temptation. A hostile workplace. A broken relationship.

The key question is the same as in Numbers and Samuel: will we interpret reality by the size of the problem, or by the promises of God?

Lessons for Faith That Stands When the Enemy Looks Unstoppable

1) Do not measure God by your sight

The spies compared themselves to the giants and collapsed inside. Caleb compared the giants to God and moved forward.

Faith is not denial. Faith is choosing the right comparison.

2) Do not let fear spread unchecked

Ten men influenced a nation. Fear is contagious when leaders speak without faith. This is why Scripture warns about grumbling and unbelief (Hebrews 3:12-19).

Be careful what voices you give authority. A steady believer can help others stand. A fearful believer can multiply panic.

3) Remember that delay is not defeat

Israel lost time in the wilderness, but God did not cancel His promise. David faced Goliath after forty days of delay, but God still gave victory.

If you have lost years to fear or compromise, repent and return. God can still fulfill what He promised, though you may carry consequences and have to rebuild.

4) Fight with the weapons God gives

David refused Saul’s armor because it did not fit his calling and training (1 Samuel 17:38-40). God’s victories are not always won by copying someone else’s methods.

Use the means God has given: prayer, Scripture, wise counsel, honest work, and faithful obedience. The weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but they are mighty through God (2 Corinthians 10:4).

5) Keep the center where Scripture keeps it: God’s name and God’s kingdom

David was jealous for God’s honor. That is why courage rose in him. When our main concern is comfort, we fold easily. When our main concern is the Lord’s glory, we gain strength to endure.

Ask: what response would honor Christ here? That question will steady you.

Common Questions and Careful Answers

Did Nephilim survive the Flood?

Genesis 6:4 says “and also afterward,” meaning a similar giant presence appeared later. It does not explain the mechanism. Scripture does not say Noah carried Nephilim genes, and it does not describe the post-Flood reappearance in detail.

The safest position is modesty: acknowledge the later giant clans, affirm the text, and refuse to invent what God has not revealed.

Are giants only physical, or also spiritual?

In the Old Testament narratives, giants are physical opponents. Yet the larger conflict includes spiritual rebellion and human corruption.

In our time, we should not expect a “giant” problem to be solved only by physical strength. Many battles are moral and spiritual. The New Testament calls us to stand in truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Why would God allow such terrifying enemies?

God uses hard battles to expose hearts, purify faith, and display His power. At Kadesh, fear exposed unbelief. In David’s day, Goliath exposed Saul’s spiritual weakness and displayed God’s choice of a humble shepherd.

God does not waste the giant. He uses it to teach His people who He is.

My Final Thoughts

Giants in the Bible are both historical enemies and living reminders that God’s people will face threats that look too large for them. The consistent message of Scripture is not that God’s people are naturally brave. It is that God is faithful, present, and able.

When fear says, “We are grasshoppers,” answer with covenant truth: you belong to the Lord through Jesus Christ. When intimidation mocks and delays, remember David’s confession: the battle is the Lord’s. When the fight lasts longer than you expected, do not conclude God has left. Keep obeying, keep praying, keep standing.

Do not chase speculation. Do not ignore the spiritual war. Walk in the clear light God has given. Read the Word carefully. Stay close to Christ. In the end, every giant falls, every proud power is judged, and every promise of God stands.