The Rephaim – Who were they?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The word Rephaim refers to both the departed dead and a race of tall, strong people who lived in Canaan. Rephaim was not the description of a person's ethnicity but rather a characteristic that the people of a certain area shared, specifically their height. The word Rephaim means "terrible ones," and they are described in the Bible as "giants" and "mighty men." Though the Rephaim were powerful and intimidating, their ultimate defeat at the hands of God's will illustrates that no matter how daunting our challenges may seem, God’s sovereignty surpasses all. God is above all, and even if giants exist, giants will fall if they do not submit to Him.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The word Rephaim is used in two different ways in Hebrew. In fact, there are two different words for Rephaim. It is a poetic description of the departed dead who dwell in Sheol, the realm of the dead (Job 26:5; Isaiah 14:9). In this context, the term reflects the shadowy and somber nature of the afterlife, where these spirits are perceived as existing in a state of diminished vitality and influence.
• Rephaim also refers to a strong, tall race of people who lived in Canaan (Deuteronomy 2:10–11; Joshua 12:4).
• The Rephaim (or Rephaites) appear first in a battle with king Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:5). Chedorlaomer and his allies defeated the Rephaim, along with the Zuzim and Emim peoples.
• The Rephaim were similar to the Anakim (Deuteronomy 2:20–21).
• The Rephaim are mentioned again in Exodus when the Israelites were trying to enter the Promised Land. The Rephaim were living in Canaan, and the Israelites were terrified of them—the Israelites didn't want to go into the Promised Land because it was inhabited with "giants" (Numbers 13:33), the sons of Anak. The spies came back to Israel and told the people that "the land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them" (Numbers 13:32–33). The Promised Land, though beautiful (Numbers 13:27) was inhabited with giants—men so big that the Israelites felt like grasshoppers next to them. The Rephaim were of the same type.
• The Nephilim (the word used synonymously with the Anakites) were the offspring of fallen angels and women (Genesis 6:1–4). The phrase used in the passage is "sons of God" who took "daughters of man" as their wives and bore children through them. The phrase "sons of God" is used elsewhere in Scripture to describe angelic beings. The Nephilim, the Anakites, and the Rephaim had three things in common: great strength, great height, and part-angelic parentage.
• The Bible says that Og, king of Bashan (one of the last Rephaim) had a bed that was thirteen feet long (Deuteronomy 3:11).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The Rephaim are only mentioned in the Old Testament.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Rephaim, with their imposing size and strength, exemplify how appearances can be daunting and even overwhelming. Yet, their story serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how intimidating our challenges might seem, God's sovereignty far surpasses any physical or perceived threat. Just as the giants of the Rephaim were ultimately subject to God's will, so too are our difficulties and fears. By placing our trust in God, we acknowledge that His power and authority are greater than any obstacle we might encounter. Remembering this perspective helps us navigate our trials with faith and courage, knowing that God reigns above all circumstances.

UNDERSTAND

• The term Rephaim refers to both the spirits of the deceased in Sheol and a powerful race of giants in Canaan.
• Known for their great height and strength, the Rephaim were giants similar to the Anakim and Nephilim.
• Despite their intimidating presence, the Rephaim’s dying out highlights that God's power and authority are supreme over all, even giants and demonic forces.

REFLECT

• What does the presence and dying out of the Rephaim reveal to you about God’s character and will?
• How do the stories of the Rephaim influence your perspective on facing seemingly insurmountable challenges in your own life?
• How can understanding God’s sovereignty over even the most formidable obstacles, like the Rephaim, strengthen your faith and resolve in difficult times?

ENGAGE

• We know the ancient Jews believed them to be giants because the Greek word titanes, from which English derives the word titan, is used to translate the Hebrew word rephaim. Ancient folklore from many cultures features stories of giants. And there is biblical basis for their existence. Reliable extra-biblical historical books like the Book of Enoch, the Book of Jasher, and the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus all also mention the Nephilim, referring to them as mighty men, giants, the sons of an unnatural union between human beings and fallen angels.
• What does the existence of the Rephaim and their ultimate defeat reveal about the nature of God’s power and authority in the broader context of biblical history?
• How do the Rephaim’s connection to the Nephilim and their description as giants contribute to our understanding of ancient Near Eastern beliefs and biblical narratives?