Are demons actually the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Some people speculate that the Nephilim who died became disembodied spirits that we now know as demons. The question of whether demons are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim arises from interpretations of biblical texts. The Nephilim, mentioned in Genesis 6, were likely the offspring of humans and fallen angels, yet there’s evidence of their existence after the flood, suggesting they were not solely human. Also not human, demons are fallen angels who rebelled against God and operate under limitations imposed by Him. Misinterpretations of 1 Peter 3:18–20 and Jude 1:6 lead some to link demons to the Nephilim, but it’s more plausible that the "spirits in prison" refer to the fallen, rebellious angels who produced the Nephilim described in Genesis 6. That means that demons are other fallen angels who rebelled like Satan but are not imprisoned. Today, recognizing spiritual opposition—such as doubt, discord, fear, and temptation—can help us engage in spiritual warfare by turning to Christ, who can lead us to win this spiritual battle through prayer, Scripture, and living in Christian community. He is the one who strengthens our faith against such threats from the spiritual forces of darkness.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The Nephilim in Genesis 6 were likely the offspring of humans and fallen angels. If human, these Nephilim would have all died during the flood of Noah's time, yet the Bible mentions Nephilim living after the flood (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33).
• Demons are fallen angels, those who rebelled against God, like Satan, sometime prior to the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 28; Isaiah 14).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Ephesians 6:12 speaks of the spiritual battle Christians face with such demons, saying, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." As with Satan, however, these demonic powers are limited in their ability. They can only operate as God allows. In addition, the power within the believer in Christ is greater than Satan or his demons (1 John 4:4).
• Jesus will crush Satan underneath His feet (Romans 16:20), along with defeating Satan's demonic army. They will be judged with eternal separation from God, tormented forever in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10).
• For now, Satan roams the earth (1 Peter 5:8) and so do demons (see Mark 1:23–27; Matthew 8:28–34; Luke 8:2; Matthew 9:32–34; Mark 9:14–29; Luke 4:33–36; Matthew 12:22–28; Luke 8:26–39; Mark 5:1–20; Matthew 17:14–20; Luke 11:14–26; Mark 7:24–30).
• Regarding the demons being the disembodied spirits of Nephilim, that comes from a misinterpretation of 1 Peter 3:18-20 and Jude 1:6. First Peter 3:18-20 states, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water." Some people say Jesus went and preached to fallen angels and that “demons” must be something else, like the Nephilim’s spirits. However, Satan is not currently imprisoned (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 5:8), so why would all the other angels be imprisoned? It makes more sense that the spirits in prison are the fallen angels who participated in the specific rebellion described in Genesis 6.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The question of whether demons are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim invites us to reflect on the nature of spiritual warfare and our understanding of evil. Spiritual opposition often looks like persistent feelings of doubt, fear, and confusion that can hinder our faith and decision-making. It may appear as a relentless stream of negative thoughts, temptations to compromise our values, or overwhelming circumstances that challenge our peace. This opposition can also come through interpersonal conflicts, where misunderstandings and strife disrupt relationships and lead us to isolation. Additionally, spiritual opposition might present itself in moments of discouragement, where we feel unworthy or incapable of fulfilling our purpose. Recognizing these signs helps us realize that this is a spiritual battle and that we need God. God has given us tools like prayer, Scripture study, worship music, praise, and community support to turn to Him and find strength in Him. By acknowledging the presence of spiritual threats, we remain vigilant and rooted in Him, ultimately cultivating resilience in God against any forces that seek to disrupt our faith.

UNDERSTAND

• The Nephilim in Genesis 6 are likely the offspring of humans and fallen angels, but their existence after the flood raises questions about their nature as purely human.
• Demons are understood as fallen angels who rebelled against God, different than the Nephilim.
• First Peter 3:18-20 and Jude 1:6 suggest that the "spirits in prison" refer to rebellious angels involved in the Genesis 6 account, and that demons are not the disembodied Nephilim spirits.

REFLECT

• How does viewing demons as fallen angels influence your understanding of spiritual warfare?
• What experiences of spiritual opposition have you faced, and how did you respond?
• What spiritual disciplines do you incorporate in your daily routine to abide in Jesus and strengthen your faith?

ENGAGE

• What encouragement is there from the truth that all demons, fallen angels, Satan, etc. will one day be cast into the lake of fire?
• How do interpretations of the Genesis 6 account shape Christian teachings on spiritual warfare?
• How can recognizing the limitations of demonic powers provide comfort in spiritual challenges?