Were the Nephilim basically superheroes? Genesis 6 gives us “mighty men,” “heroes,” and “men of renown” language—but the flood narrative isn’t inviting admiration. Instead, this episode reframes that “superhero” instinct as something darker: a counterfeit immortality project built on power, fame, and self-made identity.
From there, we follow the Bible’s “name” thread: men of the name → let us make a name for ourselves (Babel) → I will make your name great (Abram). Babel and Abraham become interpretive keys for Genesis 6—showing how “making a name” can function like self-salvation, while a God-given “name” becomes covenant gift and vocation.
Finally, we connect name-language to worship: who authorizes your identity, and who secures your future? That trajectory culminates in the New Testament, where God bestows the decisive Name on Jesus—the “name above every name.”
In this episode
- Why “superhero” is a misleading frame for the Nephilim
- “Men of renown” vs. “men of the name”: reputation, memory, authority, legacy
- Babel and Abram as interpretive keys for Genesis 6
- Gibbor (“mighty one”) across Scripture (warrior, elite, even heavenly beings)
- Guardrails for reading reception history (including 1 Enoch) without turning speculation into exegesis
- Bearing God’s name (with a nod to Carmen Imes)
Scripture mentioned
Genesis 6:4; Genesis 11; Genesis 12; Deuteronomy 25:5–10; Ruth 4; 2 Samuel 18:18; Psalms 33:16; Isaiah 3; Psalm 103:20; Isaiah 5:22; Psalm 52:1; Numbers 6:22–27; Deuteronomy 28:10; Jeremiah 14:9; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9–11; Matthew 1:21; John 17:6.
Resources mentioned
- Episodes 140–141 on John H. Walton’s dissertation
- Michael S. Heiser’s blog and Reversing Hermon
On This Rock Biblical Theology Community: https://on-this-rock.com/
Website: [genesismarksthespot.com](http://genesismarksthespot.com/)
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GenesisMarkstheSpot
Music credit: "Marble Machine" by Wintergatan
Link to Wintergatan’s website: https://wintergatan.net/
Link to the original Marble Machine video by Wintergatan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvUU8joBb1Q&ab_channel=Wintergatan
00:00:00 Were the Nephilim superheroes?
00:03:20 The “name” thread: immortality, remembrance, legacy
00:08:46 Genesis 6:4: “men of renown / men of name”
00:15:23 Biblical examples of name-perpetuation (Deut 25; Ruth 4; Absalom)
00:21:49 Gibbor: mighty ones, warriors, and etc.
00:29:21 Babel vs. Abraham: making a name vs. receiving a name
00:40:03 Bearing God’s Name
00:45:12 Reception history + guardrails
00:52:24 The Name given to Jesus
