בראשית, פרק ו׳, פסוק ד׳

The dawn of human history was marked by the presence of extraordinary figures who possessed immense stature and power, dominating their surroundings. Yet, alongside their physical perfection, a deep moral decay took root, blurring the boundaries between greatness and corruption and giving rise to legends that echoed throughout the ancient world.

The primary approach among commentators is that these early beings were giants. Explanations for their nature are varied but complementary. Some suggest they were defined by the sheer terror they evoked, as the heart of anyone who looked upon them would drop in astonishment and dread [אבן עזרא, רד״ק]. Others view their identity through a moral and physical lens, describing them as individuals who plummeted from a high spiritual standing into the depths of lust. Through their sins, they ultimately caused the entire world to collapse and be destroyed [רש״י, רמב״ן, העמק דבר]. Alternatively, their massive dimensions are seen as an unnatural, wondrous phenomenon [שד״ל, הכתב והקבלה, חזקוני]. While certain traditions identify these figures as angels who sinned and fell from heaven [צאינה וראינה, צרור המור], other scholars fiercely reject this mythological approach. They argue that the narrative deliberately portrays them as flesh and blood humans to counter ancient pagan myths that elevated giants to the status of gods or demigods. Despite their immense strength, they were entirely mortal and destined for the grave [רס״ג, מלבי״ם, קאסוטו].

This phenomenon initially unfolded during the early generations of Enosh and Cain [רש״י, מזרחי]. However, their presence extended well beyond that era. One perspective notes that even after God unleashed a partial devastation during the days of Enosh, flooding a third of the earth, subsequent generations refused to humble themselves. Instead of learning from the destruction, they persisted in their corrupt ways [רש״י, ספורנו]. Another approach suggests that remnants of these giants continued to exist or be born even after the great flood, though their physical dimensions gradually diminished over time [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, שד״ל].

The societal collapse was driven by the powerful men of the era, identified either as the sons of judges, ministers, and nobility [הטור הארוך, אדרת אליהו], or as the early descendants of Adam and Seth who possessed immense physical perfection and were created in the divine image. These men exploited their high status and authority to take women from the general populace who were of lower social standing or regular physical height. Initially, they seized these women through force and violence, eventually descending into rampant, secretive immorality [רמב״ן, תולדות יצחק]. The offspring of these unions inherited the massive physical proportions of their fathers but proved to be spiritually inferior [רמב״ן, הרא״ש].

The might of these descendants was not merely physical; it was characterized by profound arrogance and the abuse of their power to actively rebel against God [רש״י, מזרחי, צרור המור]. They became the ancient heroes of legend, serving as the benchmark for future generations who would look upon the giants of their own eras and recall the mythological figures of the past [רמב״ן, ביאור יש״ר]. Superficially, they were famous individuals who amassed power and gathered throngs of admirers [שטיינזלץ, קונטרס חיבה יתירה]. Yet, commentators reveal a deep irony in their legacy. Although the ignorant masses idolized them, they were ultimately agents of destruction who ruined the world. Their legacy was not one of blessing; rather, they were associated with total devastation, bearing names that hinted at absolute erasure and exhaustion. In the end, all that survived of these once mighty figures was nothing more than their name [רש״י, גור אריה, הכתב והקבלה, קאסוטו].