The Seven Names of the Giants and the Growing Wickedness of the Flood Generation

"The Nephilim were on the earth" (Genesis 6:4). Seven names were given to them: Emim, Rephaim, Gibborim, Zamzummim, Anakim, Avvim, Nephilim. Emim, because anyone who saw them, terror (eimah) would fall upon him. Rephaim, because anyone who saw them, his heart would grow weak (rafeh) as wax. Gibborim — Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: the marrow of the thighbone of one of them measured twelve cubits. Zamzummim — Rabbi Yose bar Chanina said: masters and chiefs of war. Anakim — the Rabbis and Rabbi Acha differed: the Rabbis say they multiplied giants (anakim) upon giants; Rabbi Acha said they would reach the orb of the sun with their necks (anak) and say, "Bring down rain for us." Avvim, because they corrupted (tzadu) the world and were driven from the world and caused the world to be laid waste, as you say, "A ruin (avvah), a ruin, a ruin I will make it" (Ezekiel 21:32). Rabbi Eleazar son of Rabbi Shimon said: they were as expert in the soils as snakes; in the Galilee they call a snake an avya. Nephilim, because they cast down (hippilu) the world, and they fell (naflu) from the world, and they filled the world with miscarriages (nefalim) through their licentiousness. "And also after that" (Genesis 6:4) — the later ones did not learn from the earlier: the flood generation from the generation of Enosh, and the generation of the Dispersion from the flood generation. "And also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men." Rabbi Berekhiah said: a woman would go out to the marketplace and so forth, and she would go and have relations and conceive a young man like the one she had seen. "The men of renown (anshei ha-shem)" — Rabbi Acha said: "Children of churls, children of no-name" (Job 30:8), yet you say men of renown? Rather, they laid the world waste (heshimu) and were laid waste from the world and caused the world to be made desolate. Rabbi Levi in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: men whose names were specified above. For Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: all these names are expressions of rebellion — "Irad" (Genesis 4:18), he expelled (oradan) them from the world; "Mehujael," I am wiping out (matishan) them from the world; "Lamech," what need have I (mah li) of Lamech and his descendants? Rabbi Yochanan said: "These were the mighty men of old, the men of renown" — and who specified their deeds? Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. Rabbi says: had Job come into the world only to detail for us the doings of the flood, that would suffice for him. Rav Chanan said: had Elihu come only to explain for us the matter of the coming down of rains, that would suffice for him, for Rabbi Yochanan said: every mention of light regarding Elijah refers only to the coming down of rains. Rabbi Hoshaya the Great said: it refers only to the giving of the Torah, as you say, "For the commandment is a lamp and the Torah is light" (Proverbs 6:23). Rabbi Acha in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: dispute is as grave as the flood generation; it is said here "men of renown," and it is said there, "princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown" (Numbers 16:2) — just as "men of renown" said there refers to dispute [the rebellion of Korah], so "men of renown" said here refers to dispute. "And the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great" (Genesis 6:5) — great and ever-growing. We have heard of the flood generation, who were judged with water, and the Sodomites, who were judged with fire. From where do we apply what is said here to there and what is said there to here? Scripture says "great" here and "great" there as a gezeira shava [verbal analogy]. "And every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the day" — from when the sun rose until it set there was no hope in them, as it is written, "The murderer rises with the light" (Job 24:14). The evil inclination is grievous, for even its Maker called it evil, as it is said, "for the inclination of man's heart is evil" (Genesis 8:21). Rav Yitzchak said: a man's inclination renews itself against him every day, as it is said, "only evil all the day." "And the LORD repented that He had made man on the earth" (Genesis 6:6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I did well that I prepared a grave for them; it is written here "and He repented (vayinnachem)," and it is written there, "and he comforted (vayenachem) them and spoke to their hearts" (Genesis 50:21).