It seems to be related to the Hebrew "Nephilim":

2 entries found for Nephilim.

Nephilim

\Neph"i*lim\, n. pl. [Heb. n[e^]ph[=i]l[=i]m.] Giants. --Gen. vi. 4. Num. xiii. 33.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.


Nephilim

(Gen. 6:4; Num. 13:33, R.V.), giants, the Hebrew word left untranslated by the
Revisers, the name of one of the Canaanitish tribes. The Revisers have,
however, translated the Hebrew gibborim, in Gen. 6:4, "mighty men."


btw, I'm not familiar with any translation of "gibborim" that would have it "giants" and not "strong or powerful men."

Last edited by inselpeter; 10/09/05 06:47 PM.