Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 580

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580. Verse 4 The Nephilim were in the land in those days, very much so after the sons of God went in to the daughters of man, who bore children to them; they were mighty men (vir) who from of old were men (vir) of the name.

'The Nephilim' means those who, persuaded of their own prominence and superiority, treated everything holy and true as being worthless. 'Very much so after the sons of God went in to the daughters of man, who bore children to them' means at that time when they immersed doctrinal matters concerning faith in their own evil desires and formed false persuasions. They are called 'mighty men' on account of their self-love, and 'from of old, men of the name' means that such people had also existed previously.


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