Nephilim
Etymology
The Brown-Driver-Briggs Lexicon (1908) gives the meaning of Nephilim as "giants", and holds that proposed etymologies of the word are "all very precarious".[12]
Many suggested interpretations are based on the assumption that the word is a derivative of Hebrew verbal root n-p-l (נ־פ־ל) "fall".
Robert Baker Girdlestone[13] argued in 1871 the word comes from the hif'il causative stem, implying that the Nephilim are to be perceived as 'those that cause others to fall down'.
Ronald Hendel states that it is a passive form: 'ones who have fallen', grammatically analogous to paqid 'one who is appointed' (i.e., a deputy or overseer), asir 'one who is bound' (i.e., a prisoner), etc.[14][15]
The majority of ancient biblical translations – including the Septuagint,
Targum Onkelos, and
interpret the word to mean "giants".[16]
Symmachus translates it as "the violent ones"[17][18][19] and
Aquila's translation has been interpreted to mean either "the fallen ones"[17] or "the ones falling [upon their enemies]."[19][20]