Introduction: Melchizedek Explained and Nephilim Explained
For generations, scholars and believers have puzzled over two of the most mysterious figures in the Bible: the Nephilim and Melchizedek. But what if the answers have been hidden in plain sight all along? You will leave this article with Melchizedek explained and the Nephilim explained This article brings the two threads together revealing that these seemingly unrelated stories don’t just intersect, they explain each other.
No need to go outside Scripture. The Bible tells us everything we need to know.
Nephilim Explained — “In Those Days, and Also Afterward”
“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.” (Genesis 6:4, KJV)
This verse is our starting point. It speaks of the Nephilim, giants born when the sons of God intermingled with women. But who were these sons of God?
They weren’t angels. The term “sons of God” in this context most likely refers to men from the line of Seth, who lived extraordinary lives—some reaching nearly 1,000 years.
These men walked closely with Jesus Himself, which extended their lives. Their long lifespans and spiritual intimacy made them more than ordinary—they were called sons of God because they walked with God in a literal, visible way, just as Enoch walked with God and was taken (Genesis 5:24).
These were not ordinary men. The Holy Spirit rested upon them in a way unseen since. And their names weren’t random either—they were prophetic. When arranged in order, the names of Seth’s line spell out a gospel message, pointing directly to Jesus Christ.
Later, God declares:
“My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” (Genesis 6:3)
The days of long communion and long life were ending.
The Sons of God Were Different: Radiance, Power, and Presence
These men were visibly different. There’s a reason people could identify a “Son of God” on sight.
In the fiery furnace, even a pagan king recognized it:
“Lo, I see four men loose… and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25, KJV)
There was a glow, a presence, something unmistakable.
And now enters Melchizedek.
“Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God…” (Hebrews 7:3)
Melchizedek didn’t just act like a Son of God—he looked like one.
And here’s the connection: Melchizedek is Shem.
Melchizedek Explained — Shem: Blessed, Prophetic, and Planted in Canaan
After the flood, Noah prophesied:
“Blessed be the Lord God of Shem… and Canaan shall be his servant.” (Genesis 9:26)
God’s divine favor would rest on Shem—and Shem would inherit spiritual authority over the land.
Indeed, Shem went on to found the city of Salem, which became Jerusalem, right in the heart of Canaanite territory. In Genesis 14, Shem appears as Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of the Most High God.
The other kings in that region? They were Canaanites—descendants of the cursed line. But Melchizedek stood apart. Abraham recognized him, tithed to him, and received a blessing.
Shem Lived Into Abraham’s Time — A Timeline Worth Seeing
Shem lived 600 years (Genesis 11:10-11), and based on biblical chronology, he was still alive in the days of Abraham. In fact, Shem outlived Abraham’s father, Terah.
When Abraham was born, Shem would have already lived nearly 400 years and continued living well into Abraham’s adulthood. This means Shem—and several of his sons, who also lived for centuries—were still alive when God called Abraham to leave Ur.
Insert timeline chart here showing the overlapping lifespans of Shem, Arphaxad, Eber, Peleg, and Abraham.
This overlap shows that Shem could have directly mentored Abraham or at the very least, passed on a continuous priestly presence from the flood to the founding of Israel.
The Shemites in Jerusalem Until the Israelites’ Return
The line of Shem, though eventually corrupted by intermixing physical and spiritually with Canaanites, remained in the region of Salem for centuries. Melchizedek, as Shem, held priestly authority there, and his descendants likely retained that tradition.
By the time of the Exodus and Israel’s return to the Promised Land, Jerusalem was still populated by Shemites. But many had compromised spiritually, blending with the Canaanite inhabitants.
When Joshua and the Israelites entered the land, they were not just confronting foreign enemies—they were confronting distant relatives, corrupted sons of Shem.
In fact, the king of Jerusalem during Joshua’s conquest bore the name Adonizedek (Joshua 10:1), which mirrors the title Melchizedek. Both names mean “lord of righteousness” or “king of righteousness,” showing that the title had continued among Jerusalem’s rulers even after Shem.
These kings had kept the title but not the truth. The light of God’s presence had departed, but the shadow of the original blessing remained in name only.
And just as Genesis 6 warned, Israel saw Nephilim in the land (Numbers 13:33). Once again, the intermingling of the godly and ungodly lines had produced unnatural results.
Before and After: The Nephilim Through Intermingling
Genesis 6 says, “in those days and also afterward”—meaning the Nephilim didn’t just exist before the flood. They reappeared after.
How? Because Sons of God (those who walked with Jesus) still walked the earth after the flood—through the line of Shem. And again, they intermingled with the cursed lines (men who did not walk with Jesus), just as Seth’s line had once intermarried with the line of Cain.
This mixture of the holy and the profane created giants and men of renown, people with unnatural power, stature, and reputation—whether physical. mental or spiritual.
A Prophetic Warning and a Hidden Pattern
From the Garden to Salem to the foot of Calvary, the Bible keeps narrowing its focus to one man: Jesus. But in doing so, it leaves behind clues—clues about rebellion, purity, inheritance, and what happens when God walks closely with men.
The Nephilim were not just giants. They were the evidence of corrupted communion.
Melchizedek was not just a mystery. He was Shem, a faithful Son of God who stood firm in a land surrounded by rebellion.
These two stories, when placed side by side, illuminate the truth: proximity to God changes people—and when that proximity is polluted by compromise, the consequences are enormous.
Would you recognize a Son of God if you saw one? The early world did. Abraham did. The kings of Canaan did.
And the next time THE SON OF GOD appears—so will the whole world.
Other Interesting Articles
If you enjoyed this article, then please visit the main hub article for The Adventures of Abraham and Sarah.
You will also find here: the Sermon on the Mount and many article links on the topic.
Finally, here is a link to the Book of Genesis KJV.