Are Demons the Disembodied Spirits of the Nephilim?
A Biblical Theology of Demonology and the Genesis 6 Rebellion
I. Introduction
The question of where demons originate is a crucial one in biblical demonology. While traditional theology often assumes that demons are fallen angels, the Scriptures never explicitly say this. When we follow a literal, grammatical-historical hermeneutic, and examine all relevant texts carefully, we find a stronger and more biblically coherent view:
Demons are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim—the unnatural hybrid offspring produced when fallen angels took human wives, as recorded in Genesis 6:1–4.
This view best accounts for the biblical data, maintains theological clarity, and avoids reading assumptions into the text.
II. The Genesis 6 Event: The Origin of the Nephilim
“Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them,
that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.’
There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.”
— Genesis 6:1–4, New King James Version
Key points:
“Sons of God” (bene ha’elohim) refers to fallen angels, as confirmed by Job 1:6, Job 38:7, and Jude 1:6–7.
These fallen angels cohabited with human women, producing a hybrid race known as the Nephilim—giants and warriors of supernatural origin.
Their existence contributed to such a level of wickedness that God destroyed them in the flood.
III. The Fate of the Nephilim
“So the Lord said, ‘I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast…’”
— Genesis 6:7, New King James Version
“And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing… and every man.”
— Genesis 7:21, New King James Version
The bodies of the Nephilim perished in the flood, but Scripture is silent on the fate of their spirits. Since they were not fully human nor fully angelic, their spirits had no assigned place in God’s design for the afterlife—neither Sheol nor the heavenlies. This gives rise to the understanding that their disembodied spirits remained on earth and became what we now refer to as demons.
IV. The Nature of Demons: Disembodied Spirits Seeking Hosts
Throughout the New Testament, demons are consistently described as:
Unclean spirits (Matthew 10:1)
Seeking rest but finding none (Luke 11:24)
Desiring to inhabit human bodies (Mark 5:8–13)
Tormented by Christ’s presence and aware of their coming judgment (Matthew 8:29)
These are not traits of angels—even fallen ones. Angels (good or evil) do not seek embodiment. They can appear visibly (e.g., Genesis 19, Revelation 12), but they are never described as needing or desiring human vessels.
This behavioral pattern matches what we would expect if demons were:
Spirit-beings that once had bodies—unnatural ones—and now crave physical embodiment to replicate what they lost.
V. What About the “Spirits in Prison”?
“By whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah…”
— 1 Peter 3:19–20, New King James Version
“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode,
He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.”
— Jude 1:6, New King James Version
These refer to the specific group of fallen angels who participated in the Genesis 6 rebellion. They are now bound in chains in Tartarus (cf. 2 Peter 2:4).
But Scripture shows that Satan and many other demons are not bound—they are active in the world today (Ephesians 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8).
This distinction supports the disembodied Nephilim theory:
The fallen angels who sinned in Genesis 6 are imprisoned.
Their hybrid offspring, the Nephilim, died.
Their spirits, having no place in heaven or hell, now roam the earth as demons.
VI. Refuting the Assumption: Demons ≠ Fallen Angels
There is no verse in the Bible that explicitly states:
“Demons are fallen angels.”
This is a theological assumption based on convenience, not Scripture.
In contrast:
Demons are always referred to as unclean spirits, never as angels (Luke 8:2; Matthew 12:43).
Fallen angels are always called angels, even in judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Revelation 12:9).
Angels—even fallen ones—are not said to possess people, whereas demons always do.
The conclusion is clear:
Demons are not fallen angels. They are the disembodied spirits of the Nephilim—wicked hybrid offspring whose unnatural origin left them earthbound and hostile to humanity.
VII. Avoiding the Error of Apocryphal Dependence
While the Book of Enoch explicitly teaches that the spirits of the Nephilim became evil spirits on earth, and while Jude 1:14–15 quotes Enoch, we do not base doctrine on non-canonical literature.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine…”
— 2 Timothy 3:16, New King James Version
Our doctrine stands on the Bible alone. However, when the Book of Enoch agrees with Scripture, it may confirm oral traditions that were widely known during the time of the apostles.
VIII. Conclusion: A Biblically Sound Demonology
The disembodied Nephilim spirit view is:
Textually consistent with Genesis 6, Jude, 1 Peter, and the Gospels
Theologically superior to the flawed assumption that demons are fallen angels
Supported by the behavioral differences between demons and angels
Free from contradictions found in traditional views
This view:
Honors the literal reading of Scripture
Explains why demons seek embodiment
Accounts for why some angels are bound and others are free
Distinguishes between two different categories of wicked spiritual beings
“And the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’”
— Luke 10:17, New King James Version
“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
— Matthew 25:41, New King James Version
Demons are not angels. They are something else entirely—illegitimate, unredeemable spirits of an ancient rebellion.
