pelim
פלימ
This word is popularly (but rather incorrectly) pronounced “Nephilim”, but should more correctly be read 'pelim'. The 'pelim' are a group of people who are described in Genesis 6:4 as being the offspring of the sons of the alehim and human women. It is commonly believed that the 'pelim' were giants, but there is actually no indication of this in the text.
Based on the root word 'pel', the most common etymological interpretation indicates the name of these people as “the Fallen Ones”. This phrase can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Luckily, aside from the Genesis 6 reference, there are 21 other direct references to the 'pelim', which are typically overlooked. In most of these instances, 'pelim' is translated as “the fallen” or “the slain” and based on context within stories and statistics of battles, the interpretation does seem supported. Based on this common usage, the 'pelim' are literally the dead bodies of those slain in battle.
There is zero evidence within the textual corpus for a cosmological theory of “fallen angels”. Rather, the fallen ones are ordinary mortals who fell in battle.
Another etymological interpretation is possible however. Pel may have connections to the casting of a magic spell. In this interpretation the Pelim can be understood as “The Spell Casters”, or essentially “wizards”. This idea is further supported by the narrative supplied in the Book of Enoch that credits the Pelim as mystical teachers of advanced technologies. Recalling Arthur C. Clarke's observation that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indispensable from magic.”
Several instances occur in the context of a battle with massive body counts in the thousands. The Fallen seems to be the correct interpretation here. However, this does not necessarily rule out that these fallen may have been the targets of a deadly magic spell or technology of some kind.
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LexID 95307