583. That the Nephilim are called “mighty men” from the love of self, is evident from various passages of the Word, where such are called “mighty”; as in Jeremiah:

The mighty ones of Babel have ceased to fight, they sit in their holds, their might faileth, they are become as women (Jeremiah 51:30),

where the “mighty ones of Babel” denote those who are eaten up with the love of self. In the same:

A sword is against the liars, and they shall be insane, a sword is against her mighty ones, and they shall be dismayed (Jeremiah 50:36).

Again:

I saw them dismayed, and turning away back, their mighty ones were broken in pieces, and have been put to flight, and looked not back; fear was round about; the swift shall not flee away, nor the mighty one escape; come up, ye horses, and rage, ye chariots, and let the mighty ones go forth, Cush, Put, the Lydians (Jeremiah 46:5-6, 9) speaking of persuasion from reasonings. Again:

How say ye, We are mighty, and men of strength for war? Moab is laid waste (Jeremiah 48:14-15).

Again:

The city is taken, and the strongholds, it has been seized, and the heart of the mighty men of Moab in that day is become as the heart of a woman in her pangs (Jeremiah 48:41).

In like manner it is said:

The heart of the mighty ones of Edom (Jeremiah 49:22).

Again:

Jehovah hath redeemed Jacob, and hath avenged him from the hand of him that was mightier than he (Jeremiah 31:11),

where “mighty” is expressed by another term. That the Anakim, who were of the Nephilim, were called “mighty ones” is evident from Moses:

Thou passest over Jordan today, to go in to possess nations greater and more numerous than thyself, cities great and fortified to heaven, a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard; who shall stand before the sons of Anak? (Deuteronomy 9:1-2).