In today’s Christian churches, you will find a wide variety of approaches in the teaching style of Judeo-Christian learning, as well as how it is applied to today’s modern world. The presentation of church doctrine is varied from prudish and emotionally static to being ‘woke’ and weakened by ungodly beliefs and unchristian political activities.
But while some people are satisfied with the status quo, some others are investigating the thoughts and ideology of much earlier Hebrew believers that became the very first Christian converts. To know their thoughts give us a better understanding of just what Jesus and his followers really believed a couple of millennium ago.
Listen to this article: Click the > button to start audio – click again to pause – click the speaker icon to mute. Adjust volume on the right side.
Serious seekers, include those who are comfortable researching ancient records, find satisfaction in their quest for biblical truth. And realizing God’s ways are perfect, they will critically examine not only our present Bible, but also more recent discoveries of ancient manuscripts for truth. One such ancient document is the Book of Enoch.
Although often called one of the lost books of the Bible, that is not an accurate description. ‘Obscure’ may be a better label, because there are surviving texts in several languages,1 that are still used in a few churches.2 And the Book of Enoch, was highly esteemed by the Christian populace during the first several centuries A.D., including many church fathers.3 It is even referenced today in our New Testament.4 But the entire manuscript was excluded from the Bible around the fourth century, due to its unpleasant content. This decision was hotly debated back then, and continues to be a source of contention even today.5
Other problems include that the Book of Enoch has been shunned from Hebrew scripture, mostly because of disagreement among Jewish leaders. And some scholars believe it has been especially rejected by Jews since the time of Christ, because it allegedly contains prophecies pertaining to Jesus.6
The book contains unique material on the origins of demons and the Nephilim, and why some angels fell from heaven. It also explains the real reason for the Genesis flood — that it was morally necessary to reboot life on this planet. Furthermore, there is also a prophetic explanation of a thousand-year reign on earth by a Messiah.7 Such thoughts were not welcomed by religious leaders, probably because they were fearful of losing Jews to Christianity. Religious leaders, like government leaders, want to cover up truths to control people and funnel their beliefs into certain directions.
This rejection is not just derived from Jewish thought thousands of years ago, but from current times as well. To drive this point home, one recent article from the Jerusalem Post stated this about the Book of Enoch. “What is disputed is how literally one should take it, since in Judaism, the free will and agency of angels aren’t really a factor. Angels in Judaism are seen as just messengers with no autonomy. Even Satan is but another angel doing God’s work.” It appears that belief in this book causes considerable tension among many Jews.8 Since it doesn’t fit their current narrative, they just discard the whole book.
In modern times, the Book of Enoch became better known after the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered on the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea between 1947 and 1956. Approximately 900 scrolls and fragments were found in eleven caves near the ruins of Qumrān.9 These various leather and papyrus ancient manuscripts — including texts of Enoch — have helped scholars clarify the relationship between Jewish and early Christian traditions, as well as in dating many other archeological finds.10
The Dead Sea Scrolls are believed by many scholars to have been an Essene library, because that sect of Judaism once inhabited the settlement at Qumrān.11 This theory currently dominates academic discussion and seems reasonable.12
Essenes were an eccentric Jewish sect and not directly mentioned in scripture, although a few scholars believe they may be referenced in Matthew 19:10–12.13 They practiced self-denial as a spiritual discipline and some shunned marriage to devote more time to prayer.14 Individuals did not own any private property, but shared all their possessions with others in their community. They ate simple meals, wore simple clothes, and avoided any show of luxury.15
A theory has been suggested that Jesus was a member of the Essenes. One author believes that the unaccounted void years of Jesus’ life were spent in instruction and travel throughout Asia, as was common for Essene boys living in a monastery. He returned home at the age of twelve in preparation for his bar mitzvah. It was during this time that Jesus spoke and answered questions with Hebrew scholars in the temple (Luke 2:41-52). After that visit, he vanished again until finally returning home at the age of twenty-nine or thirty to begin his public ministry.16
Who was Enoch?
In the Old Testament, we are told that Enoch lived during the time shortly after Adam and Eve’s fall in the garden in Eden and the great Genesis flood in Noah’s day. He was one of seven pre-flood Patriarchs, and the father of Methuselah, that guy who lived for 969 years. Enoch was Adam’s great-great-great-great grandson and also the great-grandfather of Noah.17 It is said that he walked with God, denoting a devout life, while living in close communion with the Lord.18
Enoch is attributed with recording the information that supports the Genesis, chapter 6 story about the fallen angels who fathered the Nephilim — the half-breed angel-human hybrids — in an act of defiance to the Creator. And “for thousands of years this story has scandalized readers of the Bible, and for good reason. The story appears to go against the grain of our traditional understanding of biblical religion.”19
Enoch’s historical description records that the rebellious angels also taught humans forbidden knowledge like metallurgy, weaponry and warfare, black magic and drugs, bewitchments, and even about the use of cosmetics. They also taught positive arts — writing, reading, music, weather forecasting, astronomy, etc. — but even these ‘good’ crafts denied humans of any opportunity to discover the arts by themselves.20
All of this information presented a world-view where, sometimes, angels were the villains, and their sins contributed to humanity’s fall. That didn’t sit well with later Christian Theology, which placed all the blame squarely on the humans’ free-will. Hence, the Church made sure Enoch’s manuscripts stopped circulating.21
What is in the Book of Enoch?
When most people speak of the Book of Enoch, they are referencing what is actually titled 1 Enoch, which is the focus of this study. Other lessor manuscripts, called 2 Enoch and 3 Enoch, are much more recent literary works, but the 1 Enoch manuscript dates back considerably more than two thousand years, and is assumed to have been produced from even older writings. So, just to be technically accurate, when I mention the Book of Enoch, I am specifically referencing 1 Enoch.
The Book of Enoch is strange, to say the least, as it deviates from the familiar biblical topics to those that seem rather bizarre. The best way to explain the topics of this book is that they go into great detail concerning what really happened in two single verses from the Book of Genesis about the fallen angels. The following is what those two Old Testament verses say.
“The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.”
“The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown” (Genesis 6, verses 2 & 4, ESV).22
You may not recognize these verses, because most Christian churches never mention them. The two verses are but a very brief mention of the ungodly creation of angelic-human hybrids which led to the need of the great flood in the time of Noah. The Book of Enoch explains the rest of the story — all the things that the Book of Genesis leaves out.
In the original language, the term ‘sons of God’ means ‘sons of elohim’. And elohim is a plural word meaning gods, rulers, or divine representatives — those acting under divine authority.23 Enoch calls the sons of God, the ‘Watchers’, a special class of angelic beings which are considered guardians or overseers. In the Old Testament Book of Daniel, you will find a reference to the Watchers (Daniel 4:13-17).
Anyway, some 200 of these Watchers descended upon Mount Hermon, a mountain ridge on the present Lebanon-Syria border. It is the highest point on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea.24 These angels were sent by God to watch over the earth, but they lusted and fell into sin when they married the daughters of humankind.25
The products of their sexual union were the supernatural Nephilim. As time went on, the human half of the hybrid was subject to death, as are all humans, but the angelic spirit half lived on, since angels are not subject to death. So, the disembodied spirits lived on, searching for another body through which they could again function properly. These disembodied evil spirits are known as demons — and they still roam the earth today, looking for a body through which they might once again immerse into their evil ways.26
The Book of Enoch contains several sub-books or divisions between its covers:
– (a) the record of the angelic Watchers – fallen angels (chapters 1-36),
– (b) the book of Parables – introduces the messianic figure (chapters 37-71),
– (c) the Astronomical Record – movements of planets/stars (chapters 72-82),
– (d) the list of Dream Visions – prophetic tour of history (chapters 83-90),
– (e) the Epistle of Enoch – moral and apocalyptic warnings (chapters 91-108).27
Conclusion
It is important to note that the legacy of the Nephilim did not end with the great flood; Old Testament texts go on to attribute them as the ancestors of some of the Israelites’ most feared enemies (Numbers 13:33), many who were giants.28 Think of Goliath and his kinfolk.
And many researchers believe that, to some extent, these giants live on until today. There is leaked United States government information about a very modern discovery. In 2002 a United States military patrol came upon a cave in Afghanistan and encountered and killed a red-haired twelve-foot giant with six fingers and six toes. Supposedly, the body of this unique male creature, now known as the Kandahar Giant, was quickly evacuated to the United States, and those soldiers witnessing the event have been forbidden to speak about it.29 Of course they have covered up the truth — that’s what government does.
Today, there is much talk about some soon-to-be-released government announcements that space aliens and their spacecraft have arrived on earth. And their species were the creators of humanity, and they have solutions for all earthly problems. But I urge Christians not to believe what will be said. When have government sources really told us the truth about anything? They lie and twist the facts to control everything and everybody.
If and when such an announcement happens, keep your cool and know that the truth about our past non-human interference is already documented in ancient scripture, such as the Book of Enoch and our Holy Bible. Be aware that if government or religious organizations, or the mainstream news programs, soon begin telling us things not in the biblical manuscripts, then that information is not from God. Please don’t make any decisions based upon fear; don’t be quick to climb on the band wagon about help from beings of another world.
The Book of Enoch, as well as our Old Testament and New Testament, already explains where we came from and where we are headed, so don’t lose your faith, or your future into a paradise world under the leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember Satan and his minions are deceivers and have been since the creation of humankind. After all is said and done, the truth is written in the biblical manuscripts.
For those readers interested in learning more about the Nephilim and demons, I suggest two Outlaw Bible Student articles: (1) “When the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind: the story of the Nephilim” and, (2) “What are Demons and the Nephilim and that Mayhem before the Flood of Noah?” See References & Notes at the end of this study.30
And for readers who would like to have your own copy of the Book of Enoch, there are many sources available. Besides availability from book stores, Amazon has a good selection starting in price from around US$10. But for those that are not interested in buying the book, you can find a copy online where you can read the entire book, or download as a PDF, or as Kindle or EPUB files.31 You can also listen to, or download, an audio copy of the book in the English language.32 And the last time I checked, audio of the Book of Enoch is available for listening, or download, on YouTube.
Copyright © 2025, Ray Hermann
OutlawBibleStudent.org
** The featured top photo for this article is through Creative Commons – obtained from mysticalpoetryandpolitics.com.
PHOTOS, ART, & MEDIA — FAIR USE COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976 allowance is made for “Fair Use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, news reporting, scholarship, and research. Non-profit, educational, and/or personal use tilts the legal balance in favor of Fair Use. For more information, see “Legal Stuff” on the top menu bar. If a copyright holder finds their creative work on this web site and did not give permission for its use, it will be immediately removed upon proper notice with the copyright registration numbers. We do not intentionally use copyright material that cannot be used for such purposes.
→ Leave comments at the end, after ‘References & Notes’.
You can see our basic rules for comments by clicking “Legal Stuff” on the top menu bar.
References & Notes
- There are many surviving Enoch manuscripts, but only in the following languages: Ethiopian Semitic (Ge’ez), Aramaic, Greek, Coptic (Egyptian), Latin, and Syriac tongues.
“The Book of Enoch”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 April 2023), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Enoch - Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church and the Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church; both Christian. Also, the Beta Israel community (Ethiopian Jews).
- Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, and Tertullian.
- See Jude 1:14-15, which is similar to Enoch 1:9 (as translated from the Ethiopian Semitic language).
Clontz, T. E. & Clontz, J., The Comprehensive New Testament, (Macon, GA: Cornerstone Publications, 2008), p. 711.The term “…in the seventh generation from Adam…” in the Jude reference, is apparently from Enoch 60:3.
Nickelsburg, George W. E., 1 Enoch: A Commentary on the Book of 1 Enoch, (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2001), vol. 2, 1 Enoch 60). - Scott, Hilda, “Why Was Book Of Enoch Removed From The Bible”, (The Holy Script, 26 October 2023), https://www.theholyscript.com/why-was-book-of-enoch-removed-from-the-bible/
- Roberts, Alexander, & Donaldson, James, (Eds.), The Ante-Nicene Fathers, (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1885), vol. 4, p. 16.
- “The Book of Enoch”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 April 2023), see above.
- Reich, Aaron, “The Book of Enoch: What is the famous biblical Apocrypha?” (The Jerusalem Post Newspaper, 12 December 2022), https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-724679
- “Qumrān”, (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 20 July 1998), https://www.britannica.com/place/Qumran
- Youngblood, Ronald, et al. (Eds.), Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995).
- “Essenes”, (Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 12 April 2023), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essenes
- Ellegard, Alvar, Jesus: One Hundred Years Before Christ, (New York: Overlook Books, Abrams, 2002).
- Easton, M. G., Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature, (New York: Thomas Nelson, 1893), p. 238.
- Brand, Chad, et al., (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), p. 508.
- Youngblood, Ronald F., et al., (Eds.), Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995).
- Bramley, William, The Gods of Eden, (New York: Avon Books [a HarperCollins imprint], 1990), p. 129.
- Bolinger, Hope, “Who Was Enoch in the Bible?” (Christianity, 5 May 2021), https://www.christianity.com/wiki/bible/who-was-enoch-in-the-bible.html
- Grant, A. C., “Enoch,” in The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, (Eds.) James Orr, et al., (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), vol. 2, p. 953.
- Hendel, Ronald S., “When the Sons of God Cavorted with the Daughters of Men”, (Bible Review Magazine, BAS, Summer 1987), vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 8-13.
- “15 Interesting Facts about the Book of Enoch”, (Awakening State, 14 February 2023), https://www.awakeningstate.com/spiritual-awakening/book-of-enoch-facts/
- Coteneanu, Ana, “Why the Book of Enoch Is Not in the Bible: The Complete Story”, (The Bible Chat, 5 June 2025), https://thebiblechat.com/why-the-book-of-enoch-is-not-in-the-bible/
- Scripture taken from The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016). Used with permission.
- אֱלֹהִים: Whitaker, Richard, (Ed.), The Abridged Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament, (Boston MA: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1906).
- “Mount Hermon”, (Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 July 1998), https://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Hermon/additional-info#history
- Missler, Chuck & Eastman, Mark, Alien Encounters, (Coeur d’A;eme, ID: Koinonia House, 1997), p. 241.
- Prince, Derek, They Shall Expel Demons, (Christchurch, NZ: Derek Prince Ministries, South Pacific, 1998), p. 97.
- Barker, Margaret, The Older Testament: The Survival of Themes from the Ancient Royal Cult in Sectarian Judaism and Early Christianity, (Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Phoenix Press Ltd., 2005), chapter 1.
- Drummond, John, “The Nephilim and the Sons of God”, (Biblical Archaeology Society, 27 November 2025), https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/hebrew-bible/the-nephilim-and-the-sons-of-god/
- Enos, Richard, “U.S. Soldier Claims to Have Shot & Killed a 12-Foot Giant in Afghanistan”, (ExoNews, Exopolitics Institute News Service, 5 July 2018), https://exonews.org/u-s-soldier-claims-to-have-shot-killed-a-12-foot-giant-in-afghanistan/
- (a) Hermann, Ray, “When the sons of God were having sexual relations with the daughters of humankind — the story of the Nephilim”, (The Outlaw Bible Student, OBS, 9 December 2018), https://outlawbiblestudent.org/when-the-sons-of-god-were-having-sexual-relations-with-the-daughters-of-humankind-the-story-of-the-nephilim/
(b) Hermann, Ray, “What are Demons and the Nephilim? — and that Mayhem before the Flood of Noah?” (The Outlaw Bible Student, OBS, 29 October 2019), https://outlawbiblestudent.org/what-are-demons-and-the-nephilim-and-that-mayhem-before-the-flood-of-noah/ - The Book of Enoch, read or download printed copy, (retrieved 10 December 2025), https://book-ofenoch.com
- “The Book of Enoch”, listen to, or download audio copy, (LibriVox, 9 December 2018), https://librivox.org/the-book-of-enoch/
Many thanks! I have the books and it made fascinating reading. The number of Angels mentioned was an eye-opener.
What I don’t understand is how humans had to pray (about the destructive nephilim), then the Angels heard their prayers, then the Angels told God and only then did God decide that the earth needed a “reset”.
Surely God knows all? And how is it possible for a fallen “Angel” to have offspring with humans?
Thank you for taking the time to respond to this article. Allow me to add varied thoughts about your excellent questions.
There are several theories, but one thought is that humankind did not understand that their predicament was not Godly ordained. It was only after many humans suffered and perished, that they prayed in earnest for help.
Four archangels were sent to investigate what was happening. Possibly, they were instructed not to interfere, but only to observe, and bring their report back. God and his divine counsel then made the decision on how to handle the situation.
If any readers are interested, read the Book of Job to see how his divine council works. Or see my article “What is God’s Divine Council” at https://outlawbiblestudent.org/what-is-gods-divine-council/
Yes, God knows all, if he so desires. We just don’t know all the details. He may sometimes use assistance from subordinates to keep tabs on everything. This question would make an excellent discussion topic for a small group of academics.
Now, about angels having sex with humans. The Bible tells us that angelic spirit beings can take the form of a human. Bible stories tell us they can have physical contact and even eat food. Seems like they could also participate in physical sex. But some discussions on this subject also suggest it may not be physical sex, but advanced laboratory experiments and cloning, similar to what evil humans are doing at this very moment on earth.
Good Evening Ray. Just a quick comment about the Essenes. I don’t trust Wikipedia on things scriptural. It has been found that the Essenes actually lived down the road (~25 miles) from Qumran (better called Bethabara) at Ein Gedi. The Aaronic Levite priests – the sons of Zadok actually lived in Qumran and Damascus (makes you wonder why Saul was headed to THAT city!) after they were exiled to the wilderness of Judaea by the Hasmoneans and Pharisees.
They were the temple high priests replaced by the new unbiblical order. This makes sense why Jubilees (containing the calendar and times) would be found at this location – as well as Enoch. They were preserved by the Most Highs priests.
And another aside – This is where John the Baptist (of the priestly order himself) was located and baptised Messiah Emmanuel – but not in the Jordan itself (a very muddy dirty river) but in a tributary off the Jordan (still considered the Jordan) where the water was fresh and clear and clean. Cheers and thank you for this article!
Thank you very much for your opinions, as well as the additional information, which adds interest to the subject of this article.