In 1 Enoch
In 1 Enoch, the Watchers are mighty beings, and the fallen Watchers are heavenly beings who turned away. The text says they share forbidden knowledge, and Enoch rebukes the fallen Watchers for their sins. The fallen Watchers send Enoch to plead for them, but he receives a message to deliver to them. The text also announces a day when judgment falls upon the fallen Watchers and the wicked.
In Jubilees
In Jubilees, the Watchers are the Lord's angels who come down to earth during Jared's time. Their purpose is to teach people, make fair decisions, and do what is right on earth. Enoch later speaks against them because they sin with human women and become impure. The text also describes teachings of the Watchers concerning signs from the sun, moon, and stars.
In The Book of Giants
The Book of Giants describes the Watchers as heavenly beings whose forbidden relationships with human women lead to giant children called the Nephilim. The text connects the Great Flood both to human evil and to chaos created by the Watchers and their children.
Where the Watchers appear
- 1 EnochIn 1 Enoch, Enoch receives the duty to warn the Watchers, heavenly beings who turned away. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- JubileesJubilees describes the Watchers coming down to teach people, make fair decisions, and do what is right. · The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible
- The Book of GiantsThe Book of Giants connects the Watchers with the birth of giant children called the Nephilim. · The Complete Books of Enoch
- 3 EnochIn 3 Enoch, the Watchers and Holy Ones provide a measure in a comparison of size. · The Complete Books of Enoch
What the texts say, in their own words
“Just as He has given people wisdom, He has also given me the duty to warn the Watchers, the heavenly beings who turned away.”
“Mahalalel married Dinah, the daughter of Barakiel, who was his father’s brother’s daughter, and she gave birth to a son in the 3rd week in the 6th year, (461 A.M.) and he called his name Jared, because during his time the Lord’s angels came down to earth, those who are called the Watchers, to teach people, and to make fair decisions and do what is right on the earth.”
“These heavenly beings, called the Watchers, formed forbidden relationships with human women, which led to the birth of giant hybrid children known as the Nephilim.”
Questions
Who are the Watchers?
The Watchers are heavenly beings in 1 Enoch and The Book of Giants, and the Lord's angels in Jubilees.
Why does Enoch warn the Watchers?
In 1 Enoch, Enoch receives a duty to warn the Watchers because they are heavenly beings who turned away. He also rebukes the fallen Watchers for their sins, and the text announces judgment against them.
What do the Watchers teach in Jubilees?
Jubilees describes teachings of the Watchers used to watch for signs from the sun, moon, and stars. It also says they come down to teach people, make fair decisions, and do what is right on earth.
Where is the Watchers mentioned in the lost texts?
The Watchers appears in 1 Enoch, The Book of Giants and 3 Enoch, in The Complete Books of Enoch; Jubilees, in The Complete 88-Book Ethiopian Bible.
