Giants In The Bible

Were there actual giants during Biblical times? Did really tall and large people live back then? The answer is simple. Yes and no. The following isn’t so much of an article or message, but rather the barebones of the issue. I think you’ll find it fascinating.

“And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” (1 Samuel 17:4)

So, exactly how tall was Goliath? A cubit used the forearm as the unit of measure. A Hebrew cubit could be subdivided into 6 palms. The standard Hebrew cubit expressed in modern-day English is 18 inches.

A span is half a cubit.

Goliath was six cubits and a span which equals 117 inches or 9 feet and 9 inches (9’9”) tall. To put it in modern day terms, if Goliath was standing flat-footed under an NBA basketball goal, there would only be a 3-inch space between the top of his head and the goal.

The first mention of giants in the Bible is Genesis 6:4

“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” (Genesis 6:4)

The word “Giants” is transliterated from the root word “Naphal” which means, “to fall, to be cast down”. The word, “Giants” used here isn’t a reference to height or stature. This is a description of the apostates, the fallen sons of God. These fallen sons of God were known as the Nephilim.

The second and final time Giants is used for Naphal is in Numbers.

“And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:33).

Again, giants are the fallen sons of God. But the Bible points out that they were also the sons of Anak. Anak was, in fact, a giant, a person of unusually large stature. Anak literally means “length of neck”. The Anakims were a Canaanite tribe of giants.

All the other Old Testament references of “Giants” is transliterated from the word, “raphe” which means hero or champion. The tribe was called, “Rephaim” and originated in the land of Canaan. Rephaim were true giants, large in stature.

Besides the Book of Numbers, you can find references to the Rephaim in Deuteronomy 2:11, 2:20, 3:11, 3:13. Joshua 12:4, 13:12, 15:8, 17:15, and 18:16.

The word “Giant” (singular) is used in Job 16:14, but this is a reference to strength and might, not height.

Final Thought: If you believe the Bible then you have to believe in Goliath. The Bible gives us a very precise and clear measurement of exactly how tall he was. This wasn’t some metaphoric description like in Numbers 13:33 (“we were in our own sight as grasshoppers”). No, the Bible lets us know that Goliath measured 9 feet and 9 inches. So I guess the only questions that need to be answered is, do you think 9’9’’ qualifies as a giant?

Bill Hitchcock