How Tall Was Goliath In The Bible?

The giant Philistine warrior Goliath is one of the most iconic figures in the Bible. His massive height struck fear into the Israelite army. But exactly how tall was the towering Goliath? If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer: based on various interpretations, Goliath stood between 6 feet 9 inches and 9 feet 9 inches tall.

In this comprehensive article, we will analyze the key Bible verses about Goliath’s height, examine the original Hebrew text, and explore different scholarly opinions and interpretations regarding his extraordinary stature.

We’ll also look at archaeological and historical evidence of tall people in the ancient world to put Goliath’s size into context.

The Biblical Account of Goliath’s Height

The 1 Samuel 17 account

The most detailed account of Goliath’s height is found in 1 Samuel 17. This chapter provides a narrative of the battle between David and Goliath. According to 1 Samuel 17:4, Goliath was “six cubits and a span” in height.

Ancient Hebrew units of measurement are difficult to convert precisely into modern equivalents, but most scholars believe this would make Goliath somewhere around 9 feet 9 inches tall (2.9 meters). This astonishing height sets up Goliath as a formidable foe that elicits great fear among the Israelite army.

The oldest Hebrew manuscripts

The oldest existing Hebrew manuscripts of 1 Samuel 17 are the Dead Sea Scrolls, which date back to the last few centuries BC and early centuries AD. These manuscripts contain the description of Goliath being “six cubits and a span” in height, supporting the traditional understanding of him being around 9 feet 9 inches tall.

Some scholars propose that later manuscripts increased Goliath’s height from an original “four cubits and a span” to make his stature seem more impressive, but there is no manuscript evidence to support this theory.

Other ancient translations

The Septuagint, a Greek translation of the Old Testament from the 3rd-1st centuries BC, translates Goliath’s height as “four cubits and a span” (around 6 feet 9 inches or 2 meters). Some scholars argue this indicates an earlier, shorter height for Goliath that was later exaggerated.

However, others point out that translations sometimes round numbers up or down, so “six cubits and a span” may have simply been reduced to “four cubits and a span.” The oldest existing Hebrew text should be given priority in understanding the original height described for Goliath in 1 Samuel.

Most ancient and modern translations uphold the detail in the Hebrew manuscripts of Goliath being around 9 feet 9 inches in height. While a small number of scholars propose an original shorter height, the textual evidence overall points to Goliath being unusually tall, maximizing the underdog contrast between him and David.

Literal Interpretations: 9 Feet 9 Inches

The Bible describes Goliath as a giant Philistine warrior who was defeated by the young David in single combat. According to the account in 1 Samuel 17, Goliath stood “six cubits and a span” in height (approximately 9 feet 9 inches or 2.97 meters).

This has led some to interpret Goliath’s stature quite literally based on the measurements provided.

Those who take the biblical text at face value point to several key pieces of evidence:

• The numbers given are precise – six cubits and a span. This level of detail suggests the author intended to convey Goliath’s exact height.
• Goliath’s size is emphasized repeatedly, describing him as a “champion” and a “giant.” His physical stature was meant to intimidate the Israelites.
• Later manuscripts from the Dead Sea Scrolls confirm the Masoretic Text’s measurements, lending support to the literal interpretation.

Based on the Hebrew measurements, literalists argue that Goliath was just under 10 feet tall. This would have been extraordinarily rare, even in ancient times, making him a literal giant compared to the typical Israelite soldier. His tall stature added to the miraculous nature of David’s victory.

Those who take the numbers literally point to medical conditions like gigantism or acromegaly that can lead to abnormal height. Goliath may have suffered from a growth disorder, given his reported size. While rare, some humans throughout history have reached close to 9 feet or more.

Skeptics argue that there is no archaeological evidence that giants of this size existed in the ancient Near East. However, literalists counter that the archaeological record is spotty and predominantly consists of average-sized individuals.

The remains of a person as unusually tall as Goliath may not have survived to the present day.

In short, a literal interpretation of the biblical text concludes that Goliath was an extraordinarily tall man, nearly 10 feet, based on the dimensions provided in the original Hebrew. Though a rare height, literalists claim it is biologically possible for a person to reach that stature, particularly with a growth disorder.

This supports their view that the Bible is recording Goliath’s actual, factual height.

Symbolic Interpretations: 6 Feet 9 Inches

One of the most famous stories in the Bible is the tale of David and Goliath. Goliath, a giant Philistine warrior, is often depicted as an imposing figure. But just how tall was Goliath? While the Bible does not provide us with an exact height, there have been different interpretations and speculations over the years.

The Literal Interpretation

The Bible describes Goliath as a “champion” who stood “six cubits and a span” tall. In ancient times, a cubit was a unit of measurement roughly equivalent to the length of a forearm, and a span was the width of an outstretched hand.

Using this measurement, Goliath would have been approximately 9 feet and 9 inches tall. This interpretation suggests that Goliath was indeed an extraordinary giant.

Symbolic Interpretations

However, some scholars argue that the description of Goliath’s height may have been symbolic rather than literal. They propose that the number six represents imperfection or incompleteness in biblical numerology, while nine symbolizes divine completeness or perfection.

Therefore, Goliath’s height could be seen as a metaphor for the daunting challenges David faced and overcame, rather than a physical measurement.

This symbolic interpretation aligns with the overall theme of the David and Goliath story, emphasizing the power of faith, courage, and the underdog prevailing against all odds. It highlights the idea that it is not physical stature that determines victory, but rather inner strength and determination.

Historical Context

It is worth noting that the Bible is not a historical document in the same way that a modern textbook would be. It is a collection of religious texts, and its stories are often told to convey moral or spiritual lessons.

While the events in the Bible may be based on historical figures and events, the details may have been embellished or altered over time.

Therefore, it is important to approach the story of Goliath with an understanding of its religious and symbolic significance rather than trying to determine an exact measurement for his height.

For further reading on this topic, you can visit Bible Study Tools or Bible Gateway for the biblical account of David and Goliath.

Archaeological Evidence of Giants

The Bible describes giants called Nephilim that lived in the ancient Middle East. While their existence may sound mythical, archaeological discoveries have uncovered evidence that abnormally tall humans did in fact live thousands of years ago.

Here is an overview of some of the fascinating archaeological finds that lend credence to the Biblical accounts of giants.

Giant Skeletons

Many giant skeletons ranging from 7 feet to over 9 feet tall have been unearthed across the Middle East. In 1833, for example, soldiers discovered a jawbone in Lompock Rancho, California that measured an incredible 9.8 inches from the lower jaw to the back molar, nearly 3 times larger than an average human’s.

The skull it came from would have had to be over 12 feet tall! Other skeletons of incredible height have been found in places like Catalonia, France and throughout the Middle East. Seeing how tall these humans were certainly makes the story of 9-foot-tall Goliath seem more plausible.

Giant Tools and Weapons

In addition to giant skeletons, outsized tools and weapons have also been found. In 1856, a spearhead measuring over 28 inches was excavated in Turkey. Considering the average human is far shorter than the spear’s overall length, it was clearly built for a giant.

Massive swords over 4 feet long have also been found throughout Israel, suggesting the existence of warriors of incredible stature. The Bible notes that Goliath carried a huge spear and sword, which aligns with these discoveries.

Giant Architecture

The ancient Middle East contains many examples of massive architecture built on a scale far beyond that of average humans. For example, the cyclopean walls of Baalbek, Lebanon feature stones weighing over 1,000 tons each.

Considering even our largest modern cranes can barely lift 200 tons, it raises questions of how humans with normal strength could have moved these megalithic blocks. Some point to giants as the answer, since they would have the height and strength to move such massive stones.

The archaeological evidence clearly shows that giants did exist in the ancient Middle East. Though some skeptics try to dismiss Biblical accounts of giants as fairy tales, the physical record confirms that these powerful warriors referenced in the Bible were very real.

While we may never know exactly how tall they were, the physical remains of these gigantic humans lend credence to the seemingly larger-than-life narratives recorded in the Bible.

Goliath in Context: A Giant Among Giants

The story of David and Goliath is one of the most well-known in the Bible. When the Philistine giant Goliath challenged the Israelites to send out a champion to face him, young David stepped up with just his sling and took down the fearsome warrior. But how tall was Goliath really?

Just how much of a giant was he?

The Bible specifies Goliath’s height at “six cubits and a span” (1 Samuel 17:4). A cubit was an ancient unit of length approximately equal to the length of a man’s forearm, or around 18 inches. A span was the length from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the little finger when the hand is fully spread, or about 9 inches.

So Goliath stood around 9 feet 9 inches tall (2.9 meters).

That was indeed giant stature, especially in the context of ancient Israel. The average Israelite man in 1000 BC stood around 5 feet 6 inches. So Goliath literally towered over his opponents. He would have seemed like an intimidating monster marching onto the battlefield.

But Goliath wasn’t exceptionally tall compared to other ancient giants mentioned in the Bible. King Og of Bashan was said to sleep in a bed that was 13 feet 6 inches long (Deuteronomy 3:11). That makes Og around 12 feet tall if his height matched the length of his bed.

The tallest man mentioned in the Bible was the Egyptian giant with a height of 6 cubits (around 9 feet).

Outside the Bible, ancient texts describe legendary warriors called the Nephilim who stood over 10 feet tall. The 1st century AD Jewish historian Josephus mentions a Jewish high priest named Jonathan who met with a giant over 10 feet tall.

So while Goliath was abnormally tall, he had rivals for the title of biggest giant.

Goliath’s extraordinary size added to his fame as a mighty warrior. But in the end, it was the small boy David with his faith in God who prevailed over the giant Philistine. David declared, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty” (1 Samuel 17:45).

The story of David and Goliath reminds us that size and strength alone do not determine victory.

Conclusion

So how tall was the formidable Goliath? While there is still scholarly debate, when we analyze the original Hebrew text literally, take into account other ancient translations, and compare to archaeological evidence, the balance of interpretations falls between 6 feet 9 inches and 9 feet 9 inches.

Whatever his exact height, Goliath was clearly a literal giant who struck fear in the hearts of the Israelite army. His defeat by the young David armed only with a sling was an even more staggering demonstration of the power of faith.