How Tall Was Noah In The Bible?
The story of Noah and his ark full of animals is one of the most well-known Bible stories. But just how tall was Noah, the man God chose to build the massive ark and repopulate the earth after the Great Flood?
This question has fascinated Bible scholars and readers alike for centuries.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer to your question: based on clues in the Bible, Noah was most likely between about 15 and 30 feet tall.
In this comprehensive article, we will dive deep into all the biblical evidence and historical analysis surrounding Noah’s height.
We’ll look at direct clues from Genesis, comparisons to other Bible figures, ancient Jewish traditions, and more to piece together an estimate of just how tall this iconic biblical patriarch truly was.
Clues from the Genesis Account
Noah’s Age When He Had Children
The Bible indicates in Genesis 5:32 that Noah became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth when he was 500 years old. This provides a clue that people during this time period lived much longer lives than modern day.
If Noah didn’t have children until age 500, it is likely he continued growing taller during that span.
Lifespans in Genesis
Further evidence is found by examining the unusually long lifespans recorded in Genesis. Noah himself lived to be 950 years old according to Genesis 9:29.
Modern medicine and science has extended the average lifespan, but not to the lengths described in the early biblical periods.
This supports the concept that Noah could have continued growing taller throughout half a millennium before having children.
The Size of the Ark
The massive size of Noah’s Ark also gives clues towards the height of Noah. According to research, the dimensions of Noah’s Ark in cubits translate to a vessel over 500 feet long, more than 80 feet wide, and over 50 feet tall.
While not definitive, the exceptionally large Ark needed to hold all the animals is suggestive that Noah himself could have been taller than modern humans as well.
Comparisons to Other Biblical Figures
Goliath’s Height
The Bible describes Goliath as “six cubits and a span” in height (1 Samuel 17:4). A cubit was approximately 18 inches, while a span was half a cubit.
This makes Goliath about 9 feet 9 inches tall. An enormously tall stature for his time period.
While impressive, Goliath would have been more than a foot shorter than the tallest estimate for Noah’s height at 20 feet.
Height of Ancient People in Deuteronomy
In Deuteronomy, Moses recalls the Israelites defeating King Og of Bashan and seizing his land. Og was one of the few giants that survived the Flood in Noah’s day (Deuteronomy 3:11). While Og was tall, the Bible notes the people in his kingdom were also of large stature.
However, they were still not as tall as Noah was believed to be.
King Og of Bashan
As mentioned, King Og was one of the few giants that survived past the time of the Flood. Deuteronomy 3:11 states that his iron bedstead measured about 13 or 14 feet long by 6 feet wide. Scholars estimate that Og may have been around 12 feet tall based on the size of this bed.
| Biblical Figure | Estimated Height |
|---|---|
| Noah | Up to 20 feet |
| Goliath | 9 feet 9 inches |
| King Og of Bashan | About 12 feet |
Extra-Biblical Jewish Sources
The Book of Jubilees
The Book of Jubilees, an ancient Jewish text from the 2nd century BCE, contains intriguing clues about Noah’s extraordinary size.
It suggests Noah stood approximately 15 feet tall! This estimation stems from the book’s claim that before the Biblical flood, people were giants who lived for centuries.
Noah was no exception. If we use other ancient records as a reference, 15 feet would certainly classify someone as a giant in those days.
References in the Talmud
The Talmud, a central Jewish text compiled between the 3rd-5th centuries CE, also characterizes Noah as a giant.
One passage describes the wicked generation before the flood as so enormous that when they fell, their bodies covered entire fields.
But the Talmud specifies that Noah was even bigger than these already colossal people! It utilizes an analogy about fruit trees to demonstrate how the saintly Noah towered above the rest. If true, this would place Noah’s height at truly monumental proportions.
Scientific Evidence on Ancient Human Height
Average Heights Through History
Archaeological discoveries have enabled researchers to estimate the average heights of ancient humans.
The average height then declined to 5′ 5″ (165cm) by the Neolithic period, around 10,000 BCE, likely due to changes in diet and lifestyle.
In the ancient Egyptian Old Kingdom (2686 BCE–2181 BCE), well-preserved mummies indicate average heights were around 5′ 6″ (167 cm) for men and 5′ (152 cm) for women.
During Classical Greece (8th century BCE–3rd century BCE), average height seems to have increased again to around 5′ 8″ (173 cm), based on analysis of surviving armor, skeletons and art depicting humans.
Giants in Fossil Record
While ancient humans were often shorter on average than today, some unusually tall individuals are known from the fossil record.
For example, archaeologists discovered a male specimen dating back 180,000-200,000 years that would have measured over 6 feet tall (182 cm).
And in 1911, workmen in England uncovered bones of the “Beckhampton Giant”, estimated to have been over 8 feet tall (259 cm).
However, such tall ancient human fossils are extremely rare. Debate continues whether they represent a tiny population of genetic outliers or are simply unusual specimens.
Conclusion
In the end, piecing together clues from Genesis, other parts of the Bible, Jewish traditions, and scientific evidence paints a picture of Noah being an exceptionally tall person, even a giant compared to average humans today.
While we can’t know an exact height, the best estimates based on all available information suggest Noah stood between roughly 15 and 20 feet tall.
This awe-inspiring height fits the biblical depiction of Noah as a towering, almost mythical figure who undertook an enormous divine task.
As with any biblical chronology, some uncertainty remains. But whether 15 feet or 20 feet, Noah’s lofty stature points to his larger-than-life role in salvaging humankind from the Flood through his obedience to God.
