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How tall was Goliath? Biblical character was considered 'most famous giant' and 'champion of Philistine'

2023-10-30 21:24
Goliath is the titular main antagonist in the classic biblical tale of David and Goliath
How tall was Goliath? Biblical character was considered 'most famous giant' and 'champion of Philistine'

Real NameGoliath
AliasChampion of Philistines, the Gittite
Height Ranged between 6 ft 9 in to 9 ft 9 in (approx)
Armor Weight57 kg (125 lbs)
StrengthsSuperhuman strength, superhuman size, intimidation, combat proficiency
WeaknessesEyesight
OccupationPhilistine warrior
CrimesMass murder, assault, attempted child murder, death threats

In the classic biblical tale of David and Goliath, the titular main antagonist, Goliath, is described as a towering figure, with his height ranging from 6 feet 9 inches (2.05 m or 205 cm) to 9 feet 9 inches (2.97 m or 297 cm), as detailed on gotquestions.org.

While the scriptures do not specify Goliath's weight, it is noted that his armor weighed 57 kg (125 lbs) in 1 Samuel 17:5, as reported by Christianity.com.

Goliath is famously portrayed as the champion of the Philistines, who were the traditional adversaries of the Jewish people during that era.

He makes his appearance in the Book of Samuel.

The exact measurements of Goliath's size may vary depending on different translations of the text, with some modern interpretations depicting him as even more colossal than the traditional accounts.

Goliath's height has intrigued modern researchers due to varying accounts in ancient scriptures. According to most Bible translations in 1 Samuel 17:4, Goliath is described as a giant, measuring over 9 feet (2.74 m or 274 cm).

The Masoretic Text, a Hebrew source widely accepted by the Jewish community, states that Goliath's height was six cubits and one span.

Considering a cubit to be approximately 18 inches and a span as 6 inches, this calculates to a height of around 9 feet 6 inches (2.89 meters or 289 centimeters), according to the National Catholic Register.

However, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, known as the Septuagint, records Goliath's height as four cubits and one span, equivalent to about 6 feet 6 inches.

While this measurement is shorter, it still places Goliath significantly above the average height of men in his time, which was around 5 feet ½ inches (1.5 meters or 153 centimeters), as per gotquestions.org.

The NET Bible takes a more conservative estimate, suggesting that Goliath was close to 7 feet (2.1 m or 213 cm) tall.

In the modern era, Goliath's height has become a subject of fascination.

On the YouTube post 'How tall was Goliath' by thelegendsofhistory, social media users have made several comments.

A user wrote, "It's also likely that men were on average 5'5"/5'6" tall, and Goliath could have been taller without being as rare as an NBA player."

"Any man over 6 prior to the 20th century might have been referred to as a giant. Goliath probably was simply a tall man. The Wall thing sounds like someone is seeking attention," the user concluded.

Another user wrote, "Most famous giant in the Bible. Not most notorious, and Tiny compared to the pre-flood giants."

Goliath vs David: Who was taller?

David played a pivotal role as the secondary protagonist in the narrative of 'David and Goliath'. After defeating Goliath, he ascended to become the second king of Israel.

While the Bible doesn't provide a specific measurement of his height, his description offers some insight into his stature during that era.

The Bible doesn't specify David's exact height. Goliath, as per 1 Samuel 17:4, was 'six cubits and a span' tall, about 9 feet 9 inches.

David, described as a young shepherd, likely had an average height for his time, around 5 feet ½ inches as per gotquestions.org, making him several feet shorter than Goliath.

This is supported by Saul's recognition of David's youth in 1 Samuel 17:58, "Whose son are you, young man?"

It's improbable David was significantly taller than the average young man of his era, approximately 5 feet (1.5 m or 152 cm), as indicated in 1 Samuel 17:33, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth".

David, a figure from the Bible, was a young shepherd who defeated the giant warrior Goliath in a well-known story from the Old Testament.

He later became the second king of Israel and is celebrated for his bravery and as the author of many of the Psalms in the Bible.

David is a significant biblical figure and a symbol of faith and courage.

The biblical tale of David and Goliath, as recorded in 1 Samuel 17, is a widely recognized narrative.

Goliath, an imposing warrior from the Philistine army, issued a challenge for one-on-one combat against the Israelites. David, a young shepherd destined to become Israel's king, fearlessly embraced the challenge armed with a simple sling and stones.

With remarkable valor and unshakeable faith, David triumphed over Goliath by accurately striking him in the forehead with a stone, securing his victory.

This courageous deed marked a pivotal milestone in David's journey toward becoming the second king of Israel.

Was Goliath shorter than Og?

Og, the Amorite king of Bashan in the time of Moses, stood as a formidable figure who opposed the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land.

As documented in Deuteronomy 3:3–7, Og's dominion extended over sixty well-fortified cities, all of which the Israelites successfully conquered.

Notably, Og's colossal size is evident in his iron bed, measuring an impressive nine cubits in length and four cubits in width, equivalent to 13.5 feet by 6 feet.

This detail highlights Og's extraordinary stature, likely placing him between 10 feet (3.04 m or 304 cm) and 11 feet (3.3 m or 335 cm) tall, as suggested by gotquestions.org, making him notably taller than Goliath.

Og is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament known for his enormous size and strength. Og's story serves as a historical and mythological reference in Judeo-Christian traditions.

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