Goliath was a giant Philistine warrior who was known for his great height and strength. His height has been a topic of interest and debate for centuries among scholars, historians and theologians. Though the exact dimensions of Goliath are unclear, most estimations put him between 9-10 feet tall based on textual clues in the Bible. In this article, we will examine the key biblical passages about Goliath, explore varying interpretations of his height over time, and analyze what his stature would equate to in modern measurements. Determining Goliath’s height provides insight into the mythical nature of his story and the metaphorical meaning his giant status held. Though we cannot pinpoint an exact number, exploring the range of possibilities grants a fuller picture of this legendary biblical figure.
Old Testament Descriptions
The story of Goliath appears in 1 Samuel 17 in the Old Testament. This chapter provides the key details about Goliath that allow for estimations of his height. Four main descriptions within the text point to his massive stature:
1. Six cubits and a span
The most direct notation of Goliath’s height describes him as “six cubits and a span” tall (1 Samuel 17:4). A cubit was an ancient unit of measurement based on the length of a man’s arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger, estimated to be 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 stretched out, roughly 9 inches. Given these conversions, six cubits and a span would equate to:
– 6 cubits x 18 inches = 108 inches
– 1 span of 9 inches
That totals 117 inches, or 9 feet 9 inches when converted into feet. This is the most literal interpretation of the dimensional facts provided in the Old Testament.
2. Weights of armor
Details about the enormous weights of Goliath’s armor also suggest his massive stature (1 Samuel 17:5-7). His coat of armor weighed 5000 shekels of bronze, and just the iron point of his spear weighed 600 shekels. Based on reasonable conversions of ancient shekel weights, scholars have estimated the full armor system would have been 125-150 pounds. Supporting such tremendous weights implies Goliath was a giant of great size.
3. Reactions of fear
The reaction of sheer terror from Saul and the Israelite army also testifies to Goliath’s impressively threatening presence (1 Samuel 17:11). While his physical height is not directly commented on, the fact that a single warrior’s appearance could strike such fear indicates an extraordinary deviation from a typical soldier’s build.
4. Comparison to an ordinary weaver’s beam
In a simile describing Goliath’s spear, its shaft is compared to a weaver’s beam – a large wooden beam used to hold up massive, heavy looms for weaving cloth (1 Samuel 17:7). This analogy suggests both the thickness of his spear and the giant scale of his weaponry overall, implying he was capable of wielding oversized arms of an unbelievable magnitude compared to common men.
Height Estimates Throughout History
Interpretations of the biblical evidence have led to a range of height approximations over many centuries. Here are some notable estimations from key eras and theologians:
Dead Sea Scrolls – 4 cubits
One textual variation arises in the Dead Sea Scrolls, where Goliath’s height is listed as four cubits and a span (roughly 6 feet 9 inches). The seemingly shortened height led some to believe the original listing of six cubits was an exaggeration. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls version is now considered an isolated aberration.
Josephus – 4 cubits
1st century Jewish historian Josephus also used the four-cubit measurement, possibly influenced by the variant Dead Sea text. His history on the Jews includes a passage describing Goliath as “a man of vast bulk, for he was of four cubits and a span in tallness” (Antiquities of the Jews 6.171).
Literalists – 6 feet 9 inches
Taking the dimensional specs in Samuel absolutely literally, some modern scholars argue for 6 feet 9 inches as the true height of Goliath. This stance claims the given measurements should not be exaggerated since the original writer intended them as factual reportings.
Exaggerationists – Over 9 feet
However, many literalists assert the numbers were consciously inflated to intensify the mythical giant qualities of Goliath. Six cubits and a span would have been an extraordinarily abnormal height in ancient times, suggesting intentional hyperbolic enhancement of his stature.
Middle ground – 8-9 feet
A middle ground approach between literalists and exaggerationists estimates Goliath stood between 8-9 feet tall. This fits with numbers provided in Samuel when reasonably accounting for imprecise conversions of cubits and spans, yet still capturing Goliath’s unnatural giantism in a mythical narrative.
Robert Wadlow – 9 feet 3 inches
In the modern era, the heights of humans with gigantism have provided some perspective. Robert Wadlow, known as the tallest man ever, reached 8 feet 11 inches by age 22 and died at age 22 standing nearly 9 feet 3 inches. Using Wadlow as a benchmark lends plausibility to interpretations of Goliath in the 8-9 foot range.
Goliath’s Height in Modern Metrics
To visualize just how tall Goliath would be from the various estimations, translating his height into modern metrics provides a more tangible picture. Here is how tall Goliath would stand next to an average modern man:
| Height Estimate | In feet/inches | In meters |
|---|---|---|
| Literalist | 6 ft 9 in | 2.06 m |
| Exaggerationist | Over 9 ft | Over 2.74 m |
| Middle ground | 8-9 ft | 2.44-2.74 m |
| For comparison: | Average modern man | 5 ft 9 in / 1.75 m |
This table illustrates the stark contrast between Goliath and an ordinary man if he truly stood between 8-9 feet tall. At those colossal heights, he would tower intimidatingly over most challengers. Even on the low end estimate of 6 feet 9 inches, he still would have presented an imposing giant given the smaller stature of ancient warring populations.
Goliath’s Height Relative to Ancient Philistines
Further context around Goliath’s stature can be found by looking at average heights in his cultural setting. Though limited archeological data exists, historians have pieced together reasonable height ranges based on remains:
| Population | Average Male Height |
|---|---|
| Ancient Israelites | 5 ft 5 in – 5 ft 7 in (1.65 m – 1.70 m) |
| Ancient Egyptians | 5 ft 2 in – 5 ft 5 in (1.57 m – 1.65 m) |
| Ancient Philistines | 5 ft 6 in – 5 ft 9 in (1.68 m – 1.75 m) |
Compared to typical Philistine warriors, Goliath would have towered anywhere from 1-2 feet to over 3 feet taller, depending on the height estimation. Against ancient Israelites, his advantage may have exceeded 2-4 feet in height disparity. These kinds of stunning differences support why Goliath would have seemed a giant in his era, able to inspire fear even before any battle.
Giantism in Ancient Times
Goliath’s extraordinary height also raises questions about how someone could reach such proportions in ancient times. Biological giantism is an extremely rare condition, though a variety of disorders can contribute:
Gigantism/Acromegaly
– Caused by overproduction of growth hormone, usually from pituitary gland tumor
– Can lead to dramatic growth into adulthood rather than stopping at puberty
– Characterized by enlarged bones and body parts, pronounced features
Marfan Syndrome
– Connective tissue disorder involving gene mutation affecting skeletal system
– Can enable overgrowth and elongation of limbs, fingers, toes
– Health issues with eyes, heart, joints also common
Somatic Mosaicism
– Genetic mutation occurring after conception, affecting only some cells
– May activate or deactivate growth-related genes
– Could allow localized gigantism in areas like arms, legs, hands or feet
Any of these conditions could theoretically have manifested in biblical times and produced Goliath’s legendary stature. Of course, supernatural or divine explanations also surface in theological contexts. Goliath’s status as a heroic warrior favored by gods could involve the notion of divine empowerment or intervention enabling his superhuman size.
Metaphorical and Symbolic Meaning
Beyond the anatomical aspects of Goliath’s height, his giantism carries metaphorical weight in the biblical narrative. As a warrior of towering physical proportions, his size mirrors and magnifies his arrogant hubris in defying the Israelite army and challenging its mightiest fighters. The image of Goliath calling out the Israelites while “forty days, morning and evening” (1 Samuel 17:16) compounds his menacing impact. His literal elevated height visually parallels his inflated ego and ambition.
Conversely, David’s diminutive shepherd status highlights his underdog appeal. The massive mismatch in size between Goliath and David sets up the turning of tables when the giant is felled by the small but courageous youth. The meaning of the tale centers on the idea of mighty giants being humbled by those who have faith and courage on their side, despite outward appearances of weakness.
Giants in culture
More broadly as a mythical archetype, giants represent primal forces of chaos, brutishness and destruction that must be overcome by civilizing heroes. Legends of giants appear widely throughout folklore, fairy tales and epics. Goliath manifesting this archetype connects him to larger themes of monsters, supernatural enemies and primal evils that heroes must defeat. The exhilaration of David toppling the mighty Goliath carries symbolic resonance of underdog triumph over all oppressive giants, both literally and figuratively.
Conclusion
In the end, Goliath’s exact height remains ambiguous. But exploring the textual clues allows reasonable estimates in the area of 8-9 feet tall to capture his likely colossal stature. This would have granted him a towering advantage over ancient foes that compounded the sense of fear and intimidation surrounding him. His giantism took on metaphorical meaning as well, magnifying his swaggering ego and representing primal chaos quelled by David’s small but resolute faith. Goliath’s legacy continues today as an archetype of giants as enemies to inspirational underdog heroes. Though we many never solve the mystery of exactly how many feet or meters Goliath stood, examining his height sheds light on his role as a larger-than-life biblical figure.