The Bible contains stories about many powerful and mighty men. When considering raw physical strength, a few names stand out as the strongest person in the Bible. Factors like supernatural empowerment, heroic acts of strength, and descriptions emphasizing might and power help identify the biblical character who could be considered the strongest. Reviewing key contenders for the title and their feats of strength can provide insight into this question.
Samson
Samson is one of the first people who come to mind when thinking of biblical heroes with incredible strength. He is the central character in the Book of Judges chapters 13-16. Samson was granted supernatural strength by God, which allowed him to perform superhuman feats.
Some key examples of Samson’s heroic strength include:
- Killing a lion with his bare hands: “Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him. He tore the lion’s jaws apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat.” (Judges 14:6)
- Single-handedly killing 30 Philistine men: “Samson said, ‘With the jawbone of a donkey, I’ve piled them in heaps! With the jawbone of a donkey, I’ve killed a thousand men!’” (Judges 15:16)
- Breaking free from new ropes after being bound by the Philistines: “But Samson snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and the cords dropped from his wrists.” (Judges 15:14)
- Ripping out the gates of Gaza, carrying them for miles uphill: “At midnight Samson woke up. He took hold of the doors of the town gate and also the two posts, and pulled them loose, bar and all. He put them on his shoulders and carried them all the way to the top of the hill across from Hebron.” (Judges 16:3)
These examples depict Samson as having almost superhuman strength empowered by God. He accomplishes heroic feats such as slaying a lion, single-handedly decimating an army, and ripping out city gates seemingly with ease. Samson’s unmatched strength plays a key role in delivering the Israelites from Philistine oppression.
Goliath
The giant Goliath is another candidate for the strongest person in the Bible. He is known for his legendary confrontation with the young David described in 1 Samuel 17. Described as “six cubits and a span” or roughly 9 feet 9 inches tall (1 Samuel 17:4), Goliath was a massive warrior.
Some key examples emphasizing Goliath’s great strength include:
- His armor – Goliath wore a bronze helmet, coat of scale armor weighing 125 pounds, bronze leg armor, and a bronze javelin slung between his shoulders (1 Samuel 17:4-7). Managing such heavy armor displays great strength.
- His weaponry – Goliath’s spear had an iron point weighing 15 pounds. He was described as barely able to carry his shield due to its massive size and weight (1 Samuel 17:7).
- His courage – Goliath challenged the Israelite army to single combat every day for 40 days, such was his confidence in his tremendous size and strength (1 Samuel 17:16).
As a “champion” warrior of the Philistines, Goliath’s strength inspired fear and awe. His massive physical size was only enhanced by heavy armor and weapons that only he could wield. Goliath presents a towering image of human strength and power.
Other Contenders
A few other biblical figures are worth mentioning when considering exceptional strength:
Joshua
Though less famous for strength, Joshua did notably lead the Israelite army to victory over Canaan after Moses’ death. The Book of Joshua describes him as a capable warrior and leader, implying great strength.
David’s Mighty Men
David had loyal warriors named “the Thirty” and his elite guard “the Three.” These men performed heroic feats in battle, including:
- Killing 800 men in a single battle (2 Samuel 23:8)
- Defending a plot of lentils from the Philistines single-handedly and striking down the enemy (2 Samuel 23:11-12)
- Fighting so fiercely his hand froze to his sword (2 Samuel 23:10)
This group includes some of the mightiest men among David’s warriors.
| Name | Feat of Strength |
|---|---|
| Adino the Eznite | Killed 800 enemies at one time |
| Eleazar son of Dodai | Stood his ground against the Philistines and struck them down until his hand froze to his sword |
| Shammah son of Agee | Fought the Philistines alone and defended a plot of lentils |
Angels
Angels, as spiritual beings, have great strength. The angel Gabriel is described as “very strong” (Daniel 8:18) and the angel Michael as “one of the chief princes” (Daniel 10:13). They are not human, but as powerful celestial beings could be considered strongest of all.
Analysis
When comparing the strengths of biblical figures, a few factors help determine the most powerful:
- Supernatural empowerment – Samson’s God-given strength enhances his abilities beyond ordinary humans.
- Exceptional courage – Goliath’s confidence against whole armies shows his might.
- Heroic acts – David’s mighty men perform heroic feats in battle through great strength.
- Descriptions of power – Joshua is described as a capable warrior and leader of armies.
Of all the contenders, Samson consistently performs the most superhuman, impossible feats over the course of his stories. The ongoing theme of his supernatural strength elevates him above even the mighty giant Goliath. Samson’s God-empowered strength allowed him to dispatch entire armies single-handedly, rip out city gates barehanded, and kill lions with his bare hands. While many biblical figures show heroic strength, none compare to Samson whose mighty acts are only possible through divine intervention.
Conclusion
In the Bible, Samson emerges as the clear winner for the title of the strongest person. Empowered by God with supernatural strength from birth, Samson performs acts of power and strength far beyond normal men. He dismantles the Philistine forces oppressing the Israelites almost single-handedly through raw power. Other biblical figures like Goliath, Joshua, and David’s mighty men display exceptional courage and battle skills. But none quite compare to Samson and his God-given, superhuman strength which allowed him to accomplish impossible feats that stand out even among biblical heroes. The story of Samson highlights God’s power to elevate the strength of man to extraordinary levels to achieve divine will. His unmatched displays of power justly earn Samson the title as the strongest person described in the Bible.