How tall was Goliath?

What the Bible says

The story of David and Goliath is in 1 Samuel 17. Israel holds one hill above the Valley of Elah, the Philistines the other. Then a champion walks out of the Philistine ranks.

A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span went out.

A cubit is the length of a forearm, about 46 centimeters or 18 inches. A span is the width of a spread hand, about half a cubit. So six cubits and a span is roughly 2.9 meters, or 9 feet 9 inches. That is taller than anyone in modern medical records.

The shorter Goliath

Here is the twist most people never hear. The traditional Hebrew text is not the only ancient witness. The Septuagint, the Greek translation made before the time of Jesus, gives Goliath’s height as four cubits and a span. So does one of the Dead Sea Scrolls of Samuel, found at Qumran, and so does the Jewish historian Josephus in the first century. Four cubits and a span is about 2 meters, or 6 feet 9 inches.

Many scholars think the shorter figure is the older reading. Even so, a man of 6 feet 9 in heavy bronze armor would have towered over almost every soldier on that field. Either reading makes him a giant.

His armor tells you his size

The text describes Goliath from helmet to shins, all in bronze. His coat of mail weighed five thousand shekels, roughly 57 kilograms or 125 pounds. His spear shaft was “like a weaver’s beam,” and its iron head alone weighed six hundred shekels, about 7 kilograms or 15 pounds (1 Samuel 17:5–7). A shield-bearer walked ahead of him.

How David brought him down

For forty days Goliath dares Israel to send one man to fight him, and Saul’s whole army stands frozen. Then a shepherd boy arrives with bread and cheese for his brothers. David refuses Saul’s armor, picks five smooth stones from the brook and walks out with his sling.

You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

One stone strikes Goliath in the forehead and sinks in. He falls on his face, and David finishes him with the giant’s own sword. Ever since, “David and Goliath” has meant any fight where the small side takes on the giant, and wins.