1 Samuel 17:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

NIV: A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.

NASB: Then a champion came forward from the army encampment of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath. His height was six cubits and a span.

CSB: Then a champion named Goliath, from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was nine feet, nine inches tall

NLT: Then Goliath, a Philistine champion from Gath, came out of the Philistine ranks to face the forces of Israel. He was over nine feet tall!

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

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

The armies of the Philistines and the Israelites formed battle lines, at a distance overlooking a valley. As they face off against each other, a warrior steps out from the Philistine battle line into the "no man's land" between the two armies. He is huge.

The word "champion" is translated from a Hebrew phrase literally meaning "a man in between." This referred to the great warriors who would advance alone into combat, engaging champions of the other army, or rallying others to fight through their bravery. This Goliath was no common soldier; he was one of their mightiest. Goliath came from Gath, one of the five main cities of the Philistines (Joshua 13:3).

The text reports that he was six-cubits-and-a-span tall. Some ancient texts have four cubits instead of six, but scholars suggest those may have been changed from the original. A cubit was generally the length from the elbow to the tip of the longest finger, and a span was about the width from the thumb to the pinky when the hand was spread all the way out. That makes a cubit about eighteen inches and a span about nine inches. This makes Goliath around nine feet, nine inches tall, or approximately three meters in height.

One of Israel's first objectives when they came into the Promised Land was to fight the Anakim, a race of extremely tall and powerful people. At first the Israelites were terrified to face the Anakim (Numbers 13:28, 33; Deuteronomy 1:28). Later, under Joshua, Israel defeated them and drove them mostly out of Canaan (Joshua 11:22). However, some of the giant-like people known as the Anakim survived around the edges of the Promised Land, including in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. Goliath was from Gath, and it reasonable to think that he was a descendant of the Anakim "giants."

Outside of the biblical record, Egyptian letters from the thirteenth century BC describe Canaanite warriors who were seven to nine feet tall. There's no reason to discount the Bible's claim that Goliath was gigantically proportioned. Some commentators speculate that Goliath was "only" tall. Most people of extreme height today suffer from various joint, muscle, and heart conditions due to their size. One theory is that Goliath was used as an intimidating spectacle, but that he was not really much of a fighter. While this wouldn't change David's bravery—he wouldn't have known this—or the point of the passage, the general description here suggests that Goliath was indeed physically fit.

Scholars are uncertain as to the meaning of the name "Goliath." It could come from a word meaning "uncover, remove, or exile." This would certainly fit the champion's intended plan and his eventual end. Some commentators suggest that the name "Goliath" was a title, rather than a personal name, somewhat like "Pharaoh" (Genesis 12:15; 40:2; Exodus 1:8, 22). Related suggestions have been made about the name "Abimlelech" (Genesis 20:3; 21:22; 26:1).

David, delivering food to his brothers at the Israelite army camp, hears the Philistine Goliath's defiant challenge. Single man combat could decide the battle, but no Israelite wanted to face the massive warrior. David is appalled that a Philistine would defy the armies of the living God. He volunteers to fight, and King Saul agrees. Before the battle, David declares that the Lord will give victory and thereby show the world that there is a God in Israel. David quickly kills and beheads Goliath. The Israelites chase the Philistines back to their own territory and plunder their camp. David brings Goliath's head to Saul.

Saul was made king of Israel (1 Samuel 9—10) and had many early successes (1 Samuel 11—14). However, his disobedience resulted in God's plan for a different king (1 Samuel 15). The prophet Samuel anointed David as this future monarch (1 Samuel 16:11–13). David has been serving as a musician for Saul (1 Samuel 16:18–21) and comes visit his brothers during a standoff between Israelite and Philistine forces. This leads to the famous story of David and Goliath. David's victory publicly triggers his rise to power, paralleled by Saul's collapse. In the end, Saul will die in disgrace (1 Samuel 31:4–7) and David will be appointed the new king of Israel (1 Samuel 2:45:1–3).