Who is the tallest man in the Bible?

Answered by Robert Dupre

In the Bible, there are a few references to individuals who were known for their height. While there is no specific mention of the “tallest man” in the Bible, there is a figure who is often associated with being exceptionally tall – Goliath. Goliath is famously known for his encounter with the young shepherd David in the story of David and Goliath.

The story of David and Goliath is found in the First Book of Samuel, chapter 17. Goliath is described as a champion of the Philistines, a formidable warrior who stood about nine feet tall. He was equipped with heavy armor and had a spear that weighed around fifteen pounds. Goliath challenged the Israelites to send out a champion to fight him in single combat, but none of the Israelite soldiers were willing to face him.

Enter David, a young shepherd who was chosen by God to become the future king of Israel. David, armed with only a sling and some stones, volunteered to take on the giant. With God’s help, David triumphed over Goliath, striking him in the forehead with a stone from his sling and killing him.

While Goliath’s height is not explicitly stated in the Bible, the description of his armor and his reputation as a giant suggest that he was exceptionally tall. His imposing stature and the dramatic nature of his defeat by David have made him one of the most well-known figures in biblical accounts of giants.

It is worth noting that there are other passages in the Bible that mention individuals who were known for their height, though not as prominently as Goliath. For example, in the Book of Numbers, there is a reference to the Amorite king Og, whose bed was made of iron and measured around thirteen and a half feet long. This implies that Og himself must have been quite tall, though his exact height is not specified.

While the Bible does not explicitly mention the “tallest man,” Goliath is often associated with being exceptionally tall based on the description of his armor and the impact of his defeat by David. Other figures such as the Amorite king Og are also mentioned in relation to their impressive physical stature.