Goliath is one of the most iconic figures in Scripture, not because of his strength, but because of his downfall. He stood against God’s people, defied the armies of the living God, and fell by the hand of a shepherd who trusted not in sword or spear, but in the name of the LORD.
The First Mention and His Physical Description
Goliath first appears in 1 Samuel 17:4, standing as the champion of the Philistines. He is introduced as “Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” A cubit is roughly 18 inches and a span is about 9 inches, placing his height at approximately 9 feet 9 inches.
“And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.” (1 Samuel 17:4)
His armor and weapons are then described in detail. His bronze coat of mail weighed “five thousand shekels” (about 125 pounds), and his spear’s iron head weighed “six hundred shekels” (about 15 pounds). His spear was described “like a weaver’s beam,” indicating both size and craftsmanship (1 Samuel 17:5–7).
Goliath’s Lineage and Origins
Goliath is from Gath, a city known to be inhabited by giants. Joshua 11:22 states,
“None of the Anakim were left in the land of the children of Israel; they remained only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod.” (Joshua 11:22)
The Anakim were a people of great stature, descendants of the giants known before the conquest. Deuteronomy 2:10–11 links the Anakim to the Rephaim, another giant people. Though the Bible never directly says Goliath was a Nephilim, his presence in Gath (a city where the Anakim remained) strongly suggests he descended from one of the giant clans.
Numbers 13:33 says of the Anakim,
“There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”
Did Goliath Have Brothers?
Scripture gives further details in 2 Samuel 21:18–22 and 1 Chronicles 20:4–8. These passages list four other giants from Gath who were slain by David’s men. 2 Samuel 21:22 says,
“These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”
One of these men had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, which further marks the unusual nature of this giant bloodline (2 Samuel 21:20). While Scripture does not give names or exact relationships, it plainly states they were born to the giant in Gath, implying they were likely Goliath’s brothers or close kin.
Goliath’s Defiance and Death
For forty days, Goliath taunted the armies of Israel morning and evening, challenging a man to fight him (1 Samuel 17:16). His words were not only against Israel, but against the LORD Himself. 1 Samuel 17:10 records his blasphemy,
“I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”
When David heard Goliath’s taunts, he asked,
“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26)
David refused Saul’s armor, choosing instead five smooth stones and his sling. He declared before the battle,
“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45)
With one stone, David struck Goliath in the forehead. The stone sank into his head, and he fell face down. David then ran, took Goliath’s sword, and cut off his head:
“So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone… but there was no sword in the hand of David.” (1 Samuel 17:50)
My Final Thoughts
Goliath was not just a large man; he was part of a line of giants that had long resisted God’s people. His defiance was ultimately not against Israel, but against the LORD. His downfall, by a young shepherd with a sling, proved again that the battle belongs to the LORD. It was not the strength of man, but the power of God, that brought victory. Even though Goliath was nine feet tall and descended from the Anakim, the real story is that God delivers His people by faith, not force. Let us remember: the giants may be tall, but they are not taller than the living God.
