The Bible contains several references to giants, suggesting that races of unusually large people lived in the ancient world. While there is archaeological evidence that some ancient peoples were taller than average, the existence of literal giants as described in Scripture is debated among scholars.
Old Testament References to Giants
Here are some of the main passages in the Old Testament that refer to giants:
- Genesis 6:4 – “The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.” (ESV)
- Numbers 13:33 – “And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” (ESV)
- Deuteronomy 2:10-11 – Referring to the Emites, it says “The Emim—a large and numerous people, as tall as the Anakim—had formerly inhabited it. Like the Anakim, they are also regarded as Rephaim, though the Moabites call them Emim.” (ESV)
- Deuteronomy 2:20-21 – Referring to the Zamzummim, it says “It is also regarded as a land of Rephaim. Rephaim formerly inhabited it, but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim, a people as great and numerous and tall as the Anakim.” (ESV)
- Deuteronomy 3:11 – “For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.” (ESV)
These verses describe several groups of people including the Nephilim, Anakim, Emites, Rephaim, and Zamzummim. They are collectively described as physically gigantic in stature, some reaching heights of 9-10 feet or more.
Goliath and Other Philistine Giants
One of the most famous biblical giants is Goliath, the Philistine warrior defeated by David. 1 Samuel 17:4 states that Goliath was “six cubits and a span” in height, which would be around 9 feet 9 inches tall.
There are also references to other giants among the Philistines:
- 2 Samuel 21:16-22 describes warriors named Ishbi-Benob, Saph, and Goliath the Gittite (likely a brother of the Goliath David defeated).
- 1 Chronicles 20:4-8 tells of warriors named Sippai, Lahmi, and a descendant of Rapha.
Theories on the Origin of Giants
There are several theories about the origins of giants in the Bible:
- Nephilim Theory – Many believe giants descended from the mysterious Nephilim, the “sons of God” who married human women in Genesis 6:4. They interpret this as fallen angels or demons interbreeding with humans.
- Canaanite Tribes Theory – Giants may have descended from Canaanite tribes known for their large stature, like the Anakim, Rephaim, and Amorites.
- Genetic Anomaly Theory – Giants could have resulted from genetic anomalies leading to accelerated growth disorders.
- Exaggeration Theory – Some skeptics argue biblical giants were simply exaggerations or mythical tales with symbolic meaning, not literal history.
Archaeological Evidence for Giants
While literal giants of 10 feet or more are difficult to prove, there is evidence suggesting some ancient peoples were unusually tall:
- At the Dmanisi site in Georgia dating to 1.77 million years ago, some Homo erectus fossils reached heights over 6 feet.
- A Neanderthal skeleton from Iraq known as Shanidar 3 measured around 6 feet 6 inches tall.
- Some mummies from ancient Egypt were over 6 feet tall, including Ramesses II who was estimated to be around 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall.
- Skeletons from a 4,000 year old cemetery in Shandong province, China showed heights up to 6 feet 2 inches.
- The tallest warrior armor uncovered from the tomb of King Philip II in Greece dated to the 4th century BC was over 6 feet 6 inches in height.
While rare, some studies have proposed the existence of acromegalic giants reaching heights of 7-8 feet in antiquity based on anomalously large fossil remains. However, mainstream science does not accept literal giants over 8-9 feet as described in the Bible.
Alternative Explanations for Giant Remains
Here are some alternative explanations that skeptics raise for remains suggesting unusually large stature:
- Miscalculation or exaggeration of measurements during excavation and study.
- Mistaking some animal bones for human remains.
- Ancient sarcophagus sizes do not always correlate to occupant height.
- Disease processes like gigantism or acromegaly can enlarge skeletons.
- Artistic license in depictions of ancient kings and deities exaggerated their height.
Therefore, while there is evidence of taller than average humans in antiquity, proof for literal 10-foot giants remains elusive in mainstream archaeology.
Alleged Giant Skeletons Found Throughout History
While not accepted by mainstream science, some researchers have claimed the discovery of massive skeletal remains suggesting biblical giants:
- 1821 – Soldiers digging near Lake Delaware, Ohio reportedly uncovered a jawbone “large enough to fit over a man’s face” and other gigantic bones.
- 1829 – A 12-foot tall skeleton was allegedly uncovered near Mt. Pisgah, Alabama during farm work.
- 1833 – Workmen reportedly discovered enormous bones and a skull the “size of a half bushel” in Lompock Rancho, California.
- 1879 – Prospectors in Idaho discovered remains of a “giant race of people” along the Snake River, with skeletons allegedly 7-10 feet tall.
- 1911 – A skeleton over 8 feet tall was supposedly uncovered by petroleum workers drilling in Jeffersonville, Kentucky.
However, these accounts from the 19th century are difficult to verify and most experts dismiss such claims of massive skeletal remains. Surprisingly, the skeletons themselves often go missing or remain in private collections unavailable for study.
Accounts of Giants in Other Ancient Cultures
Belief in giants is not isolated to the Bible, but shared by many ancient cultures across the world including:
- Norse legends tell of frost giants who lived in Jotunheim.
- Hindu texts describe the Daityas, a race of giants who fought the gods.
- Native Americans have various myths about gigantic tribes like the Si-Te-Cah of Paiute tradition.
- The Greeks wrote about gigantic heroes like the Titans and cyclopes.
- Mesopotamian tales mention kings like Gilgamesh who was believed to be two-thirds god and one-third human.
While mythic in nature, some argue these worldwide legends may have been inspired by encounters with exceptionally tall tribes that left a cultural memory over time.
Potential Explanations for the Biblical Accounts
Here are some potential explanations for the accounts of giants in the Bible:
- Literal Interpretation – Some argue for a literal acceptance of giants based on a plain reading of the biblical text, believing the Nephilim were actual hybrids of angels/humans or supernatural beings that produced gigantic offspring.
- Exaggeration Theory – Stories of giants may have arisen from exaggerating the height of powerfully built tribes for symbolic purposes to inspire fear or communicate power differentials.
- Mistranslation Theory – The Hebrew terms like Nephilim are ambiguous and may have been mistranslated as “giants”, when they could have referred to “fallen ones”, tyrannical rulers, or legendary ancestors.
- Ancient Astronaut Theory – Secular theorists argue stories of nephilim result from ancient encounters with aliens misinterpreted as divine beings producing hybrid offspring with humans.
Key Points of Debate
There are several points of debate around biblical giants among scholars:
- How literally to interpret their existence – were they genuine physical giants or exaggerations/symbols?
- What genetic processes could explain their massive height?
- Do archaeological findings validate or refute the possibility of giants?
- How do biblical accounts of giants correlate with those from other ancient cultures?
- Did they originate from intermarriage with fallen angels, supernatural encounters, or natural genetic anomalies?
There are no definitive answers, only competing theories. More objective analysis of skeletal remains using modern techniques could shed light on this mysterious question. Ultimately, belief in biblical giants stems more from faith than empirical evidence. Their actual existence remains shrouded in mystery and conjecture.