According to the Bible, Goliath was described as a giant. The most commonly cited height for Goliath is “six cubits and a span.” This measurement is found in 1 Samuel 17:4 (NIV), which states:
“A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.”
In terms of modern measurements, a cubit is typically considered to be about 18 inches, and a span is about 9 inches. Therefore, Goliath’s height translates to approximately 9 feet 9 inches (about 2.97 meters) tall.
There is some variation in manuscripts on his exact height. The Dead Sea Scrolls and Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, mention him as being “four cubits and a span” (about 6 feet 9 inches or 2.06 meters), which is significantly shorter. However, the more prominent description in most translations is the taller measurement found in 1 Samuel.