Giants
Summary
Peoples of extraordinary stature mentioned in Scripture, including the Nephilim, Rephaim, Anakim, and individual warriors like Goliath.
☩The Nephilim
The Nephilim were in the earth in the days before the Flood, when 'the sons of God' married 'the daughters of men.' The spies who explored Canaan reported seeing Nephilim there, claiming the inhabitants made them feel like grasshoppers. The name may mean 'those who fall upon' others, suggesting violent men or tyrants.
☩The Rephaim and Related Peoples
The Rephaim were an ancient race of giants who occupied territory east of the Jordan before the Canaanites. Og, king of Bashan, was the last of them, whose iron bedstead was nine cubits long. Related peoples included the Anakim around Hebron (from whom came Goliath's kinsmen), the Emim of Moab, and the Zamzummim of Ammon. The name Rephaim also came to designate 'the shades' or spirits of the dead in Sheol.
☩David and the Giants
David's victory over Goliath demonstrated that physical size means nothing against faith in God. David declared, 'The battle is the Lord's,' and slew the giant with a sling and stone. Later, David's mighty men killed several of Goliath's relatives—giants all—including one with six fingers and six toes on each hand and foot.
Related Verses11 mentions
See Also
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Giants," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Giants," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Giants," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.Philip Schaff and Johann Herzog (ed.), "GIANTS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, vol. IV (Funk and Wagnalls, 1908–1914).