Introduction:
The term "giants" in the Bible refers to individuals of extraordinary size and strength, often depicted as formidable opponents of God's people. The concept of giants is woven throughout various biblical narratives, primarily in the Old Testament. These beings are often associated with the Nephilim, the Anakim, and the Rephaim, among others. The presence of giants in the biblical text has intrigued scholars and believers alike, prompting discussions on their origins, nature, and role within the biblical narrative.

Nephilim:
The first mention of giants in the Bible occurs in Genesis 6:4, which states, "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown." The Nephilim are described as the offspring of the "sons of God" and the "daughters of men," leading to much debate regarding their identity. Some interpretations suggest that the "sons of God" were fallen angels, while others propose they were descendants of Seth intermarrying with the line of Cain.

Anakim:
The Anakim are another group of giants mentioned in the Bible. They are described as descendants of Anak and are noted for their great size and strength. In Numbers 13:33, the Israelite spies report, "We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them." The Anakim were inhabitants of Canaan, and their presence was a significant obstacle for the Israelites during their conquest of the Promised Land.

Rephaim:
The Rephaim are frequently mentioned in the context of the ancient inhabitants of the land east of the Jordan River. They are often associated with other giant clans, such as the Zuzim and the Emim. Deuteronomy 2:10-11 notes, "The Emites used to live there, a people as great, numerous, and tall as the Anakites. Like the Anakites, they too were regarded as Rephaim, though the Moabites called them Emites." The Rephaim are depicted as a formidable people, yet they were ultimately defeated by the Israelites with God's help.

Goliath:
One of the most famous giants in the Bible is Goliath, the Philistine warrior defeated by David. Goliath is described in 1 Samuel 17:4 as being "six cubits and a span" tall, which is approximately nine feet nine inches. His challenge to the Israelite army and subsequent defeat by the young shepherd David is a testament to God's power and the faith of His chosen servant. David's victory over Goliath is often seen as a symbol of God's ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds through faith and obedience.

Og, King of Bashan:
Og, the king of Bashan, is another notable giant mentioned in the Bible. Deuteronomy 3:11 states, "For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim. His bed was made of iron and was more than nine cubits long and four cubits wide." Og's defeat by the Israelites under Moses' leadership is recorded as a significant victory, demonstrating God's continued support for His people as they journeyed to the Promised Land.

Conclusion:
The biblical accounts of giants serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by God's people and the divine intervention that enabled their victories. These narratives highlight the themes of faith, courage, and reliance on God's strength in overcoming formidable adversaries. The presence of giants in the Bible continues to be a topic of fascination and study, reflecting the enduring interest in these extraordinary figures.Genesis 6:4
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Topicalbible.org

Numbers 13:33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Topicalbible.org

Deuteronomy 1:28
Where shall we go up? our brothers have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 12:3
And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns on his heads.
Topicalbible.org

Giants

men of extraordinary size or height.

1. They are first spoken of in (Genesis 6:4) under the name Nephilim. We are told in (Genesis 6:1-4) that "there were Nephilim in the earth," and that afterwards the "sons of God" mingling with the beautiful "daughters of mens produced a race of violent and insolent Gibborim (Authorized Version "mighty men").
2. The Rephalim, a name which frequently occurs. The earliest mention of them is the record of their defeat by Chedorlaomer and some allied kings at Ashteroth Karnaim. The "valley of Rephaim," (2 Samuel 5:18; 1 Chronicles 11:15; Isaiah 17:5) a rich valley southwest of Jerusalem, derived its name from them. They were probably an aboriginal people of which the EMIM, ANAKIM and ZUZIM, THE [which see] were branches. [See also GOLIATH]

Giants

Earth-born. It is supposed by many that the first men were of a size and strength superior to those of mankind at present, since a long life is usually associated with a well-developed and vigorous frame. We know also that there were giants and families of giants, even after the average length of human life was greatly abridged. These, however, appear to have been exceptions; and if we judge from the mummies of Egypt, and from the armor and implements of the earliest antiquity, found in ancient tombs, in bogs, and in buried cities, we should conclude that mankind never exceeded, in the average, their present stature. There were, however, giants before the flood, Genesis 6:4; fruits of the union of different families, and extraordinary in stature, power, and crime. After the flood, mention is made of a race called Rephaim, Genesis 14:5 Joshua 17:15; kindred with whom were the Emim, early occupants of the land of Moab, and the Zamzummim in Ammon, De 2:10,20. Og was one of the last of this race, De 3:11,13. West of the Dead Sea, around Hebron and Philistia, lived the Anakim, whose aspect so terrified the Hebrew spies, Numbers 13:33 Joshua 11:21,22. Of this race were Goliath and his kindred, 1 Samuel 17:4 1 Chronicles 20:4-8. See ANAKIM, GOLIATH, and REPHAIM.

(1.) Hebrews nephilim, meaning "violent" or "causing to fall" (Genesis 6:4). These were the violent tyrants of those days, those who fell upon others. The word may also be derived from a root signifying "wonder," and hence "monsters" or "prodigies." In Numbers 13:33 this name is given to a Canaanitish tribe, a race of large stature, "the sons of Anak." The Revised Version, in these passages, simply transliterates the original, and reads "Nephilim."

(2.) Hebrews rephaim, a race of giants (Deuteronomy 3:11) who lived on the east of Jordan, from whom Og was descended. They were probably the original inhabitants of the land before the immigration of the Canaanites. They were conquered by Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14:5), and their territories were promised as a possession to Abraham (15:20). The Anakim, Zuzim, and Emim were branches of this stock.

In Job 26:5 (R.V., "they that are deceased;" marg., "the shades, " the "Rephaim") and Isaiah 14:9 this Hebrew word is rendered (A.V.) "dead." It means here "the shades," the departed spirits in Sheol. In Samuel 21:16, 18, 20, 33, "the giant" is (A.V.) the rendering of the singular form ha raphah, which may possibly be the name of the father of the four giants referred to here, or of the founder of the Rephaim. The Vulgate here reads "Arapha," whence Milton (in Samson Agonistes) has borrowed the name "Harapha." (See also 1 Chron. 20:5, 6, 8; Deuteronomy 2:11, 20; 3:13; Joshua 15:8, etc., where the word is similarly rendered "giant.") It is rendered "dead" in (A.V.) Psalm 88:10; Proverbs 2:18; 9:18; 21:16: in all these places the Revised Version marg. has "the shades." (See also Isaiah 26:14.)

(3.) Hebrews `Anakim (Deuteronomy 2:10, 11, 21; Joshua 11:21, 22; 14:12, 15; called "sons of Anak, " Numbers 13:33; "children of Anak, 13:22; Joshua 15:14), a nomad race of giants descended from Arba (Joshua 14:15), the father of Anak, that dwelt in the south of Palestine near Hebron (Genesis 23:2; Joshua 15:13). They were a Cushite tribe of the same race as the Philistines and the Egyptian shepherd kings. David on several occasions encountered them (2 Samuel 21:15-22). From this race sprung Goliath (1 Samuel 17:4).

(4.) Hebrews `emin, a warlike tribe of the ancient Canaanites. They were "great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims" (Genesis 14:5; Deuteronomy 2:10, 11).

(5.) Hebrews Zamzummim (q.v.), Deuteronomy 2:20 so called by the Amorites.

(6.) Hebrews gibbor (Job 16:14), a mighty one, i.e., a champion or hero. In its plural form (gibborim) it is rendered "mighty men" (2 Samuel 23:8-39; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Chronicles 11:9-47; 29:24.) The band of six hundred whom David gathered around him when he was a fugitive were so designated. They were divided into three divisions of two hundred each, and thirty divisions of twenty each. The captians of the thirty divisions were called "the thirty," the captains of the two hundred "the three," and the captain over the whole was called "chief among the captains" (2 Samuel 23:8). The sons born of the marriages mentioned in Genesis 6:4 are also called by this Hebrew name.

GIANTS

ji'-ants The word appears in the King James Version as the translation of the Hebrew words nephilim (Genesis 6:4 Numbers 13:33); repha'im (Deuteronomy 2:11, 20; Deuteronomy 3:11, 13 Joshua 12:4, etc.); rapha' (1 Chronicles 20:4, 6, 8), or raphah (2 Samuel 21:16, 18, 20, 22); in one instance of gibbor, literally, "mighty one" (Job 16:14).

In the first two cases the Revised Version (British and American) changes "giants" into the Hebrew words "Nephilim," nephilim, and "Rephaim," repha'im, respectively (see these words). The "Nephilim of Genesis 6:4 are not to be confounded with the "mighty men" subsequently described as the offspring of the unlawful marriages, of "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men." It is told that they overspread the earth prior to these unhallowed unions. That the word, whatever its etymology, bears the sense of men of immense stature is evident from the later passages; Numbers 13:33. The same is true of the "Rephaim," as shown by the instance of Og (Deuteronomy 3:11 Joshua 12:4). There is no doubt about the meaning of the word in the ease of the giants mentioned in 2 Samuel 21 and 1 Chronicles 20.

See also ANTEDILUVIANS.

James Orr

GIANTS, VALLEY OF THE

See REPHAIM, VALLEY OF.

VALLEY OF GIANTS

See REPHAIM, VALE OF.

5303. Nephilim -- "giants," name of two peoples, one before the ...
... "giants ... Word Origin from naphal Definition "giants," name of two peoples, one before
the flood and one after the flood NASB Word Usage Nephilim (3). giant. ...
/hebrew/5303.htm - 6k

7153. Qiryath Arba -- "city of the four," an older name of Hebron
... 11:25) {keer-yath' haw-ar-bah'}; from qiryah and Arba' or arba'; city of Arba, or
city of the four (giants); Kirjath-Arba or Kirjath-ha-Arba, a place in ...
/hebrew/7153.htm - 6k

7498b. rapha -- giant
... giant. Transliteration: rapha or raphah Short Definition: giant. Word Origin from
raphah Definition giant NASB Word Usage giant (4), giants (3). 7498a, 7498b ...
/hebrew/7498b.htm - 5k

Afraid of Giants
... THE BOOK OF NUMBERS AFRAID OF GIANTS. ... So the only thing mentioned, besides the
antiquity of the city, is the presence in it of these giants. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/afraid of giants.htm

Modern Library Giants
... MODERN LIBRARY GIANTS. A series of ... expensive sets. THE MODERN LIBRARY GIANTS
REPRESENT A SELECTION OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST BOOKS. Many ...
//christianbookshelf.org/renan/the life of jesus/modern library giants.htm

The Giants.
... Homily VIII. Chapter XV."The Giants. "But from their unhallowed intercourse
spurious men sprang, much greater in stature than ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xv the giants.htm

Concerning the Angels and Giants.
... Chapter XXIV."Concerning the Angels and Giants. ... Of these lovers of virgins,
therefore, were begotten those who are called giants. ...
/.../a plea for the christians/chapter xxiv concerning the angels and.htm

The Giants: the Flood.
... Book I. Chapter XXIX."The Giants: the Flood. "All things therefore being
completed which are in heaven, and in earth, and in the ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter xxix the giants the flood.htm

Mr. HG Wells and the Giants
... V. Mr. HG Wells and the Giants. We ought to see far enough into a hypocrite to see
even his sincerity. ... Giants, as in the wise old fairy-tales, are vermin. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/v mr h g wells and.htm

The Law to the Giants or Demons.
... Homily VIII. Chapter XIX."The Law to the Giants or Demons. "These things
seem good to the all-seeing God, that you lord it over ...
/.../unknown/the clementine homilies/chapter xix the law to the.htm

The Manich??an Abstinence from Living Things Ridiculous; their ...
... Chapter XXV."The Manich??an Abstinence from Living Things Ridiculous; Their Madness
in Abhorring Marriage; The Mythology of the Giants; Too Allegorical an ...
/.../alexander/of the manichaeans/chapter xxv the manichaean abstinence from.htm

Death Changes, Without Destroying, Our Mortal Bodies Remains of ...
... Chapter XLII."Death Changes, Without Destroying, Our Mortal Bodies Remains
of the Giants. It is the transformation these shall ...
/.../chapter xlii death changes without destroying.htm

In the Dungeon of Giant Discourager
... Some pilgrims are fortunate in passing through it quickly, while others, coming
under the spell of two old giants who live there, have a very hard time passing ...
/.../berry/adventures in the land of canaan/chapter nine in the dungeon.htm

Giants (18 Occurrences)
... (2.) Hebrews rephaim, a race of giants (Deuteronomy 3:11) who lived on the east
of Jordan, from whom Og was descended. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. GIANTS. ...
/g/giants.htm - 19k

Rephaim (32 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Lofty men; giants, (Genesis 14:5; 2 Samuel 21:16, 18,
marg. AV, Rapha, marg. RV, Raphah; Deuteronomy 3:13, RV; AV, "giants"). ...
/r/rephaim.htm - 21k

Anakim (10 Occurrences)
... They seem to have identified them with the Nephilim, the "giants" (Genesis 6:4;
Numbers 13:33) of the antediluvian age. ... (see GIANTS.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/a/anakim.htm - 13k

Zamzummims (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary A race of giants; "a people great, and many, and
tall, as the Anakims" (Deuteronomy 2:20, 21). They were ...
/z/zamzummims.htm - 7k

Nephilim (2 Occurrences)
... (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33, RV), giants, the Hebrew word left untranslated by the
Revisers, the name of one of the Canaanitish tribes. ... (n. pl.) Giants. Int. ...
/n/nephilim.htm - 8k

Residue (47 Occurrences)
... Deuteronomy 3:11 For only Og the king of Bashan remained of the residue of giants:
behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the ...
/r/residue.htm - 24k

Antediluvians
... 3. The Nephilim: The nephilim (giants) and the mighty men born of "the sons of God"
and the "daughters of men" (Genesis 6:4, 5) are according to the best ...
/a/antediluvians.htm - 11k

Reckoned (98 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS). Deuteronomy 2:11 They also are reckoned as giants
like the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. (DBY YLT). ...
/r/reckoned.htm - 36k

Uncertain (13 Occurrences)
... See JEHOSHAPHAT, VALLEY OF. GIANTS, VALLEY OF THE. See REPHAIM, VALLEY OF. VALLEY. ...
See JEHOSHAPHAT, VALLEY OF. VALLEY OF GIANTS. See REPHAIM, VALE OF. ...
/u/uncertain.htm - 12k

Goliath (6 Occurrences)
... Goliath was almost certainly not of Philistine blood, but belonged to one of the
races of giants, or aboriginal tribes, such as the Anakim, Avvim, Rephaim, etc ...
/g/goliath.htm - 12k

What is the Book of Giants? | GotQuestions.org

Is there any evidence for the giants mentioned in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Rephaim? | GotQuestions.org

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