Goliath's height in the Bible is reported with some variations in ancient texts. The most common description from the Masoretic Text states that Goliath was "six cubits and a span" tall. A cubit is about 18 inches (45 cm), and a span is about 9 inches (23 cm), making Goliath roughly 9 feet 9 inches (2.97 meters) tall. However, other ancient sources like the Septuagint, some Dead Sea Scrolls, and historian Josephus describe his height as "four cubits and a span," about 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters), which is still quite tall but not a giant by modern standards. Thus, Goliath's height is either about 9 feet 9 inches or about 6 feet 9 inches depending on the manuscript source, with the taller stature emphasizing his giant-like image in biblical narrative.
