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The biblical warrior Goliath may not have been so giant after all

The width of his home city’s walls were possibly used to metaphorically represent the champion’s height

David and Goliath illustration

The biblical warrior Goliath is best known for losing a fight with the underdog David.

mashuk/DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images

By Bruce Bower

- More than 2 years ago

Early versions of the Bible describe Goliath — an ancient Philistine warrior best known as the loser of a fight with the future King David — as a giant whose height in ancient terms reached four cubits and a span.