Bible Dictionary

Giants

People & Groups • Both

Giants is a biblical term applied to people of extraordinary size or strength, including the Nephilim, Rephaim, Anakim, and other mighty warriors. In some passages, Rephaim also refers to departed shades.

Definition

“Giants” is an English rendering applied to several biblical terms for people of extraordinary size, strength, or power. These include the Nephilim, Rephaim, Anakim, Emim, Zamzummim, and mighty men or champions.

Biblical Usage

The Nephilim are associated with the early biblical world and with the large-statured sons of Anak. The Rephaim included Og and other giant peoples; in some passages Rephaim means departed shades. The Anakim, Emim, and Zamzummim are also described as large or powerful peoples, while gibbor may mean a mighty warrior or champion.

Historical Background

The Rephaim were associated with the region east of the Jordan, while the Anakim lived near Hebron in southern Palestine. The supplied material identifies Goliath as belonging to the Anakim’s race and records David’s encounters with such warriors.

Scripture References

Genesis 6:4 Numbers 13:33 Deuteronomy 3:11 Genesis 14:5 Job 26:5 Isaiah 14:9 1 Chronicles 20:5 1 Chronicles 20:6 1 Chronicles 20:8 Deuteronomy 2:11 Deuteronomy 2:20 Deuteronomy 3:13 Joshua 15:8 Psalms 88:10 Proverbs 2:18 Proverbs 9:18 Proverbs 21:16 Isaiah 26:14 Deuteronomy 2:10 Deuteronomy 2:21 Joshua 11:21 Joshua 11:22 Joshua 15:14 Joshua 14:15 Genesis 23:2 Joshua 15:13 2 Samuel 21:15-22 1 Samuel 17:4 Job 16:14 2 Samuel 23:8-39 1 Kings 1:8 1 Chronicles 11:9-47 1 Chronicles 29:24 2 Samuel 23:8 Genesis 6:1-4 2 Samuel 5:18 1 Chronicles 11:15 Isaiah 17:5

Related Figures

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(1.) Heb. nephilim, meaning “violent” or “causing to fall” (Gen. 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 Num. 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.) Heb. rephaim, a race of giants (Deut. 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 (Gen. 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 Isa. 14:9 this Hebrew word is rendered (A.V.) “dead.” It means here “the shades,” the departed spirits in Sheol. In Sam. 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; Deut. 2:11, 20; 3:13; Josh. 15:8, etc., where the word is similarly rendered “giant.”) It is rendered “dead” in (A.V.) Ps. 88:10; Prov. 2:18; 9:18; 21:16: in all these places the Revised Version marg. has “the shades.” (See also Isa. 26:14.) (3.) Heb. ‘Anakim (Deut. 2:10, 11, 21; Josh. 11:21, 22; 14:12, 15; called “sons of Anak,” Num. 13:33; “children of Anak,” 13:22; Josh. 15:14), a nomad race of giants descended from Arba (Josh. 14:15), the father of Anak, that dwelt in the south of Palestine near Hebron (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 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 Sam. 21:15-22). From this race sprung Goliath (1 Sam. 17:4). (4.) Heb. ‘emin, a warlike tribe of the ancient Canaanites. They were “great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims” (Gen. 14:5; Deut. 2:10, 11). (5.) Heb. Zamzummim (q.v.), Deut. 2:20 so called by the Amorites. (6.) Heb. gibbor (Job 16:14), a mighty one, i.e., a champion or hero. In its plural form (gibborim) it is rendered “mighty men” (2 Sam. 23:8-39; 1 Kings 1:8; 1 Chr. 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 Sam. 23:8). The sons born of the marriages mentioned in Gen. 6:4 are also called by this Hebrew name.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

men of extraordinary size or height.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

ji'-ants The word appears in the King James Version as the translation of the Hebrew words nephilim (Ge 6:4; Nu 13:33); repha'im (De 2:11,20; 3:11,13; Jos 12:4, etc.); rapha' (1Ch 20:4,6,8), or raphah (2Sa 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 Ge 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; Nu 13:33. The same is true of the "Rephaim," as shown by the instance of Og (De 3:11; Jos 12:4). There is no doubt about the meaning of the word in the ease of the giants mentioned in 2Sa 21 and 1Ch 20.See also ANTEDILUVIANS.James Orr

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