Goliath. [Heb. Golyath, meaning uncertain.] A giant from the city of Gath, a member of the Philistine army. He was 6 1/2 cubits (about 9 1/2 ft. [c. 2.9 m.]) tall. However, two LXX manuscripts and a Dead Sea scroll manuscript of Samuel (4QSama) read 4 cubits and a span. This reading has been accepted by the translators of the New American Bible, which reads "six and a half feet tall" (c. 1.98 m.). His challenge to a combat was accepted by David, who defeated and slew him (1 Sa 17; 21:9, 10). Another giant of Gath (called Goliath in 2 Sa 21:19) was killed by Elhanan of Bethlehem, one of David's "mighty men." Since 1 Chr 20:5 says that Elhanan slew the brother of Goliath, it must be assumed that the word "brother" was somehow lost from the text of 2 Sa 21:19 -- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary.