Boy Old Testament Known
Goliath
passage; revolution; heap
גׇּלְיַת gol.yat
Goliath (Hebrew: גׇּלְיַת, gol.yat) means “passage; revolution; heap”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 24 verses across 3 books of the Bible. In 2024 it was given to 6 children in the United States. Appears in the same passages as Adriel.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Goliath
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 24 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- United Monarchy
Using it today
Based on 2024 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2024 | 6 | Steady |
| All-time total | 49 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 9 in 2019 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Samuel 17:4 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 20:5 |
| Cross-references | 308 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Lahmi co-occurrence Appears with Lahmi in 1 Chronicles 20.
- Jaare-oregim co-occurrence Appears with Jaare-oregim in 1 Chronicles 20.
- Elhanan co-occurrence Appears with Elhanan in 1 Chronicles 20.
- Adriel co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Adriel.
- Saph co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Saph.
- Meholathites co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Meholathites.
- Jonathan co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Jonathan.
- Shimeah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Shimeah.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.17.4;
son of: Rapha (H7497A);
brother of: Ishbi-benob (H3430), Saph (H5593), Lahmi (H3902), huge_man (H4060A)
§ Goliath = "splendour"
the Philistine giant of Gath slain by David's sling
Goliath was the Philistine champion from Gath who was defeated by David in a battle.
The biblical story
Goliath was a Philistine warrior from the city of Gath who fought against the Israelites during the reign of King Saul. He is described as a giant, standing at six cubits and a span (approximately 9 feet 9 inches or 3 meters) tall, and wearing heavy bronze armor (1Sa.17.4-7). Goliath challenged the Israelites to send a champion to face him in single combat, but no one dared to accept the challenge until David, a young shepherd, volunteered. With a sling and a stone, David defeated Goliath, striking him on the forehead and killing him (1Sa.17.48-50). David then cut off Goliath's head with the giant's own sword (1Sa.17.51). This event is significant in David's life, as it marked the beginning of his rise to prominence in Israel. The sword of Goliath was kept as a trophy, and David later retrieved it from the tabernacle at Nob when he was fleeing from Saul (1Sa.21.9, 22:10). In 2Sa.21.19 and 1Ch.20.5, there is mention of another Goliath, also from Gath, who was killed by Elhanan, one of David's warriors. Some scholars believe this may refer to a brother or relative of the Goliath killed by David.
Key verses
Goliath appears in 6 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
1 Samuel 17:4 -
And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
1 Samuel 17:23 -
And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.
1 Samuel 21:9 -
And he enquired of the Lord for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.
1 Samuel 22:10 -
And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare–oregim, a Beth–lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
2 Samuel 21:19
Show all 6 references
1 Samuel (4)
- 1 Samuel 17:4
- 1 Samuel 17:23
- 1 Samuel 21:9
- 1 Samuel 22:10
2 Samuel (1)
- 2 Samuel 21:19
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 20:5