Goliath

Goliath of Gath is a figure from the Hebrew Bible, described as a Philistine warrior and a formidable giant who lived in the city of Gath. He appears in the book of 1 Samuel during the narrative of the Philistine–Israelite conflict in ancient Israel.

According to the biblical account, Goliath stood six cubits and a span tall (roughly 9 feet 9 inches in some translations) and was equipped with bronze armor, a helmet, chain mail, and a spear with a shaft described as very heavy. He issued a daily challenge to the Israelite army for forty days, defying them to send a champion to fight him. David, a young shepherd boy who would later become king, volunteered to face Goliath. Rejecting the armor offered by King Saul, David relied on a sling and five smooth stones. He struck Goliath in the forehead with a stone, causing the giant to fall; David then beheaded him with Goliath’s own sword, leading to a rout of the Philistines by the Israelites.

The name Goliath is traditionally linked to the Philistine city of Gath and has become a literary and cultural epithet for a seemingly insurmountable opponent. Etymology varies, but the figure remains a synonym for a powerful adversary in popular discourse.

Historically, the Goliath narrative is part of biblical literature and its historicity is widely debated. Scholars differ on details such as height, armor, and the event’s date, and archaeological evidence has not confirmed the specific combat. In Islamic tradition, a parallel figure named Jalut appears in the Qur’an and Hadith, with David (Dawud) defeating him.