The Bible is stories handed down for generations. I think we can assume that this particular story got exagerated a little. A man of 6'9" that long ago would have been a collosus. People were much shorter just 200 years ago let alone > 2000 years ago. As the stroy got retold by word of mouth before it finally got written down, Goliath would have grown and grown! So the older the records the more accurate they are likely to be.

It doesn't matter.You can say both are right. Goliath grows taller or the units of length is different.

it doesn't matter. he was the tallest man around that went up against david. that's all that is important-> the stoty or the teaching, not his exact height.

First, in the past they hadn’t a standard measuring-rod. Second, don’t care about it, these are details. Your faith in God has not to depend on details. Right? (or maybe I am wrong but this my opinion.)

Not everything on television is right. The Discovery Channel has often tried to disprove God's Word, but they never will truly disprove it. I'd listen to the Bible instead of what scientests on Discovery Channel are trying to say. Keep your faith in the Lord and believe the Bible. Which is best to listen to: A Book who's Author is the Creator of the Universe or the opinions and claims of sinful man? I hope that this helps. Thank you and God bless you!

I don't know if they could measure that accurate back then anyway. Plus, sometimes today we even get different measurements the different times we measure the same thing

(1 Samuel 17:4) And a champion began to go out from the camps of the Phi·lis´tines, his name being Go·li´ath, from Gath, his height being six cubits and a span. So, what is a cubit? a span? The linear measures employed by the Hebrews were evidently derived from the human body. Since the ratio in length or width of one part of the body to another can be determined, it is possible to ascertain the relationship of one linear measurement to another; and based on archaeological evidence pointing to a cubit of about 44.5 cm (17.5 in.), approximate modern values can be given to the linear measurements mentioned in the Bible. The Bible mentions many of these measurements: 'fingerbreadth, handbreadth, span, cubit..." A cubit is a linear measure roughly corresponding to the distance from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. There are indications that the Israelites commonly used a cubit of about 44.5 cm (17.5 in.) The Siloam Inscription gives 1,200 cubits as the length of the water tunnel built by King Hezekiah. According to modern measurements, this tunnel is 533 m (1,749 ft) long. Thus, when taken at face value, these figures yield a cubit of 44.4 cm (17.49 in.). Also, numerous buildings and enclosures excavated in Palestine can be measured in whole numbers of this unit, giving further basis for reckoning the cubit at about 44.5 cm (17.5 in.). So 6 cubits = 6 * 17.5 = 105 inches What is a span? A linear measure approximately corresponding to the distance between the end of the thumb and the end of the little finger when the hand is spread out. Two spans equal one cubit. So 1 span is half (1/2) a cubit. Half of 17.5 is 8.75. 105 inches + 8.75 inces = 113.75 inches and divide by 12 to get feet and we have 9.479 feet or 9 feet 5 inches. Goliath was 9'5"

Does anyone else get the sense that the "scientists" on the Discovery Channel have an ax to grind? The Dead Sea Scrolls tend to collaborate a majority of the books of the Bible, and each scroll is a hand written copy. Have faith and you shall be saved.

Pick the one that you are the most comfortable believing. Faith is about belief - as long as it doesn't change your faith, you are fine.

there are two measurements of cubits..one is based on the elbow to the tip of the longest finger..the other is the elbow to the base of the hand. Depending on which cubit you accept as the one being used both are correct: IMO the liklihood of him being almost 10 ft tall is not realistic (standard cubit/elbow to tip of finger)...I think the bible is talking about lower forearm cubit which puts him at 6 ft .7.5 inches or so..which would still be a giant in ancient times in that area of the world.

He was called a giant and anyone over 6ft 5 is considered to be of giantlike height so I would be satisfied that he was taller than everyone else. If we were being factual I would imagine 6ft 9in would be closer when you think how much smaller the average person was that long ago. He would seem more like 9ft 9in This of course is just my personal opinion

Believe in God's Word, the Bible. Goliath, whom David killed, was in height six cubits and a span (2.9 m; 9.5 ft). ( see 1 Samuel 17:4-7)

To sharpen the point just a bit: The foot and inch were invented long after the Bible accounts were written, so strictly speaking neither account says what was quoted above. Most translations of the Bible say something like '6 cubits and a span'. A cubit is the distance from a typical man's fingertip to elbow, usually standardized at 18" or a bit more. A span is the width (span) across a man's hand. (Horsemen use the word 'hand' for the same length, 4". (6x18)+4=112"=9'4". So, 9'4" to 9'9" is a pretty close estimate. The point is that he was truly a giant by either ancient or modern standards. 6'9" is quite tall, but not fear inspiring to trained soldiers. A US Marine wouldn't fear to take on an NBA all-star, but he is smart to fear a grizzly bear. More fearsome to many today is the possibility of divine intervention, the very thing young David relied on most. His comrades saw the visible. He saw the invisible. Good lesson for us today.

Why would you believe either? You need to answer that question for yourself...but seeking information and questioning your faith is usually a good thing (provided you keep digging away and find what works for you). <edit> I suppose I should answer the question as far as donating the info I think applies....I don't put any credence in the Bible due to it's numerous changes, edits, and information lost in translations. There is good info in there and if it works for you, great...but it's hardly reliably accurate in a literal and factual sense...like the <height, age, hairstyle, whatever> of <character x>.

A lot of the bible is metaphorical. The rain which caused the flood probably did not last 40 days and nights, it's more a suggestion, implying they lasted a long time. I know at lot of older people who look at tall people and claim they " must be at least 6'6" ". This isn't accurately measured it's just a suggestion they are tall