GIANTS (ji'ants), (Heb. ghib-bore., for mighty, strong one). The English word is derived immediately from the Latin gigas, which is only Greek in Roman letters; and 14-vas, giant, itself is, in all likelihood, made up of ytacrOat, to be born, and 71a, the earth, thus sirifying 'the earth-born,' in allusion to classical lab e.
These beings of unusual height are found in the early history of all nations, sometimes of a purely human origin, but more frequently supposed to have partaken also, in some way, of the super natural and the divine.
(1) Nephilim. In Gen. vi :4, we have the first mention of giants (Heb.6-, nef-ee-leene, causing to fall), 'There were giants in the earth in those days; and aL,-o after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.' In our judgment the bearing of the passage obviously favors the common notion of giants, and that the rather because their origin is traced to some unexplained connection with 'the sons of God,' that is, with beings of high endowments, if not of a superior nature.
(2) Rephaim. In Gen. xiv:5, we meet with a race termed Rephaim ref-aw-eem., strong), as settled on the other side of the Jordan, in Ashteroth-Karnaim, whom Chedorlaomer de feated.
Of this race was Og, king of Bashan. who alone remained, in the days of Moses (Deut. :to), of the remnant of the Rephaim. This race gave their name to a valley near Jerusalem.
(3) Anakim. The Anakim (rM, an-aw keem., sons of Anak). In Num. xiii the spies sent by Moses before his army to survey the promised land, report among other things—'The people be strong that dwell in the land; and, moreover, we saw the children of Anal(' (verse 28).
This indirect mention of the children of Anak shows that they were a well-known gigantic race. In the 32d and 33d verses the statement is enhanced—qt is a land that eateth up the in habitants ; and all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak which came of the giants ; and we were in our own sight as grass hoppers, and so we were in their sight.' How ever much of exaggeration fear may have given to the description, the passage seems beyond a doubt to show the writer's belief in a race of giants (Deut. ix :2). From Deut. :to, it ap pears that the size of the Anakim became pro verbial, and was used as a standard with which to compare others. In the time of Moses they dwelt in the environs of Hebron (Josh. xi :22).
(5) Emim. Another race is mentioned in Deut. ii:to, the Emim (."7?"?1, ay-meen'), who dwelt in the country of the Moabites. They are described as a people 'great and many, and tall as the Anakims, which were also accounted giants' (Gen. xiv :5).
(6) Zamzummim. The Zamzummim also zam-zum-meeNz', Deut. ii:2o) had their home in the land of Ammon—`that also was accounted a land of giants. Giants dwelt therein
of old time, and the Ammonites called them Zamzummints, a people great and many, and They consisted of three branches or clans—`Ahi man, Sheshai, and Talmai—the children of Anak' (Num. xiii :22). They were destroyed by Joshua (Josh. xi :21 ; Judg. i :2o).
(4) Goliath. From this remnant of the Ana kim thus left in Gath of the Philistines, proceeded the famous Goliath (1-11.7., gol-yath', exile, I Sam.
xyii:4). This giant is said to have been in height six cubits and a span.
Other giants of the Philistines are mentioned in the passage before cited, 2 Sam. xxi :16, sq., namely :—(i) `Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David; but Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, succored him, and smote the Philistine and killed him.' (2) Saph (2 Sam. xxi:t8), which was of the sons of the giant who was slain by Sibbechai. (3) 'A man (2 Sam. xxi :2o) of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number, and he also was born to the giant ; and when he defied Israel, Jonathan, the son of Shimeah, the brother of David, slew him.' These four were sons of the giant in Gath, that is, probably of the Goliath of Gath whom David slew (1 Kings xx :8; 2 Sam. xxi :to; I Sam. xvii :4).
tall as the Anakims ; but the Lord destroyed them before them, and they (the Israelites) succeedeu them, and dwelt in their stead.' From this enumeration it is clear that the scriptures tell of giants in the olden time, and of races of giants ; that primitive races greatly ex celled all others in size ; and that, though giants are mentioned as something singular and conse quently as comparatively rare, they appear to have been, relatively to the numbers of the population, ui frequent occurrence. (See BASHAN; REPHA1M.) The possibility of a race of giants cannot well be denied. There is a known tendency in the human fratne to perpetuate peculiarities which have been once evolved. Why not extraordinary `procerity' as well as any other? In fact, the propagation of stature, whether high or low, is a phenomenon which we all see presented daily be fore our own eyes. Tall parents give birth to tall children. The tallness is found to remain in fami lies; and, doubtless, did not circumstances inter vene to reduce the stature by intermarriage with short persons, the unusual height would be per petuated in any given line. The inhabitants of Potsdam, descended fo a great extent from the famous regiment of tall grenadiers which Freder ick of Prussia took so much pains to bring together, are 'said to be still remarkable for ex ceeding the average height. The family of Scaligers appears to have been unusually tall. J. R. B.