Goliath of Gath
1 Samuel 17; 2 Samuel 21:15-22
A named, measured champion — and the clearest case where the manuscripts themselves disagree about size.
Primary text
1 Samuel 17 describes Goliath of Gath, his armour weight, and his defeat by David. 2 Samuel 21:15-22 lists further Philistine warriors 'born to the giant in Gath', including one with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot.
Manuscript dispute
The Masoretic Hebrew text gives Goliath's height as six cubits and a span (roughly 9 ft 9 in / 2.97 m). The Septuagint, a Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript of Samuel, and Josephus give four cubits and a span (roughly 6 ft 9 in / 2.06 m). This is a textual variant, not a theory.
Careful distinction
Goliath is never called a Nephilim. He is a Philistine from a city where Anakim remained. Linking him to Genesis 6 requires two interpretive steps: Anakim equals Rephaim, and Rephaim equals Nephilim descent.