The most common term used to describe giants in the Bible is
rephaim (e.g.,
Deuteronomy 3:11,
13). It may refer to a certain people group,
5 or it may be a term that simply means
giants. The singular form,
raphah, also appears several times (e.g.,
2 Samuel 21:16,
18,
20).
6
The third chapter of Deuteronomy contains an interesting account of the victory of the Israelites over Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan.
7 It is here that we learn an intriguing detail about Og:
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the giants [
rephaim]. Indeed his bedstead was an iron bedstead. (Is it not in Rabbah of the people of Ammon?)
Nine cubits is its length and four cubits its width, according to the standard cubit(Deuteronomy 3:11).