Topical Bible: Tall

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In the context of the Bible, the concept of being "tall" often carries both literal and symbolic meanings. Throughout the Scriptures, height is frequently associated with strength, power, and sometimes pride or intimidation. The term "tall" is used to describe individuals, structures, and even nations, often highlighting their prominence or imposing nature.

Tall Individuals:

1. Saul: The first king of Israel, Saul, is described as a tall man. In 1 Samuel 9:2 , it is noted, "Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else." Saul's height is mentioned to emphasize his physical presence and suitability as a leader in the eyes of the people.

2. Goliath: Perhaps the most famous tall figure in the Bible is Goliath, the Philistine giant. In 1 Samuel 17:4 , it states, "Then a champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out from the Philistine camp. He was six cubits and a span in height." Goliath's towering stature is central to the narrative of David and Goliath, symbolizing the formidable challenge that David, with God's help, was able to overcome.

Tall Structures:

1. The Tower of Babel: In Genesis 11:4 , the people said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth." The height of the Tower of Babel represents human ambition and pride, leading to God's intervention and the scattering of the people.

2. The Cedars of Lebanon: While not a man-made structure, the cedars of Lebanon are often mentioned in the Bible for their height and majesty. In Psalm 92:12 , it is written, "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon." The tall cedars symbolize strength, durability, and the flourishing of the righteous.

Symbolic Use of Height:

Height in the Bible can also symbolize spiritual elevation or moral superiority. For instance, in Isaiah 2:12-13 , the prophet warns, "For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled—against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan." Here, height is used metaphorically to describe pride and arrogance that will be brought low by God's judgment.

Nations and Height:

The Bible sometimes uses height to describe nations, particularly in terms of their military might or perceived invincibility. In Amos 2:9 , God reminds Israel, "Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them, whose height was like the cedars and whose strength was like the oaks." The Amorites' height is a metaphor for their strength and the formidable challenge they posed, which God overcame on behalf of Israel.

In summary, the concept of being "tall" in the Bible is multifaceted, encompassing physical stature, symbolic meanings, and spiritual lessons. Whether describing individuals, structures, or nations, height often serves to highlight themes of power, pride, and the ultimate sovereignty of God over all creation.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (superl.) High in stature; having a considerable, or an unusual, extension upward; long and comparatively slender; having the diameter or lateral extent small in proportion to the height; as, a tall person, tree, or mast.

2. (superl.) Brave; bold; courageous.

3. (superl.) Fine; splendid; excellent; also, extravagant; excessive.

Strong's Hebrew

566. Imri -- perhaps "tall" or "eloquent," an Israelite name
... 565b, 566. Imri. 567 . perhaps "tall" or "eloquent," an Israelite name.
Transliteration: Imri Phonetic Spelling: (im-ree') Short Definition: Imri. ...
/hebrew/566.htm - 6k

6967. qomah -- height
... Word Origin from qum Definition height NASB Word Usage height (26), height of his
stature (1), high (9), length (1), stature (5), tall (2), very high (1). ...
/hebrew/6967.htm - 6k

4900. mashak -- to draw, drag
... 2), make a long blast (1), march (1), prolong (1), prolonged (1), pulled (3), sounds
a long blast (1), sows (1), stimulate (1), stretched (1), tall (2), wield ...
/hebrew/4900.htm - 6k

7311. rum -- to be high or exalted, rise
... reared (1), rebelled* (2), remove (3), removed (2), rise (2), rose (1), set (2),
set apart (3), stop (1), sworn* (1), take (5), take off (1), tall (4), taller ...
/hebrew/7311.htm - 6k

8530. talpiyyoth -- perhaps weapons
... armory. Feminine from an unused root meaning to tower; something tall, ie (plural
collective) slenderness -- armoury. 8529, 8530. talpiyyoth. 8531 . ...
/hebrew/8530.htm - 6k

6746. tselochith -- a jar
... cruse. From tsalach; something prolonged or tall, ie A vial or salt-cellar -- cruse.
see HEBREW tsalach. 6745, 6746. tselochith. 6747 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/6746.htm - 6k

1431. gadal -- to grow up, become great
... Definition to grow up, become great NASB Word Usage advanced (1), arrogantly (1),
became great (1), became greater (2), became rich (1), became tall (1), became ...
/hebrew/1431.htm - 7k

Library

The Question of the Tall Gentleman as to Whether Diamond could ...
... Chapter 20 The question of the tall gentleman as to whether Diamond could
read or not set? The question of the tall gentleman ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 20 the question of.htm

The Story of a Divine Tragedy
... Down the center were two tables, separated by a cluster of tall plants that almost
screened one from the other. ... She glanced toward the cluster of tall plants. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the city of delight/chapter x the story of.htm

Diamond Managed with Many Blunders to Read this Rhyme to his ...
... Finding she made no reply, Diamond went on"-. "In a week or so, I shall be
able to go to the tall gentleman and tell him I can read. ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 21 diamond managed with.htm

A Letter from a West Indian Cottage Ornee
... Over the low roof (for the cottage is all of one storey) of purple and brown and
white shingles, baking in the sun, rises a tall tree, which looks (as so many ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter v a letter from.htm

Port of Spain
... its fountain and flowering trees, and beyond them on the right the Roman Catholic
Cathedral, a stately building, with Palmistes standing as tall sentries round ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter iv port of spain.htm

I have Been Asked to Tell You About the Back of the North Wind. .. ...
... "I am so tall I am above that law," said the voice. "You must have a tall house,
then," said Diamond. "Yes; a tall house: the clouds are inside it.". ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 1 i have been.htm

A Provision Ground
... The tall plant with stem unbranched, but knotty and zigzag, and leaves atop like
hemp, but of a cold purplish tinge, is the famous Cassava, {313a} or Manioc ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xvi a provision ground.htm

The Suicide of Thought
... himself small. Even the haughty visions, the tall cities, and the toppling
pinnacles are the creations of humility. Giants that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/iii the suicide of thought.htm

The Story of the Grapes from Canaan
... They have cities with walls that reach almost up to the sky; and some of the men
are giants, so tall that we felt that we were like grasshoppers beside them.". ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of the grapes.htm

Hypotheses Hypochondriacae {211}
... There should be no tall stone, no marble tomb Above her gentle corse;"the
ponderous pile Would press too rudely on those fairy limbs. ...
/.../kingsley/andromeda and other poems/hypotheses hypochondriacae 211.htm

Thesaurus

Tall (41 Occurrences)
... an unusual, extension upward; long and comparatively slender; having the diameter
or lateral extent small in proportion to the height; as, a tall person, tree ...
/t/tall.htm - 19k

Anakim (10 Occurrences)
... As compared with the Israelites, they were tall like giants (Numbers 13:33), and
it would therefore seem that the "giant" Goliath and his family were of their ...
/a/anakim.htm - 13k

Emim (3 Occurrences)
... e'-mim ('emim; Ommaein, Ommein, or Ommiein): Stated to have been the earlier
inhabitants of Moab (Deuteronomy 2:10, 11), and to have been of tall stature, and ...
/e/emim.htm - 8k

Anakites (8 Occurrences)
... NIV). Deuteronomy 2:10 The Emim dwelt therein aforetime, a people great,
and many, and tall, as the Anakim; (See NIV). Deuteronomy ...
/a/anakites.htm - 8k

Anakims (9 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Deuteronomy 2:10 The Emims dwelt therein in times past, a people
great, and many, and tall, as the Anakims; (KJV WBS). ...
/a/anakims.htm - 9k

Fir (22 Occurrences)
... or couple of trees) is the sherbin of the Syrians; this name includes two distinct
varieties in the suborder Cypressineae, the fine tall juniper, Juniperis ...
/f/fir.htm - 19k

Palm (49 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Palm tree. (Hebrews tamar), the date-palm characteristic
of Palestine. It is described as "flourishing" (Psalm 92:12), tall (Cant. ...
/p/palm.htm - 35k

Oppressive (6 Occurrences)
... Go back quickly, O representatives, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people causing
fear through all their history; a strong nation, crushing down its haters ...
/o/oppressive.htm - 8k

Onward (25 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 18:2 that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the
waters, saying, "Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a ...
/o/onward.htm - 13k

Glossy (2 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 18:2 that sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus upon
the waters,'saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a ...
/g/glossy.htm - 7k

Resources

How tall was Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

How tall was Adam? | GotQuestions.org

How tall was Goliath? | GotQuestions.org

Tall: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Tall (41 Occurrences)

Matthew 11:7
And when they were going away, Jesus, talking of John, said to all the people, What went you out into the waste land to see? a tall stem moving in the wind?
(BBE)

Mark 4:27
he spends days and nights, now awake, now asleep, while the seed sprouts and grows tall, he knows not how.
(WEY)

Luke 1:80
And the child became tall, and strong in spirit; and he was living in the waste land till the day when he came before the eyes of Israel.
(BBE)

Luke 2:40
And the child became tall and strong and full of wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
(BBE)

Luke 7:24
And when the men who were sent by John had gone away, he said to the people, about John, What did you go out into the waste land to see? a tall stem moving in the wind?
(BBE)

Genesis 21:20
And God was with the boy, and he became tall and strong, and he became a bowman, living in the waste land.
(BBE)

Deuteronomy 2:10
(The Emim lived therein before, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim:
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 2:21
a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Yahweh destroyed them before them; and they succeeded them, and lived in their place;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Deuteronomy 9:2
a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, "Who can stand before the sons of Anak?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, Do not take note of his face or how tall he is, because I will not have him: for the Lord's view is not man's; man takes note of the outer form, but the Lord sees the heart.
(BBE)

1 Samuel 17:4
And a fighter came out from the tents of the Philistines, named Goliath of Gath; he was more than six cubits tall.
(BBE NIV)

2 Samuel 21:20
And again there was war at Gath, where there was a very tall man, who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet; he was one of the offspring of the Rephaim.
(BBE)

2 Samuel 23:21
And he made an attack on an Egyptian, a tall man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a stick, and pulling the spear out of the hands of the Egyptian, put him to death with that same spear.
(BBE)

2 Kings 19:23
By your messengers you have defied the Lord, and have said,'With the multitude of my chariots, I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon; and I will cut down its tall cedars, and its choice fir trees; and I will enter into his farthest lodging place, the forest of his fruitful field.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 11:23
And he made an attack on an Egyptian, a very tall man about five cubits high, armed with a spear like a cloth-worker's rod; he went down to him with a stick, and pulling his spear out of the hand of the Egyptian, put him to death with that same spear.
(BBE NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 20:6
And again there was war at Gath, where there was a very tall man, who had twenty-four fingers and toes, six fingers on his hands and six toes on his feet; he was one of the offspring of the Rephaim.
(BBE)

Job 8:11
Will the river-plant come up in its pride without wet earth? will the grass get tall without water?
(BBE NIV)

Psalms 92:12
The good man will be like a tall tree in his strength; his growth will be as the wide-stretching trees of Lebanon.
(BBE)

Psalms 92:13
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will come up tall and strong in his gardens.
(BBE)

Psalms 104:17
Where the birds have their resting-places; as for the stork, the tall trees are her house.
(BBE)

Psalms 144:12
Our sons are like tall young plants; and our daughters like the shining stones of a king's house;
(BBE)

Psalms 147:8
By his hand the heaven is covered with clouds and rain is stored up for the earth; he makes the grass tall on the mountains.
(BBE)

Song of Songs 7:7
You are tall like a palm-tree, and your breasts are like the fruit of the vine.
(BBE)

Isaiah 2:13
And on all the high trees of Lebanon, and on all the strong trees of Bashan;
(See NIV)

Isaiah 10:33
Behold, the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, will lop the boughs with terror. The tall will be cut down, and the lofty will be brought low.
(WEB NAS NIV)

Isaiah 10:34
And he is cutting down the thick places of the wood with an axe, and Lebanon with its tall trees is coming down.
(BBE)

Isaiah 18:2
that sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of papyrus on the waters, saying, "Go, you swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth, to a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide!"
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 18:7
In that time, a present will be brought to Yahweh of Armies from a people tall and smooth, even from a people awesome from their beginning onward, a nation that measures out and treads down, whose land the rivers divide, to the place of the name of Yahweh of Armies, Mount Zion.
(WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 30:25
And there will be rivers and streams of water on every tall mountain and on every high hill, in the day when great numbers are put to the sword, when the towers come down.
(BBE)

Isaiah 32:19
But the tall trees will come down with a great fall, and the town will be low in a low place.
(BBE)

Isaiah 37:24
By your servants, have you defied the Lord, and have said, "With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon. I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice fir trees. I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 45:14
The Lord says, The workmen of Egypt, and the traders of Ethiopia, and the tall Sabaeans, will come over the sea to you, and they will be yours; they will go after you; in chains they will come over: and they will go down on their faces before you, and will make prayer to you, saying, Truly, God is among you; and there is no other God.
(BBE NIV)

Ezekiel 17:24
All the trees of the field shall know that I, Yahweh, have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish; I, Yahweh, have spoken and have done it.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 19:11
And she had a strong rod for a rod of authority for the rulers, and it became tall among the clouds and it was seen lifted up among the number of its branches.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 31:3
See, a pine-tree with beautiful branches and thick growth, giving shade and very tall; and its top was among the clouds.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 31:4
It got strength from the waters and the deep made it tall: its streams went round about its planted land and it sent out its waterways to all the trees of the field.
(BBE RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 31:7
So it was beautiful, being so tall and its branches so long, for its root was by great waters.
(BBE)

Ezekiel 31:10
For this cause the Lord has said: Because he is tall, and has put his top among the clouds, and his heart is full of pride because he is so high,
(BBE)

Daniel 4:11
And the tree became tall and strong, stretching up to heaven, and to be seen from the ends of the earth:
(BBE)

Daniel 4:20
The tree which you saw, which became tall and strong, stretching up to heaven and seen from the ends of the earth;
(BBE)

Amos 2:9
Though I sent destruction on the Amorite before them, who was tall as the cedar and strong as the oak-tree, cutting off his fruit from on high and his roots from under the earth.
(BBE NIV)

Subtopics

Tall

Related Terms

Able (730 Occurrences)

Tall (41 Occurrences)

Good-looking (7 Occurrences)

Walls (152 Occurrences)

Walled (63 Occurrences)

Fenced (61 Occurrences)

Tallest (2 Occurrences)

Discouraged (19 Occurrences)

Melted (33 Occurrences)