I SAMUEL 17:4-11

Q:  Goliath was over nine feet tall? Really? Is this a translation issue?

The first thing to point out is that this height is not beyond the realm of possibility since the tallest authenticated man in recent history was Robert Pershing Wadlow, who was 8'11'' and still growing at the time of his death. Also, David Tsumura (The First Book of Samuel) points to an Englishman named John Middleton (ca. 1600 AD) who was reportedly 9'9'' tall. Such unusual heights are generally due to abnormal pituitary gland activity. But the question remains as to whether this is an accurate translation.

The Hebrew text gives Goliath's height as six cubits and a span. Again, there is the possibility that a number was incorrectly copied in the Hebrew text since both the Septuagint and Dead Sea scroll versions of this passage read “four cubits and a span,” which would equal about 6 ½ feet. This number appears in the NAB translation. Although this seems like a more likely height, Tsumura points out that the recorded weight of Goliath's armor is more consistent with a 9'+ height man.

So you have your choice of either an abnormally tall man or a fairly tall man (for the time) with extra heavy armor.