1 Chronicles 20:6

And yet againe there was warre at Gath, where was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were foure and twentie, sixe on each hand, and sixe on each foot. And he also was the sonne of the giant. 1 Chronicles 20:6 (KJV)

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stature, whose fingers and toes were four and twenty, six on each hand, and six on each foot: and he also was the son of the giant. 1 Chronicles 20:6 (KJV)

The book of 1 Chronicles belongs to the Old Testament and offers a historical record of Israel’s genealogies, the reigns of its kings, and the nation’s major events. This passage is situated within a section that recounts the wars and victories of King David, highlighting a particular encounter at Gath.

Gath was one of the five principal Philistine cities, located in what is now modern‑Israel. Throughout Scripture the city is repeatedly linked to conflicts between the Israelites and the Philistines, making it a frequent backdrop for military narratives.

In this verse a man of great stature is introduced. He is identified as the son of a giant, a reference to the Rephaim—a group noted elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Deuteronomy 2:11, 20; 2 Samuel 21:20) for their extraordinary size and strength. The description emphasizes his unusual physical attributes: twenty‑four fingers and toes, with six on each hand and each foot. This detail underscores the formidable nature of the opponent faced by David’s forces.

Some readers note that the number six, falling short of the divine number seven, can symbolize imperfection or incompleteness. While the primary purpose of the verse is historical, such symbolic observations have been offered by scholars who see the excessive digits as a literary device pointing to the unnatural and opposing character of the giant’s lineage.

Overall, 1 Chronicles 20:6 serves to highlight a unique adversary encountered during the Israelite‑Philistine wars, reinforcing the theme of God’s people confronting and overcoming seemingly insurmountable foes.