Deuteronomy 3:11 (KJV)

What does Deuteronomy 3:11 mean?

Deuteronomy 3:11 presents Og, king of Bashan, as the last remaining member of a people the KJV calls “giants.” The verse points to his enormous iron bedstead as a striking witness to his exceptional size and to the formidable king Israel had faced.

Moses is recounting Israel’s encounters before the people enter the land. After describing the territory taken from Og in verse 10, the account points readers to Rabbath, an Ammonite city, as the place where Og’s bedstead could be found.

The Hebrew behind Deuteronomy 3:11

• “giants” — רְפָאִים (repha’im): This is the name of a people known as the Rephaim. The KJV’s “giants” brings out their association with exceptional size.
• “bedstead” — עֶרֶשׂ (ʿeres): This word usually means a bed or couch. In this verse, the object is associated with Og and is remarkable for its iron construction and large dimensions.

Why Deuteronomy 3:11 matters

• The measurements give readers a concrete picture of the bedstead’s scale. Using a common estimate of about 18 inches for a cubit, nine by four cubits would be roughly 13½ by 6 feet; the exact size depends on the cubit used.
• The bedstead’s location makes the account more specific than a passing description. The question “is it not in Rabbath” directs attention to a named city where the object was said to be.
• “Only Og” identifies him as the last of the particular remnant mentioned here. The statement concerns the Rephaim, not every large person in the surrounding accounts.