Deuteronomy 3:11
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This verse isn't just about a giant king; it's a subtle boast about God's power. By mentioning Og's enormous iron bedstead—a trophy likely kept by the Ammonites—as proof of his immense size, Moses reminds the Israelites how truly small their enemies were in comparison to the God fighting for them. It subtly highlights the incredible feat of their victory, making God's strength the true marvel, not just the size of their foe.
(For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.)
English Standard Version (ESV)
Moses recounts Israel's conquest of Bashan, highlighting their victory over Og, its last and giant king. The text then emphasizes Og's immense size by describing his iron bedstead, noted as a remarkable artifact that could still be seen in Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, serving as a tangible reminder of this fearsome foe.
The sheer size of Og, the last of the Rephaim, was legendary. But what does this immense, iron bedstead truly represent?
This verse introduces Og, the last of the Rephaim, a race known for their imposing stature. His iron bedstead, measuring a staggering nine cubits by four, wasn't just a piece of furniture; it was a testament to his immense physical presence. The fact that it was made of 'iron' likely signifies its strength and durability, perhaps even its imposing dark color, possibly basaltic rock common in the region.
This enormous bed served as a stark reminder of the fearsome foe the Israelites faced. Yet, its presence in Rabbath, a city of the Ammonites, long after Og's defeat, highlights a key theological point:
Why focus on a bed? This immense object, whether a bedstead or a sarcophagus, served a deeper purpose than just occupying space.
The description of Og's bedstead is more than just an archaeological curiosity; it's a powerful symbolic element. The sheer dimensions—nine cubits by four (roughly 13.5 feet by 6 feet)—underscore the extraordinary nature of Og's physical stature.
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Here's what makes it so impactful:
Understand the original words
repha'im · Hebrew Noun
A group of ancient people described in the Bible as giants, often associated with the inhabitants of Canaan before the Israelite conquest. They represent a formidable physical obstacle that God enabled Israel to overcome.
ammah · Hebrew Noun
A common unit of measurement in the ancient Near East, traditionally representing the length of a forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. It was used as a standard for construction and land measurement.
The mention of Og's iron bedstead, preserved in Rabbah of the Ammonites, serves as a tangible relic of a defeated giant king and a past era of formidable foes. This detail emphasizes the immense scale of God's past deliverances and the completeness of Israel's victory.
c. 18th-13th century BC
Rephaim inhabit Transjordan
The Rephaim, an ancient and formidable people known for their size, inhabited various regions east of the Jordan River, including Bashan.
c. 13th century BC
Amorites displace Rephaim
The Amorites, expanding their territory, conquer and displace the Rephaim, including in Bashan. Og, a prominent Amorite king, comes to power.
c. 1200 BC— this verse
Israelites defeat Amorite kings
The Israelites, led by Moses, decisively defeat Sihon, king of the Amorites at Heshbon, and Og, king of Bashan at Edrei, claiming their lands.
c. 1200 BC
Og's kingdom becomes Israelite territory
Following Og's defeat, his vast kingdom in Bashan, including its many fortified cities, is taken and becomes part of the territory allotted to the tribes of Israel.
c. 10th century BC
Rabbah of Ammon is conquered
During the reign of King David, the Israelite army conquers Rabbah, the capital city of the Ammonites, though the city is later returned.
This passage directly mentions Og, the king of Bashan, and his territory, reinforcing the historical context of his rule and the land he governed.
Amos 6:4This verse critiques luxurious living and the creation of elaborate furniture, which, though in a different context, offers a parallel to the idea of an extravagant or imposing bedstead like Og's.
Genesis 14:5This verse first introduces the Rephaim, the people of whom Og was a remnant, providing the ancient lineage and context for the 'giants' mentioned in Deuteronomy.
Numbers 21:33-35This passage recounts the defeat of Og by the Israelites, providing the narrative of his destruction and the subsequent conquest of his land, which is the prelude to the description in Deuteronomy.
gillDeuteronomy 3:11: "For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man."
For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants,.... The meaning seems to be, either that he was the only one that was left of the race of the giants the Ammonites found when they took possession of this country, De…
clarkeDeuteronomy 3:11: "For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man."
Og king of Bashan remained - Og was the last king of the Amorites; his kingdom appears to have taken its name from the hill of Bashan; the country has been since called Batanaea. Remnant of giants - Of the Rephaim. See on Deuter…
This verse isn't just about a giant king; it's a subtle boast about God's power. By mentioning Og's enormous iron bedstead—a trophy likely kept by the Ammonites—as proof of his immense size, Moses reminds the Israelites how truly small their enemies were in comparison to the God fighting for them. It subtly highlights the incredible feat of their victory, making God's strength the true marvel, not just the size of their foe.
Moses recounts Israel's conquest of Bashan, highlighting their victory over Og, its last and giant king. The text then emphasizes Og's immense size by describing his iron bedstead, noted as a remarkable artifact that could still be seen in Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, serving as a tangible reminder of this fearsome foe.
Moses recounts Israel's conquest of Bashan, highlighting their victory over Og, its last and giant king. The text then emphasizes Og's immense size by describing his iron bedstead, noted as a remarkable artifact that could still be seen in Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, serving as a tangible reminder of this fearsome foe.
"(For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.)" — This verse isn't just about a giant king; it's a subtle boast about God's power. By mentioning Og's enormous iron bedstead—a trophy likely kept by the Ammonites—as proof of his immense size, Moses re…
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Last reviewed October 2026
