Rephaim

The Rephaim (singular Rapha; meaning uncertain — possibly shades, the dead, or the giant ones) were an ancient race of people of extraordinary physical stature who inhabited Canaan and Transjordan before and during Israel's conquest of the land. They are associated with several specific groups: the Emim in Moab, the Zamzummim in Ammon (Deuteronomy 2:10–11, 20–21), and the Anakim in the hill country. Og king of Bashan was described as the last survivor of the Rephaim (Deuteronomy 3:11), and the Valley of Rephaim near Jerusalem was apparently named after them (Joshua 15:8).

Several giant warriors encountered by David's men are described as descendants of harapha (the giant), including Ishbi-benob, Saph, the unnamed brother of Goliath, and Lahmi (2 Samuel 21:15–22; 1 Chronicles 20:4–8). In the poetic literature, rephaim also functions as a word for the shades of the dead in Sheol (Job 26:5; Psalm 88:10; Proverbs 2:18; Isaiah 14:9; 26:14, 19) — an overlap of meaning that has generated considerable discussion.