Titans

TITANS.—In Greek mythology the Titans were divine or semi-divine beings who, endowed with supernatural powers, were overcome only with the greatest difficulty. In later times they were identified with primitive giants.

In the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] version of Samuel the ‘Vale of Rephaim’ (2Sa 5:16; 2Sa 5:22) is called the ‘Vale of the Titans.’ Here it is used in the sense of ‘giants,’ for the same version of Chronicles translates this name in 1Ch 11:15; 1Ch 14:9 ‘Vale of the Giants.’ Thus, in interpreting early Hebrew thought for Greek readers, the old shadowy Rephaim were identified with Titans and giants.

Similarly in the song of victory in Jdt 16:7 we read:

‘For the mighty one did not fall by the young men,

Neither did the sons of Titans smite him,

Nor did tall giants set upon him,

But Judith, the daughter of Merari …’

In this late work Greek mythology has been absorbed by Jewish thought.

George A. Barton.

tı̄´tanz: In Judith 16:7, “Neither did the sons of the Titans (υἱοὶ Τιτάνων, huioı́ Titánōn) smite him.” The name of an aboriginal Canaanitish race of reputed giants who inhabited Palestine before the Hebrews, and so used in the sense of “giants” in general. See REPHAIM. In 2Sa 5:18, 2Sa 5:22, the “valley of Rephaim” is translated by the Septuagint as “the valley of the Titans.”