(גַּבּוֹר, gibbor', 1 Samuel 17:51; elsewhere "mighty man"). The Hebrews phrase אַישׁאּהִבֵּנִיַם, ish hab-bena´ yim, rendered "champion" in 1 Samuel 17:4; 1 Samuel 17:23, literally signifies a man between the two, that is, a go-between, an arbiter, or one who offers a challenge, and appropriately denotes the position of Goliath when he stood up between the Hebrew and Philistine armies. Single combats at the head of armies were not unusual in ancient times, and in many cases it was a condition that the result should determine the national quarrel. An example of this kind is the combat between Paris and Menelaus, described by Homer. A similar practice obtains in the present day among the Bedouin Arabs. (See SINGLE COMBAT).

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Champion'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/c/champion.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

Bible Encyclopedias Champion

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bible Encyclopedias
Champion