Imagine a contest where the Bible’s strongest, fastest, and most enduring heroes compete head-to-head in a modern GFF Challenge: 30 push-ups, 30 squats, 30 leg lifts, and a 500-meter run. Using current world record exercise speeds and legendary (or plausible) animal speeds for the run, here’s how these iconic figures might compare.

Samson; Judge and Nazirite Strongman; 1:20 (Estimated)

Samson’s legendary strength is unmatched in scripture—tearing apart a lion, carrying city gates, and defeating armies single-handedly. While the Bible doesn’t describe his running speed, his explosive power and stamina would be off the charts. If Samson could perform each exercise in just 10 seconds and run 500 meters in 20 seconds—reflecting his miraculous abilities—he would finish the GFF challenge in approximately 1 minute and 20 seconds, likely the fastest among mortals.

Asahel; Young Warrior; 1:31

Asahel is remembered for being “swift as a gazelle,” a title taken literally here. Using a gazelle’s sprint speed for the 500-meter run (22.5 seconds) and world record times for the exercises, Asahel’s total GFF score would be 1 minute and 31 seconds, putting him among the speediest men of the Bible.

David; Young Shepherd/Warrior; 1:31

David, famed for his agility and strength—able to take on lions, bears, and giants—was compared to a deer for his speed. With a deer’s top speed for the run and elite times for the exercises, David would also complete the GFF challenge in 1 minute and 31 seconds, tying Asahel and proving his legendary athleticism.

Goliath; Veteran Philistine Champion; 2:00 (Estimated)

Goliath was described as a giant, towering over his opponents and feared for his raw power. His massive size likely gave him immense strength but limited his speed and agility. If he could complete the exercises in 20 seconds each and run 500 meters in 60 seconds—a fast time for someone of his build—his GFF score would be about 2 minutes flat, showing overwhelming power but not quite matching the swiftest.

Jacob; Middle-aged Patriarch and Angel-Wrestler; 0:45 (During the Feat), 8:43 (After)

Jacob performed one of the Bible’s most extraordinary feats by wrestling an angel through the entire night, a contest that no ordinary human could survive, let alone endure. In that miraculous moment, Jacob’s strength, endurance, and resolve would have soared to superhuman levels—if channeled into the GFF challenge, he could have completed all exercises and the run in a staggering 45 seconds, outpacing even the fastest mortals by a wide margin. However, the cost of this divine encounter was a dislocated hip, and after the struggle, Jacob’s physical abilities were drastically reduced; his post-fight GFF score would plummet to 8 minutes and 43 seconds, showing both the peak of his miraculous potential and the lasting impact of wrestling with the divine.

Saul; Grown King; 1:45

Saul, described as “swifter than eagles,” was tall, strong, and a formidable leader in battle. Matching an eagle’s flying speed for his 500-meter run (36 seconds) and using elite exercise times, Saul would complete the GFF challenge in 1 minute and 45 seconds, earning a place among the biblical elite.

Jonathan; Young Prince; 1:45

Jonathan, Saul’s son, was also praised for his speed and courage, often fighting at the front lines. With the same eagle comparison and athletic ability, Jonathan would match his father’s GFF score of 1 minute and 45 seconds, proving himself one of Israel’s finest warriors.

Caleb; Elderly Veteran (Age 85); 2:30

Caleb, at 85 years old, boldly claimed the hill country and drove out giants from Hebron. Even in old age, his faith and vigor were legendary. If we give him a strong but realistic veteran’s time—85 seconds for the 500-meter run and just above world record speeds for the exercises—Caleb would score about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. His performance would be remarkable for any age, and truly extraordinary for a man in his ninth decade.

These scores show that the Bible’s legendary figures, if placed in a modern fitness challenge, would still stand out for their unique strengths—whether speed, power, endurance, or sheer determination. Some, like Jacob, would even brush the edge of the miraculous.