Lexical Summary
Dan: Dan
Original Word:דָּן
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Dan
Pronunciation:dahn
Phonetic Spelling:(dawn)
KJV: Dan
NASB:Dan
Word Origin:[fromH1777 (דִּין דּוּן - judge)]
1. judge
2. Dan, one of the sons of Jacob
3. also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
4. likewise a place in Israel colonized by them
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Dan
Fromdiyn; judge; Dan, one of the sons of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in Palestine colonized by them -- Dan.
see HEBREWdiyn
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
dinDefinition"judge," a son of Jacob, also his desc. and their territory, also a place in N. Isr.
NASB TranslationDan (68), Danite* (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(
judge) —
Genesis 30:6;Genesis 35:25;Exodus 1:4;Joshua 19:47;Judges 18:29;1 Chronicles 2:2.
,Exodus 31:6;Exodus 35:34;Exodus 38:23;Leviticus 24:11;Numbers 1:39;Numbers 13:12;Joshua 21:5,23 (all P);Genesis 46:23;Numbers 1:38;Numbers 2:25;Numbers 7:66;Numbers 10:25;Numbers 26:42;Numbers 34:22;Joshua 19:40,47 (twice in verse);Joshua 19:48 (all P)Judges 1:34;Judges 18:2,16,22,23,25,26,30;Numbers 2:25,31 (P) — onJudges 13:25;Judges 18:12 see ;Numbers 26:42 (P); alone in poetryGenesis 49:16,17;Deuteronomy 33:22 (twice in verse);Judges 5:17, elsewhereNumbers 1:12 (P)Deuteronomy 27:13;1 Chronicles 27:22; 2Chron 2:13;Ezekiel 48:1,2,32.
, originallyJudges 18:29 (compareJudges 18:7); =Joshua 19:47; captured by a colony of Danites; named Dan, and made a sacred place with rites of worship that lasted until the exile (Judges 18:30); =Tell el Kâdî, RobBR iii. 351, 358 BdPa1 265. This place is frequently referred to:Genesis 14:14;Deuteronomy 34:1;1 Kings 12:29,30;1 Kings 15:20;2 Kings 10:29; 2Chronicles 16:4;Jeremiah 4:15;Jeremiah 8:16;Amos 8:14; read also for2 Samuel 20:18 Ew We compare Dr; and see the phraseJudges 20:1;1 Samuel 3:20;2 Samuel 3:10;2 Samuel 17:11;2 Samuel 24:2,15;1 Kings 5:5; given by Chronicles1 Chronicles 21:2; 2Chronicles 30:5. (Ezekiel 27:19 see .)
—2 Samuel 24:6. As no such place is known, the text is usually regarded as corrupt, and, being uncertain, is variously changed: (1)to Dan in the wood, Thes aftersilvestria. (2) ()to Dan and Ijon Klo (compare1 Kings 15:20). (3) () We Dr compare .
Topical Lexicon
Genealogical OriginsDan first appears as the fifth son of Jacob and the firstborn of Rachel’s maidservant Bilhah (Genesis 30:6). His name, meaning “He judged,” commemorates divine vindication for Rachel in her rivalry with Leah. Jacob later blessed his sons, saying of Dan, “Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan will be a serpent by the road, a viper in the path” (Genesis 49:16-17), hinting at both military prowess and future moral ambiguity. Moses echoed the theme of vigor, “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan” (Deuteronomy 33:22).
Tribal Identity and Census Records
At Sinai the tribe counts 62,700 fighting men (Numbers 1:39), the second largest behind Judah. A generation later the number rises to 64,400 (Numbers 26:42-43), demonstrating sustained strength despite wilderness attrition. Positioned on the north side of the camp, Dan formed the rear guard during the desert march (Numbers 2:25-31). In the allocation of the Promised Land, Joshua assigns Dan a coastal territory west of Benjamin and Ephraim (Joshua 19:40-48), yet the allotment proves too small against Philistine pressure.
Migration to the North and the Founding of the City of Dan
Judges 18 records the tribe’s expedition in search of broader space. Spying out Laish, a Sidonian-allied city lacking strong defenses, six hundred Danites seize it, rename it Dan, and establish themselves far to the north. There they set up Micah’s graven image and Jonathan-ben-Gershom’s priesthood, introducing an idolatrous cult that persists “all the time the house of God was in Shiloh” (Judges 18:31). The account explains why later writers could speak of Israel “from Dan to Beersheba,” a proverbial idiom marking the nation’s full expanse (Judges 20:1;2 Samuel 3:10;1 Kings 4:25).
Role in National Worship and Apostasy
Under King Jeroboam I, a golden calf is erected at Dan as a northern shrine designed to rival Jerusalem (1 Kings 12:28-30). Though politically convenient, the action institutionalizes idolatry. The sin remains a byword; even Jehu, who eradicated Baal from Israel, “did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam… the golden calves in Bethel and Dan” (2 Kings 10:29). Hosea condemns the cultic center indirectly by denouncing calf worship (Hosea 8:5-6).
Strategic and Geographical Importance
Located at the foot of Mount Hermon near the sources of the Jordan, Dan commands a fertile, well-watered region. Its setting on northern trade routes made it both a blessing and a vulnerability; invaders often entered through its valleys. Jeremiah’s lament illustrates this: “The snorting of the enemy’s horses is heard from Dan” (Jeremiah 8:16). Because Dan anchored Israel’s extremity, prophets regularly invoked the name when announcing coming judgment from the north.
Prophetic and Eschatological References
Ezekiel envisions Dan receiving the northernmost tribal portion in the millennial allotment (Ezekiel 48:1-2, 32). Thus, though historically tinged by idolatry, Dan is not disinherited from future covenant blessing. Conversely, Dan’s absence from the sealed tribes inRevelation 7 is striking and has prompted centuries of reflection on holiness, apostasy, and divine discipline. Scripture offers no explicit reason, leaving the omission as a sobering reminder that privileged heritage must be matched by fidelity.
Notable Individuals from the Tribe
Hushim son of Dan is named among the patriarchal clan that entered Egypt (Genesis 46:23). Later, Aholiab of the tribe of Dan, filled with the Spirit of God in craftsmanship, helps Bezalel build the tabernacle (Exodus 31:6). This pairing—one man at Israel’s origin in Egypt, another at the dawn of covenant worship—shows the tribe’s ongoing contribution to national life.
Military Engagements
Danites join Barak and Deborah in the confrontation with Sisera, yet the prophetess rebukes segments of the tribe for remaining “on ships” rather than answering the call (Judges 5:17). In later battles, warriors from Dan ally with David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:35). The chronicler’s inclusion testifies to their loyalty during a pivotal transfer of leadership.
Literary and Theological Themes
1. Justice and Judgment: The name Dan testifies that God vindicates. Whether through Samson—a Danite judge endowed with extraordinary strength—or through the prophetic warnings issued from the north, the theme of judgment courses through Dan’s history.
2. Idolatry versus True Worship: From Micah’s graven image to Jeroboam’s calf, Dan embodies the tension between ritual innovation and covenant fidelity.
3. Grace and Restoration: Ezekiel’s eschatological vision assigns Dan a portion, illustrating the steadfastness of divine promise despite human failure.
Spiritual Lessons for Believers
Dan’s narrative warns that early blessings and promises do not guarantee enduring faithfulness. Yet the tribe’s inclusion in the future land reinforces hope for restoration. The believer is called to combine zeal with obedience, learning from Dan’s triumphs and shortcomings alike.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּדָֽן׃ בדן׃ דָ֑ן דָ֔ן דָ֖ן דָ֛ן דָ֞ן דָ֠ן דָ֣ן ׀ דָּ֑ן דָּ֔ן דָּ֖ן דָּ֗ן דָּ֚ן דָּ֣ן דָּ֥ן דָּֽן׃ דָֽן׃ דָן֙ דן דן׃ וְדָ֕ן וְדָ֤ן וּלְדָ֣ן ודן ולדן לְדָ֕ן לְמִדָּן֙ לדן למדן מִדָּ֑ן מִדָּ֖ן מִדָּ֤ן מִדָּן֙ מדן bə·ḏān beDan bəḏān Dan dān ḏān lə·ḏān lə·mid·dān leDan ləḏān lemidDan ləmiddān mid·dān midDan middān ū·lə·ḏān uleDan ūləḏān veDan wə·ḏān wəḏān
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