Topical Encyclopedia
Dagon was a prominent deity worshiped by the Philistines and other ancient Near Eastern cultures, particularly in the region of Mesopotamia. The name "Dagon" is often associated with grain and agriculture, suggesting that he was originally a fertility god. Over time, Dagon's worship evolved, and he became a significant figure in the pantheon of the Philistines, a people frequently in conflict with the Israelites as recorded in the Old Testament.
Biblical References:1.
Judges 16:23 · Dagon is mentioned in the context of the Philistines' celebration over the capture of Samson. The Philistines attributed their victory to Dagon, saying, "Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands." This indicates the high regard in which Dagon was held as a god of deliverance and victory.
2.
1 Samuel 5:1-5 · One of the most notable accounts involving Dagon is the account of the Ark of the Covenant being placed in the temple of Dagon in Ashdod. The following morning, the statue of Dagon was found fallen on its face before the Ark. After setting it back in place, the next day, Dagon was again found fallen, this time with its head and hands severed. This event demonstrated the superiority of the God of Israel over Dagon, as recorded: "When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD" (
1 Samuel 5:3).
3.
1 Chronicles 10:10 · After the death of King Saul, the Philistines placed his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon. This act was likely intended to signify the triumph of Dagon over the God of Israel, although the biblical narrative consistently portrays the God of Israel as ultimately sovereign.
Cultural and Historical Context:Dagon's worship was not limited to the Philistines; he was also revered in other parts of the ancient Near East, including by the Amorites and in the city of Mari. Archaeological evidence suggests that Dagon was often depicted as a figure with both human and fish-like features, although interpretations vary. The association with fish may have been a later development, possibly due to linguistic connections between the Hebrew word for fish, "dag," and the name Dagon.
The worship of Dagon included temples and rituals typical of ancient Near Eastern religious practices. The temple of Dagon in Gaza, mentioned in the account of Samson, and the temple in Ashdod, where the Ark was placed, were significant centers of worship.
Theological Significance:From a theological perspective, the biblical accounts involving Dagon serve to highlight the power and supremacy of the God of Israel over pagan deities. The narrative of Dagon's statue falling before the Ark of the Covenant is a powerful symbol of the futility of idolatry and the ultimate authority of the God of Israel. These accounts reinforce the biblical theme that no other god can stand before the LORD, who is the one true God.
The encounters between the Israelites and the Philistines, often involving Dagon, underscore the ongoing spiritual battle between the worship of the LORD and the idolatrous practices of surrounding nations. These accounts serve as a reminder of the call to faithfulness and the rejection of false gods, a central tenet in the biblical narrative.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Dagoncorn; a fish
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Dagon(a fish), apparently the masculine, (1 Samuel 5:3,4) correlative of Atargatis, was the national god of the Philistines. The most famous temples of Dagon were at Gaza, (Judges 16:21-30) and Ashdod. (1 Samuel 5:5,6;1 Chronicles 10:10) The latter temple was destroyed by Jonathan in the Maccabaean wars. Traces of the worship of Dagon likewise appear in the names Caphar-dagon (near Jamnia) and Beth-dagon in Judah, (Joshua 15:41) and Asher. (Joshua 19:27) Dagon was represented with the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish. (1 Samuel 5:5) The fish-like form was a natural emblem of fruitfulness, and as such was likely to be adopted by seafaring tribes in the representation of their gods.
ATS Bible Dictionary
DagonFish-god, a national idol of the Philistines, with temples at Gaza, Ashdid, etc.,1 Chronicles 10:10. The temple at Gaza was destroyed by Samson, Jud 16:21-30. In that at Ashdod, Dagon twice miraculously fell down before the ark of God; and in the second fall his head and hands were broken off, leaving only the body, which was in the form of a large fish,1 Samuel 5:1-9. SeeJoshua 15:41; 19:27. There were other idols of like form among the ancients, particularly the goddess Derceto of Atergatis; and a similar form or "incarnation" of Vishnu is at this day much worshipped in India, and like Dagon is destined to be prostrated in the dust before the true God.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Little fish; diminutive from dag = a fish, the fish-god; the national god of the Philistines (
Judges 16:23). This idol had the body of a fish with the head and hands of a man. It was an Assyrio-Babylonian deity, the worship of which was introduced among the Philistines through Chaldea. The most famous of the temples of Dagon were at Gaza (
Judges 16:23-30) and Ashdod (
1 Samuel 5:1-7). (see
FISH.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The national god of the Philistines, represented with the face and hands and upper part of a man, and the tail of a fish.
2. (n.) A slip or piece.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DAGONda'-gon (daghon; apparently derived from dagh, "fish"): Name of the god of the Philistines (according to Jerome onIsaiah 46:1 of the Philistines generally); in the Bible, Dagon is associated with Gaza (Judges 16) but elsewhere with Ashdod (compare1 Samuel 5 and 1 Maccabees 10:83; 11:4); in1 Chronicles 10:10 there is probably an error (compare the passage1 Samuel 31:10). The god had his temple ("the house of Dagon") and his priests. When the ark was captured by the Philistines, it was conducted to Ashdod where it was placed in the house of Dagon by the side of the idol. But on the morrow it was found that the idol lay prostrate before the ark of the Lord. It was restored to its place; but on the following day Dagon again lay on the ground before the ark, this time with the head and both hands severed from the body and lying upon the miphtan (the word is commonly interpreted to mean "threshold"; according to Winckler, it means "pedestal"); the body alone remained intact. The Hebrew says: "Dagon alone remained." Whether we resort to an emendation (dagho, "his fish-part") or not, commentators appear to be right in inferring that the idol was half-man, half-fish. Classic authors give this form to Derceto. The sacred writer adds that from that time on the priests of Dagon and all those that entered the house of Dagon refrained from stepping upon the miphtan of Dagon. See1 Samuel 5:1-5. The prophet Zephaniah (Zephaniah 1:9) speaks of an idolatrous practice which consisted in leaping over the miphtan. The Septuagint in 1 Samuel indeed adds the clause: "but they were accustomed to leap." Leaping over the threshold was probably a feature of the Philistine ritual which the Hebrews explained in their way. A god Dagon seems to have been worshipped by the Canaanites; see BETH-DAGON.
LITERATURE
Commentaries on Judges and 1 Samuel; Winckler, Altoriental. Forschungen, III, 383.
Max L. Margolis
Strong's Hebrew
1016. Beth-dagon -- "house ofDagon," two places in PalestineBeth-
dagon. 1015, 1016. Beth-
dagon. 1017 . "house of
Dagon," two places
in Palestine. Transliteration: Beth-
dagon Phonetic Spelling
...1712.Dagon -- a god and an idol of the Philistines
... 1711, 1712.Dagon. 1713 . a god and an idol of the Philistines. Transliteration:
Dagon Phonetic Spelling: (daw-gohn') Short Definition:Dagon....
Library
Dagon Before the Ark. Judg 5:4,5
... I SAMUEL Hymn 26DAGON before the ark. Judg 5:4,5. John Newton 8,8,8,8.DAGON before
the ark. Judg 5:4,5. When first to make my heart his own,....
The Ark among the Philistines
... The Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the temple ofDagon
in Ashdod and set it up by the side ofDagon. When the...
The History of Saul
... Then the Philistines took the ark of God and set it in their temple ofDagon,
by their godDagon, in Ashdod. On the morn, the next...
Strength Profaned and Lost
... Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice
untoDagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath...
The Ark of the House of Obed-Edom
... They had carried it and set it in insolent triumph in the Temple ofDagon, as if
to proclaim that the Jehovah of Israel was the conquered prisoner of the...
How Alexander Honored Jonathan after an Extraordinary Manner; and...
... Jonathan pursued them as far as Ashdod, and slew a great many of them, and compelled
the rest, in despair of escaping, to fly to the temple ofDagon, which was...
Blessed be that First Day of Thine, Lord, Wherewith this Day of...
... There rose from the Rib [430] a hidden power, which cut off Satan asDagon: for
in that Ark a book was hidden that cried and proclaimed concerning the Conqueror...
Three Decisive Steps
... The crowning disaster of the day was "the ark of God was taken." The Philistines
carried it away to Ashdod, and set it in the house ofDagon, their idol....
The Destruction that came Upon the Philistines, and Upon
... the ark of the Hebrews captive, as I said a little before, they carried it to the
city of Ashdod, and put it by their own god, who was calledDagon, [1] as one...
A Jealous God
...Dagon can stand with Bel, and Bel with Ashtaroth; how should stone, and wood, and
silver, be moved to indignation; but because God is the only living and true...
Thesaurus
Dagon (9 Occurrences)... The most famous of the temples of
Dagon were at Gaza (Judges 16:23-30) and Ashdod
(1 Samuel 5:1-7). (see FISH.). Noah Webster's Dictionary.
...DAGON.
...Dagon's (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible DictionaryDagon's house. (1 Samuel 5:2), or Beth-dagon, as elsewhere
rendered (Joshua 15:41; 19:27), was the sanctuary or temple ofDagon....
Beth-dagon (2 Occurrences)
Beth-dagon. Bethdagon, Beth-dagon. Beth-da'gon . Easton's Bible
Dictionary House ofDagon. (1.) A city in the low country...
Ashdod (21 Occurrences)
... It was one of the chief seats of the worship ofDagon (1 Samuel 5:5). It belonged
to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:47), but it never came into their actual...
Threshold (28 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 5:4 When they arose early on the next day morning, behold,Dagon was fallen
on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh; and the head ofDagon...
Threshhold (12 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold,Dagon had
fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD: and the head of...
Bethdagon (2 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary House ofDagon.... It is identical with the modern ruined
village of Tell D'auk. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. BETH-DAGON....
Downward (10 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 1 Samuel 5:3 When they of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold,
Dagon was fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of Yahweh....
Doorstep (11 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 5:4 And when they got up early on the morning after,Dagon had come down
to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord; and his head and his...
Trunk (3 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold,Dagon was
fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of Jehovah; and the head of...
Resources
Who was Dagon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWas Jonah truly swallowed by a whale? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.orgDagon: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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