Lexical Definition
דָּן Dân (dawn) Dan N:N--L
from דִּין; judge
Daniel
- § Dan = "a 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
1) the 5th son of Jacob, the 1st of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid
2) the tribe descended from Dan, the son of Jacob
n pr loc
3) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine
Extended Information
- A man of the tribe of Dan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.6
- son of: Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵל) and Bilhah (בִּלְהָה)
- brother of: Naphtali (נַפְתָּלִי)
- half-brother of: Reuben (רְאוּבֵן), Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן), Levi (לֵוִי), Judah (יְהוּדָה), Gad (גָּד), Asher (אָשֵׁר), Issachar (יִשָּׂשכָר), Zebulun (זְבוּלוּן), Dinah (דִּינָה), Joseph (יוֹסֵף) and Benjamin (בִּנְיָמִין)
- father of: Hushim (חוּשִׁים)
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Also see: דָּן יַעַן
דָּן proper name, masculine (judge) —
1. son of Jacob and Bilhah Gen 30:6; Gen 35:25; Exod 1:4; Josh 19:47; Judg 18:29; 1Chr 2:2.
2. the tribe of Dan, מַטֵּה דָן Exod 31:6; Exod 35:34; Exod 38:23; Lev 24:11; Num 1:39; Num 13:12; Josh 21:5; Josh 21:23 (all P); בְּנֵי דָן Gen 46:23; Num 1:38; Num 2:25; Num 7:66; Num 10:25; Num 26:42; Num 34:22; Josh 19:40; Josh 19:47 (twice in verse); Josh 19:48 (all P) Judg 1:34; Judg 18:2; Judg 18:16; Judg 18:22; Judg 18:23; Judg 18:25; Judg 18:26; Judg 18:30 מַחֲנֵה דָן Num 2:25; Num 2:31 (P) — on Judg 13:25; Judg 18:12 see מַחֲנֶה; מִשְׁפְּחֹת דָּן Num 26:42 (P); דָּן alone in poetry Gen 49:16; Gen 49:17; Deut 33:22 (twice in verse); Judg 5:17, elsewhere Num 1:12 (P) Deut 27:13; 1Chr 27:22; 2Chr 2:13*; Ezek 48:1; Ezek 48:2; Ezek 48:32.
3. a city on northern frontier of Israel at one of the sources of the Jordan, originally לַיִשׁ Judg 18:29 (compare vJudg 18:7); = לֶשֶׁם Josh 19:47 captured by a colony of Danites; named Dan, and made a sacred place with rites of worship that lasted until the exile (Judg 18:30); = Tell el Kâdî, RobBR iii. 351, 358 BdPa1 265. This place is frequently referred to: Gen 14:14; Deut 34:1; 1Kgs 12:29; 1Kgs 12:30; 1Kgs 15:20; 2Kgs 10:29; 2Chr 16:4; Jer 4:15; Jer 8:16; Amos 8:14 read also וּבְדָן for וְכֵן 2Sam 20:18 ᵐ5 Ew We compare Dr; and see the phrase מִדָּן וְעַדבְּֿאֵר שֶׁבַע Judg 20:1; 1Sam 3:20; 2Sam 3:10; 2Sam 17:11; 2Sam 24:2; 2Sam 24:15; 1Kgs 5:5* given by Chronicles מִבְּאֵר שֶׁבַע וְעַדדָּֿן 1Chr 21:2; 2Chr 30:5. (Ezek 27:19 see ודן.)
Note. — דָּ֫נָה יַעַן 2Sam 24:6. As no such place is known, the text is usually regarded as corrupt, and, ᵐ5 being uncertain, is variously changed: (1) דָּ֫נָה יַעַר to Dan in the wood, Thes after ᵑ9 silvestria. (2) (וַיָּסֹבּוּ) דָּ֫נָה וְעִיּוֺן to Dan and Ijon Klo (compare 1Kgs 15:20). (3) (סָֽבֲבוּ) דָּן וּמִדָּן We Dr compare ᵐ5.
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 14:14 · 30:6 · 35:25 · 46:23 · 49:16 · 49:17 |
| Exodus | 1:4 · 31:6 · 35:34 · 38:23 |
| Leviticus | 24:11 |
| Numbers | 1:12 · 1:38 · 1:39 · 2:25 · 2:31 · 7:66 · 10:25 · 13:12 · 26:42 · 34:22 |
| Deuteronomy | 27:13 · 33:22 · 34:1 |
| Joshua | 19:40 · 19:47 · 19:48 · 21:5 · 21:23 |
| Judges | 1:34 · 5:17 · 13:25 · 18:2 · 18:7 · 18:12 · 18:16 · 18:22 · 18:23 · 18:25 · 18:26 · 18:29 · 18:30 · 20:1 |
| 1 Samuel | 3:20 |
| 2 Samuel | 3:10 · 17:11 · 20:18 · 24:2 · 24:6 · 24:15 |
| 1 Kings | 5:5* · 12:29 · 12:30 · 15:20 |
| 2 Kings | 10:29 |
| 1 Chronicles | 2:2 · 21:2 · 27:22 |
| 2 Chronicles | 2:13* · 16:4 · 30:5 |
| Jeremiah | 4:15 · 8:16 |
| Ezekiel | 27:19 · 48:1 · 48:2 · 48:32 |
| Amos | 8:14 |
Profile
Male • Son of Israel • Fifth son of Jacob, founder of Israelite tribe
Jacob's son living at the time of the Patriarchs
Dan was the fifth son of Jacob and the founder of the Israelite tribe bearing his name. (Gen.30.6; 35.25; 46.23; 49.16,17; 1Ch.2.2)
- Jacob's son who founded the tribe of Dan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.6;
- only referred to as Dan דָּן;
- son of Israel יִשְׂרָאֵל and Bilhah בִּלְהָה;
- a brother of Naphtali נַפְתָּלִי;
- half-brother of: Reuben רְאוּבֵן, Simeon שִׁמְעוֹן, Levi לֵוִי, Judah יְהוּדָה, Gad גָּד, Asher אָשֵׁר, Issachar יִשָּׂשכָר, Zebulun זְבוּלוּן, Dinah דִּינָה, Joseph יוֹסֵף and Benjamin בִּנְיָמִין;
- father of Hushim חוּשִׁים.
Dan was the fifth son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and the firstborn of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. His birth is recorded in Genesis 30:6, where Rachel, who had been unable to conceive, gave Bilhah to Jacob as a wife to bear children on her behalf. When Bilhah gave birth to a son, Rachel named him Dan, saying, "God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son."
As one of Israel's twelve sons, Dan became the founder of the Israelite tribe bearing his name. In Genesis 46:23, when Israel and his family moved to Egypt, Dan's son Hushim is mentioned as part of the household.
In Israel's blessing to his sons before his death (Genesis 49:16-17), Dan is described as one who will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Jacob also compares Dan to a serpent by the roadside, an adder along the path, foreshadowing the tribe's future role in the Promised Land.
The tribe of Dan was allocated territory in the northern part of Canaan during the conquest under Joshua. However, they later migrated northward and settled in the city of Laish, which they renamed Dan (Judges 18).
In 1 Chronicles 2:2, Dan is listed among the twelve tribes of Israel, confirming his status as one of the founding fathers of the nation. Throughout the Old Testament, the tribe of Dan is mentioned alongside the other Israelite tribes, although they are sometimes associated with idolatry and apostasy.
All entries for Dan: דָּן