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דְּדָן

𐤃𐤃𐤍

Dedan

H1719 noun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain uncertain (as personal name); potentially 'beloved' or 'lowland' (based on speculative cognates), but actual root meaning is unknown

Definition

Dedan — a proper noun referring both to an individual ancestor figure and to the people and territory traditionally associated with him; specifically designates a people group in North-West Arabia and, in some genealogical lists, a descendant of Ham (through Cush) or Abraham (through Keturah). Primary sense: Dedan, ancestor or progenitor; by extension, Dedanites and their land.

Semantic Range

ancient Arabian people group, eponymous ancestor (Dedan), territory associated with Dedan, Dedanite traders; potentially title or designation within genealogical frameworks

Root / Etymology

Root uncertain. The name דְּדָן (Dedan) may be related to an otherwise unattested root or may contain an archaic or non-Semitic structure. The final -ān ending is common among place names and personal names in Northwest Semitic languages but its precise origin here is unclear.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, 'Dedan' primarily names a people dwelling in the northwestern Arabian Peninsula, south of Edom, often appearing alongside Sheba and Tema (Isaiah 21:13; Ezekiel 25:13; Jeremiah 25:23). In Genesis 10:7 and 1 Chronicles 1:9, Dedan is listed in the Table of Nations as a descendant of Cush (a Hamite origin), while in Genesis 25:3 and 1 Chronicles 1:32, another Dedan is descended from Abraham through Keturah (a Shemite origin), suggesting the name may have been used for multiple groups or traditions. In prophetic and oracular literature, Dedanites are portrayed as caravan traders of incense, precious goods, and livestock. English translations often simply transliterate the name, but renderings like 'Dedanites' or 'Dedanite territory' may better capture ethnic or regional meanings. The term is not used in reference to later Judean identities or populations.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (prolonged) דְּדָנֶה; (Ezekiel 25:13), of uncertain derivation; Dedan, the name of two Cushites and of their territory; Dedan.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

דדן (uncertain) (d-d-n (uncertain)) — uncertain; proper name of ancestor and associated people/land

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1719-01 דְּדָ֑ן dedan HNp Dedan Dedan Dedan 6
H1719-02 וּ/דְדָֽן udedan HC/Np and Dedan and Dedan and Dedan 4
H1719-03 וּ/דְדָ֖נֶ/ה udedaneh HC/Np/Sd and-Dedan-its and Dedan and Dedan 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1719-02 Genesis 10:7 וּ/דְדָֽן udedan HC/Np and Dedan and Dedan and Dedan
H1719-01 Genesis 25:3 דְּדָ֑ן dedan HNp Dedan Dedan Dedan
H1719-01 Genesis 25:3 דְדָ֔ן dedan-2 HNp Dedan Dedan Dedan
H1719-01 Jeremiah 25:23 דְּדָ֤ן dedan HNp Dedan Dedan Dedan
H1719-01 Jeremiah 49:8 דְּדָ֑ן dedan HNp of Dedan Dedan Dedan
H1719-03 Ezekiel 25:13 וּ/דְדָ֖נֶ/ה udedaneh HC/Np/Sd and-Dedan-its and Dedan and Dedan
H1719-01 Ezekiel 27:15 דְדָן֙ dedan HNp Dedan Dedan Dedan
H1719-01 Ezekiel 27:20 דְּדָן֙ dedan HNp Dedan Dedan Dedan
H1719-02 Ezekiel 38:13 וּ֠/דְדָן udedan HC/Np and Dedan and Dedan and Dedan
H1719-02 1 Chronicles 1:9 וּ/דְדָֽן udedan HC/Np and Dedan and Dedan and Dedan
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