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דִּין

𐤃𐤉𐤍

dîyn

H1777 verb

SILEX Entry

Root דין to judge, govern, contend

Definition

To judge, pass sentence, govern; in derivative and extended senses, to act as judge, to adjudicate disputes, to govern or exercise authority. Occasionally, to strive or contend (in legal or broader sense).

Semantic Range

to act as judge, to render judgment, to pass sentence, to govern, to rule, to vindicate, to contend, to strive, to arbitrate

Root / Etymology

Root: דין (d-y-n). Core root meaning: to judge, to govern, to contend. The verb דִּין derives from the triliteral root דין, which expresses the basic idea of judgment or rule. Phonetic variation with דּוּן (dûn, as in Genesis 6:3) is attested; both forms share the same basic sense, though דון is rare.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, דִּין is frequently used in judicial or governance contexts—to describe the act of judging between parties (e.g., Gen 15:14; Ps 7:9), passing sentence, or wielding rule or authority (sometimes in the sense of 'to vindicate' or 'to execute judgment'). The form דּוּן occurs only in Genesis 6:3 and appears to reflect an archaic variant. The root דין underlies several other words related to law and justice (e.g., דָּן 'Dan', i.e., 'judge'). Over time, its usage expands from strict legal judgment to broader senses of governance, pleading, and even personal contention. Later Hebrew uses (e.g., in Rabbinic literature) focus almost exclusively on the legal-judicial sense. English translations often render דִּין as 'to judge,' but contexts may require 'to govern,' 'to rule,' or 'to arbitrate.' Contrasts with שָׁפַט (shafat), which tends to emphasize the exercise of authority as judge, while דין highlights the act of rendering decisions or legal contentions.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or (Genesis 6:3) דּוּן; a primitive root; a straight course, i.e. sail direct; (come) with a straight course.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

דין (d-y-n) — to judge, govern, contend

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1778 דִּין those who judge
H1779 דִּין legal judgment
H1780 דִּין legal judgment
H1781 דַּיָּן to a judicial official
H1782 דַּיָּן and judicial officials

Word Forms

11 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H1777-10 יָדִ֣ין yadin HVqi3ms will judge he will judge he will judge 10
H1777-01 דָּ֣ן dan HVqrmsa to judge Judge one judging 3
H1777-05 לָ/דִ֥ין ladin HR/Vqc to judge to judge to judge 3
H1777-02 דָּנַ֣/נִּי danani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs has judged me he judged me has judged me 1
H1777-09 וְ֝/דִ֗ין vedin HC/Vqv2ms and defend and judge! and defend 1
H1777-03 דָ֔נוּ danu HVqp3cp they judge they judged they judged 1
H1777-08 תְדִינֵֽ/נִי tedineni HVqi2ms/Sp1cs vindicate me you judge me vindicate me 1
H1777-07 תָּדִ֣ין tadin HVqi2ms shall judge you will judge you will judge 1
H1777-06 נָד֔וֹן nadon HVNrmsa quarreling one being judged quarreling 1
H1777-04 דִּ֤ינוּ dinu HVqv2mp judge Judge! Judge 1

Occurrences in Scripture

24 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H1777-11 Genesis 6:3 יָד֨וֹן yadon HVqi3ms abide he will judge he will judge
H1777-01 Genesis 15:14 דָּ֣ן dan HVqrmsa I will judge Judge I will judge
H1777-02 Genesis 30:6 דָּנַ֣/נִּי danani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs has judged me he judged me has judged me
H1777-10 Genesis 49:16 יָדִ֣ין yadin HVqi3ms shall judge he will judge he will judge
H1777-10 Deuteronomy 32:36 יָדִ֤ין yadin HVqi3ms will judge he will judge he will judge
H1777-10 1 Samuel 2:10 יָדִ֣ין yadin HVqi3ms will judge he will judge he will judge
H1777-06 2 Samuel 19:10 נָד֔וֹן nadon HVNrmsa quarreling one being judged quarreling
H1777-05 Isaiah 3:13 לָ/דִ֥ין ladin HR/Vqc to judge to judge to judge
H1777-03 Jeremiah 5:28 דָ֔נוּ danu HVqp3cp they judge they judged they judged
H1777-04 Jeremiah 21:12 דִּ֤ינוּ dinu HVqv2mp judge Judge! Judge
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