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דֵּן

𐤃𐤍

dên

H1836 pronoun

SILEX Entry

Root דנ to specify, to point out, to indicate

Definition

Demonstrative particle in Aramaic meaning 'this,' 'these,' or 'this one,' often used to identify or specify a particular object, person, event, situation, or period of time being referenced, either spatially, temporally, or logically. Used to call attention to something present, immediate, or newly introduced in discourse.

Semantic Range

this, these, this one, such, thus, after this manner, hereafter, in this matter, therefore, wherefore

Root / Etymology

Dan (דֵּן) derives from the Aramaic demonstrative system, tracing back to older Northwest Semitic forms analogous to the Hebrew זה (zeh, 'this'). It is related to other Aramaic demonstratives such as דָּךְ (dakh, 'that'), but דֵּן is distinct as the proximal (near) marker. Aramaic demonstratives share a root with other Semitic languages, but the exact etymological root is debated and may simply represent a secondary formation within Aramaic. Hebrew dên does not occur, but occurences are found in Imperial, Biblical and later Aramaic.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Biblical Aramaic (e.g., Daniel, Ezra), דֵּן typically occurs as a standalone demonstrative meaning 'this,' sometimes extended to 'this matter' or 'such a case.' It is often paired with temporal or logical phrases (e.g., 'after this manner,' 'hereafter,' 'thus') in legal, narrative, and dialogic contexts. The term is distinct from the more familiar Hebrew demonstrative זה (zeh, 'this'). In cases of spelling variation, דֵּךְ (dekh) is the distal ('that'), reflecting the demonstrative contrast common to Semitic languages. Later Aramaic (including Targums and rabbinic Aramaic) continues to use דֵּן and its plural and suffixed forms. English translations sometimes render דֵּן with 'thus,' 'such,' or adverbial phrases, depending on context, but the primary force is demonstrative rather than adverbial. This particle was central to the structure of Aramaic, especially in legal formulations or formulaic contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) an orthographical variation of דֵּךְ; this; (afore-) time, [phrase] after this manner, here (-after), one...another, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), [phrase] thus, where(-fore), which.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

דנ (d-n) — to specify, to point out, to indicate

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1835 דָּן from Dan

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H1836-01 דְּנָ֔ה denah AC this this 53
H1836-03 כִּ/דְנָה֙ kidenah AR/Pdxcs like-this like this 2
H1836-02 כִ/דְנָה֙ khidenah AR/Pdxms like this like this one 1
H1836-04 וּ/דְנָ֥ה udenah AC/Pdxms and-this and this one 1
H1836-05 וְ/כִ/דְנָה֙ vekhidenah AC/R/Pdxms as follows this one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

58 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H1836-03 Jeremiah 10:11 כִּ/דְנָה֙ kidenah AR/Pdxcs Thus like this
H1836-02 Daniel 2:10 כִ/דְנָה֙ khidenah AR/Pdxms like this like this one
H1836-01 Daniel 2:12 דְּנָ֔ה denah AC this this
H1836-01 Daniel 2:18 דְּנָ֑ה denah APdxms this this
H1836-01 Daniel 2:24 דְּנָ֗ה denah AC this this
H1836-01 Daniel 2:28 דְּנָ֥ה denah APdxms this this
H1836-01 Daniel 2:29 דְנָ֑ה denah APdxms this this
H1836-01 Daniel 2:30 דְנָ֖ה denah APdxms this this
H1836-01 Daniel 2:36 דְּנָ֣ה denah APdxms This this
H1836-01 Daniel 2:43 דְּנָ֣ה denah APdxms this this
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