דָּן יַעַן
𐤃𐤍 𐤉𐤏𐤍
Dan Yaan
H1842 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Dan-Ya'an is the name of a geographic location mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, understood as a settlement or area. The lexical meaning is primarily a proper noun, denoting a specific place whose exact identification is uncertain. The name as a compound appears to combine 'Dan,' likely referencing a place or person connected with the Israelite tribe, and 'Ya'an,' a term whose meaning in this context is obscure, but commonly means 'on account of' or 'because.' The full phrase may suggest 'Dan on account of' or 'Dan of Ya'an,' though the latter component is not attested elsewhere as a place or personal name. The semantic range is limited, existing solely as a place name in the biblical narrative.
Semantic Range
proper name of a place (geographic location), personal or tribal reference (Dan), interpretive component (Ya'an; possibly 'on account of' or as a name fragment); no broader semantic usage beyond this referent
Root / Etymology
The first part, דָּן (Dan), derives from the root דּוּן or דָּן meaning 'to judge,' but in most place names and personal names, refers to the Israelite tribal ancestor Dan or the settlement named after him. The second component, יַעַן (Ya'an), typically means 'on account of,' 'because,' or 'since' in standard Hebrew, but its use in this compound is unclear—possibly serving as a unique or archaic place name, or representing a contracted or altered form. Etymology of the compound as a place name is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Dan-Ya'an occurs only in 2 Samuel 24:6 as one of the places visited during David’s census. Its location is uncertain and not attested in external sources or later tradition. Some scholars consider the second element, Ya'an, to be a corruption or scribal error, as it does not appear elsewhere as a place name and makes little semantic sense as rendered, though the Masoretic Text preserves this form. Other ancient translations (e.g., the Septuagint) sometimes omit or alter the name, implying confusion about the location among early tradents. There is no association of this location with the later concept of 'Judahite,' 'Judean,' or 'Jew'; it is a geographic term possibly connected to territory associated with the tribe of Dan, though this is uncertain. Related proper names (e.g., Dan alone) refer to tribal affiliations or places; the unique compound Dan-Ya'an is otherwise unattested, and later translations such as the KJV create English forms like 'Dan-jaan' based on the Hebrew but without a clear historical basis.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּן and (apparently) יַעַן; judge of purpose; Dan-Jaan, a place in Palestine; Dan-jaan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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דן; יען (d-n; y-ʿ-n) — to judge, rule; on account of, because
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1842-01 |
דָּ֣נָ/ה | danah | HNp/Sd |
to Dan-jaan | Dan-Yaʿan | 1 |
H1842-02 |
יַּ֔עַן | yaan | HNp |
jaan | because | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1842-01 |
2 Samuel 24:6 | דָּ֣נָ/ה | danah | HNp/Sd |
to Dan-jaan | Dan-Yaʿan |
H1842-02 |
2 Samuel 24:6 | יַּ֔עַן | yaan | HNp |
jaan | because |