Boy Old Testament Known
Dan
judgment; he that judges
דָּן dan
Dan (Hebrew: דָּן, dan) means “judgment; he that judges”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 35 verses across 8 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 88 children in the United States. Around 107,130 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Ahiezer in Numbers 1.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
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Dan
son of Jacob; father of Hushim
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 35 across 8 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 88 | Steady |
| All-time total | 107,130 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 3,702 in 1958 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | CA | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 30:6 |
| Last appears | Ezekiel 48:1 |
| Cross-references | 339 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Benjamin attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
- Levi attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
- Issachar attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
- Asher attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
- Reuben attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
- Gad attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
- Joseph attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
- Baal attested sibling Attested sibling — both named as children of Jacob.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Dan living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.6;
son of: Israel (H3478) and Bilhah (H1090A);
brother of: Naphtali (H5321);
half-brother of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144);
father of: Hushim (H2366B)
§ Dan = "a judge"
1) the 5th son of Jacob, the 1st of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid
2) the tribe descended from Dan, the son of Jacob
3) a city in Dan, the most northern landmark of Palestine
Dan was the fifth son of Jacob and the founder of the Israelite tribe bearing his name.
The biblical story
Dan was the fifth son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and the firstborn of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. His birth is recorded in Gen.30.6, where Rachel, who had been unable to conceive, gave Bilhah to Jacob as a concubine 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 Gen.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 (Gen.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 1Ch.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.
Key verses
Dan appears in 6 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
Genesis 30:6 -
And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Genesis 35:25 -
And the sons of Dan; Hushim.
Genesis 46:23 -
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 49:16 -
Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
Genesis 49:17
Show all 6 references
Genesis (5)
- Genesis 30:6
- Genesis 35:25
- Genesis 46:23
- Genesis 49:16
- Genesis 49:17
1 Chronicles (1)
- 1 Chronicles 2:2