Boy Old Testament Known
Dathan
laws or rites
דָּתָן da.tan
Dathan (Hebrew: דָּתָן, da.tan) means “laws or rites”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 8 verses across 3 books of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 6 children in the United States. Use is falling away. Around 1,571 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears with Abiram in Numbers 16.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Dathan
son of Eliab
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 8 across 3 books
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Exodus
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 6 | Falling |
| All-time total | 1,571 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 53 in 2005 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Numbers 16:1 |
| Last appears | Psalms 106:17 |
| Cross-references | 84 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Abiram co-occurrence Appears with Abiram in Numbers 16.
- Eliab co-occurrence Appears with Eliab in Numbers 16.
- Peleth co-occurrence Appears with Peleth in Numbers 16.
- On co-occurrence Appears with On in Numbers 16.
- Nemuel co-occurrence Appears with Nemuel in Numbers 26.
- Korah co-occurrence Appears with Korah in Numbers 16.
- Izhar co-occurrence Appears with Izhar in Numbers 16.
Origin & meaning
A man of the tribe of Reuben living at the time of Egypt and Wilderness, first mentioned at Num.16.1;
son of: Eliab (H0446H);
brother of: Abiram (H0048) and Nemuel (H5241)
§ Dathan = "belonging to a fountain"
a Reubenite chief, son of Eliab, who, with his brother, Abiram, joined Korah's conspiracy against Moses' authority
Dathan, a Reubenite, joined Korah's rebellion against Moses and Aaron and was punished by God.
The biblical story
Dathan, along with his brother Abiram, was a descendant of Reuben who joined Korah, a Levite, in rebelling against the authority of Moses and Aaron (Num.16.1). When Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, they refused to come, accusing Moses of failing to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey (Num.16.12-14).
As the rebellion escalated, Moses warned the congregation to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Num.16.24-27). God then caused the earth to open up and swallow Dathan, Abiram, and their households, along with Korah and his followers (Num.16.31-35; Psalm Num.106.17).
The sons of Dathan and Abiram, however, did not die in this judgment (Num.26.9-11). The rebellion of Dathan and Abiram is remembered as a warning against defying God's appointed leaders (Deu.11.6).
Key verses
Dathan appears in 8 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Numbers 16:1 -
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:
Numbers 16:12 -
Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Numbers 16:24 -
And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
Numbers 16:25 -
So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
Numbers 16:27
Show all 8 references
Numbers (6)
- Numbers 16:1
- Numbers 16:12
- Numbers 16:24
- Numbers 16:25
- Numbers 16:27
- Numbers 26:9
Deuteronomy (1)
- Deuteronomy 11:6
Psalms (1)
- Psalms 106:17