Boy Old Testament Known
Dishon
fatness; ashes
דִּישֹׁן di.shon
Dishon (Hebrew: דִּישֹׁן, di.shon) means “fatness; ashes”, by traditional interpretation. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested belongs to the Patriarchal period. In 2017 it was given to 6 children in the United States. Use is rising. Appears with Anah in 1 Chronicles 1.
Which Dishon?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Dishon
descendant of Seir; son of Anah
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Dishon
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 6 across 2 books
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 2017 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2017 | 6 | Rising |
| All-time total | 329 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 17 in 1994 | Its highest year on record |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 36:21 |
| Last appears | 1 Chronicles 1:41 |
| Cross-references | 26 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Ithran co-occurrence Appears with Ithran in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Cheran co-occurrence Appears with Cheran in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Eshban co-occurrence Appears with Eshban in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Hemdan co-occurrence Appears with Hemdan in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Ezer co-occurrence Appears with Ezer in Genesis 36.
- Dishan co-occurrence Appears with Dishan in Genesis 36.
- Seir co-occurrence Appears with Seir in 1 Chronicles 1.
- Anah co-occurrence Appears with Anah in 1 Chronicles 1.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.36.21;
son of: Seir (H8165B);
brother of: Lotan (H3877), Shobal (H7732), Zibeon (H6649H), Anah (H6034H), Ezer (H0687), Dishan (H1789) and Timna (H8555H);
father of: Hemdan (H2533), Eshban (H0790), Ithran (H3506), Cheran (H3763)
Also named: di.shan (דִּישָׁן "Dishon" H1789H)
§ Dishon = "thresher"
1) the fifth son of Seir
2) the son of Anah and grandson of Seir
Dishon was a descendant of Seir the Horite and the son of Anah, mentioned in the genealogies of Esau's family.
The biblical story
Dishon is mentioned in the genealogies of Esau's family in Genesis 36 and 1 Chronicles 1. He is listed as one of the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land of Edom before Esau's descendants settled there (Gen.36.20-21; 1Ch.1.38).
Dishon is also identified as the son of Anah (Gen.36.25; 1Ch.1.41). Anah is noteworthy for having discovered hot springs in the wilderness while pasturing donkeys for his father, Zibeon (Gen.36.24).
Dishon's sons are listed as Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran (Gen.36.26; 1Ch.1.41). These genealogies demonstrate the intermingling of Esau's descendants with the Horites, as Esau's grandson, Esau's son Eliphaz's son, was named Dishon (Gen.36.25-26).
The Horites were the original inhabitants of Mount Seir, the region south of the Dead Sea, before Esau's descendants displaced them (Deu.2.12). The inclusion of Dishon and other Horite names in Esau's genealogy suggests that there was intermarriage between the two groups.
Apart from these genealogical references, no further information is provided about Dishon or his specific role in the biblical narrative. His mention serves to trace the origins and relationships of the people living in the region of Edom during the time of the patriarchs.
Key verses
Dishon appears in 5 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom.
Genesis 36:21 -
And these are the children of Dishon; Hemdan, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
Genesis 36:26 -
Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan: these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.
Genesis 36:30 -
And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.
1 Chronicles 1:38 -
The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
1 Chronicles 1:41
Show all 5 references
Genesis (3)
- Genesis 36:21
- Genesis 36:26
- Genesis 36:30
1 Chronicles (2)
- 1 Chronicles 1:38
- 1 Chronicles 1:41