Dan
Name Origin & Meaning
From 'din' (to judge, to vindicate), Dan's name was Rachel's declaration that God had judged her case and vindicated her barrenness. The tribe was known for independent territorial judgments, and Samson — Israel's judge-deliverer — came from Dan.
First Biblical Appearance
“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.”
Rachel's declaration that God vindicated her case against barrenness.
Biblical Significance
Dan was the fifth son of Jacob, firstborn of Rachel's maidservant Bilhah. His tribe migrated to the extreme north, capturing Laish and renaming it Dan. Samson, the greatest judge, came from Dan. The tribe's territory defined Israel's northern boundary in the phrase 'from Dan to Beersheba.'
Notable Bearers
- Dan son of Jacob
- Samson (tribe of Dan)
Personality & Character
Divine unity and new beginnings — the number of God's oneness and leadership
Spiritual symbolism drawn from Scripture and tradition
Modern Variants
A Blessing for This Name
May the God who judges your case find in your favor and vindicate every reproach laid against you. May you discern the hidden path through every challenge and emerge in the place of God's surprising victory.