דָּגוֹן (da.gon)
da.gon
Dagon
N:N-M-TQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-T
Word Overview
The noun Dagon refers to a major Philistine deity, likely associated with fertility and grain. The Hebrew form da.gon appears seven times in the Old Testament, primarily within the books of Judges, 1 Samuel, and 1 Chronicles. Ancient sources often link the name to the word for "fish," suggesting an etymology that connects the god to aquatic life or perhaps a fish-headed representation.
Scripture portrays Dagon not as a living power but as a powerless idol. The most vivid account occurs in 1 Samuel 5, where the Philistines place the captured Ark of the Lord before their god. The next morning, they find the statue fallen on its face before the Ark. When they set it upright again, it falls once more, this time breaking off its head and hands. This narrative emphasizes the superiority of Yahweh over foreign gods.
Translators typically render da.gon simply as "Dagon," treating it as a proper name rather than a common noun for fish. The biblical text uses these incidents to highlight the futility of idolatry, showing that statues cannot protect themselves or their people. The repeated falling and breaking serve as a literary device to demonstrate divine judgment against the enemies of Israel.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Dagon appears in the Old Testament as a symbol of human pride meeting divine reality. The Philistines placed their captured Ark of the Covenant in the temple of their god, believing they had secured victory over Israel. Instead, they found their idol fallen and broken before the true God. This story reminds us that no earthly power or belief system can stand against the authority of Yahweh.
For believers today, this narrative offers comfort when facing opposition or uncertainty. It shows that what seems strong to the world may be fragile in the face of God’s will. We do not need to fear the strength of our enemies or the stability of false systems. God is sovereign over all nations and gods.
When we trust in Him, we can rest in the knowledge that He defends His people and exposes what is empty. This word points us away from relying on visible powers and toward faith in the unseen but ever-present Lord. It invites us to find peace in His ultimate victory.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Dagon12×
- to/ Dagon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- דָּג֖וֹן2×
- דָג֗וֹן2×
- לְ/דָג֥וֹן1×
- דָּגֽוֹן\׃\ \ס1×
- דָּגֽוֹן\׃1×
- דָּג֥וֹן1×
- דָּג֜וֹן1×
- דָּג֛וֹן1×
- דָּג֔וֹן1×
- דָּג֑וֹן1×
- דָג֜וֹן1×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 5:2
The Philistines took God’s ark, and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
This verse marks the moment of human arrogance, where the Philistines place the Ark beside Dagon, assuming their god can rival Yahweh.
-
I Samuel 5:3
When the people of Ashdod arose early on the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark. They took Dagon and set him in his place again.
The idol’s sudden fall before the Ark demonstrates that Dagon has no power to protect himself or his worshippers.
-
I Samuel 5:4
When they arose early on the following morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before Yahweh’s ark; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold. Only Dagon’s torso was intact.
The breaking of Dagon’s head and hands signifies complete humiliation and the futility of idolatry when confronted by God.
-
Judges 16:23
The lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice; for they said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.”
This occurrence highlights how false gods are often invoked to justify human triumph, yet they remain powerless in reality.