יַעַן (dan ya.an)
dan ya.an
Jaan
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The word daʿan, appearing only once in Scripture at II Samuel 24:6, refers to a specific location on Israel’s northern frontier. It is identified as another name for Ijon (H5859), a town situated near one of the sources of the Jordan River. The term itself carries the sense of "purposeful judgment," likely derived from the root meaning "to judge."
Its sole occurrence marks a geographical boundary during King David’s census, highlighting the extent of his administrative reach. While its existence is sometimes debated by scholars due to the limited textual evidence, it serves as a concrete marker of the northern limits of Israelite control at that time.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dan appears only once in the Bible, marking a specific northern boundary during King David’s census. It is linked to the region of Dan, an area historically significant for its proximity to the sources of the Jordan River. This single mention serves as a geographical marker, showing how far Israel’s administrative reach extended at that time.
While this word does not carry deep theological teaching on its own, it reminds us that God is sovereign over all places and people, from the southernmost borders to the northernmost towns like Dan. It grounds our faith in real history and real geography, showing that Scripture is not just abstract ideas but a record of God’s interaction with His people in specific locations.
As you read about these boundaries, consider how God’s care extends to every corner of the earth. Even in historical details like this, we see a faithful God who knows and orders all things, inviting us to trust Him in every area of our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jaan1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יַּ֔עַן1×
Key Verses
-
II Samuel 24:6
then they came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi; and they came to Dan Jaan and around to Sidon,
This verse uses the word to mark the northernmost limit of David’s census, identifying it with the region near Dan and Sidon.