דַּלְפוֹן
Dalphon, a son of Haman
Definition
Dalphon is a proper noun referring to one of the ten sons of Haman the Agagite, the primary antagonist in the book of Esther. As a son of Haman, Dalphon is part of the family line that sought to annihilate the Jewish people in the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). The name appears only in the list of Haman's sons who were killed by the Jews in self-defense on the 13th of Adar, as recorded in Esther 9:7-10. There are no other biblical characters or alternative meanings associated with this name; its sole significance is its role in identifying a member of Haman's defeated household.
Biblical Usage
The word Dalphon is used exactly once in the Old Testament, in Esther 9:7. It appears in a list of proper names—the ten sons of Haman who were killed after the Jews defended themselves against their enemies. The context is purely identificatory, serving to name a specific individual within the narrative of Haman's complete downfall. This usage pattern is consistent with other names in genealogical or judicial lists found in historical books.
Etymology
The name Dalphon (דַּלְפוֹן) is derived from the Hebrew root דָּלַף (dalaph, H1811), which means 'to drip' or 'to leak.' It is a participial form, suggesting a meaning like 'dripping' or 'one who drips.' This etymology is shared with the common verb, but as a personal name, its precise symbolic or descriptive intent for the character is unclear, as the biblical text does not elaborate on its significance for the individual.
Semantic Range
While the name Dalphon itself is not theologically loaded, its inclusion in the narrative of Esther 9 is highly significant. The defeat and killing of Haman's sons, including Dalphon, represents the complete overthrow of evil that sought to destroy God's people. It underscores the themes of divine providence, justice, and reversal of fortune in the book of Esther, where God delivers His covenant people even when His name is not explicitly mentioned. Understanding that these were real individuals named highlights the historical specificity of God's judgment and salvation.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, personal names often carried descriptive or hopeful meanings. 'Dalphon,' meaning 'dripping,' might have been given for reasons lost to history, perhaps relating to circumstances of birth. More importantly, the listing and public display of the names of Haman's sons (Esther 9:7-10, 13-14) served a cultural and legal purpose: it documented the elimination of a hostile lineage, providing a permanent record of their defeat and securing the safety of the Jewish community by preventing future claims of vengeance from his heirs.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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