Bible Word Study
דָּנִי
Dânîy · a Danite (often collectively) or descendants (or inhabitants) of Dan
דָּנִי
a Danite (often collectively) or descendants (or inhabitants) of Dan
Definition
The term דָּנִי (Dânîy) refers to a member or descendant of the Israelite tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. It is used both for individuals (Judges 13:2) and, more commonly, for the collective group known as the Danites. In a broader sense, it can denote the inhabitants of the territory allotted to Dan, as seen when they seek new land (Judges 18:1, 18:11). The word encapsulates the identity and lineage of this tribe throughout Israel's history, including their role in the united monarchy (1 Chronicles 12:35).
Biblical Usage
This noun appears five times in the Old Testament, exclusively in historical narratives. It is used in the book of Judges to describe the tribe of Dan, particularly during their migration and conquest of Laish (Judges 18:1, 18:11, 18:30). It identifies an individual Danite, Manoah, in Judges 13:2. The final occurrence lists Danite warriors who joined David at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:35), showing their continued tribal identity during the monarchy.
Etymology
Derived patronymically from the proper name דָּן (Dān, H1835), meaning 'judge.' The suffix י (-î) indicates 'belonging to' or 'descended from,' thus דָּנִי literally means 'of Dan' or 'belonging to Dan.' It follows a common Hebrew pattern for forming gentilics (e.g., יְהוּדִי, Yehûdî, 'Judahite').
Semantic Range
Understanding 'Danite' highlights the importance of tribal identity within God's covenant people. The tribe of Dan, though sometimes portrayed as struggling (e.g., Judges 18, with idolatry), remained part of the twelve tribes, illustrating God's faithfulness to all Israel despite individual failures. Their inclusion in Chronicles among David's supporters shows their role in the united kingdom, a precursor to messianic hope. The term reminds readers of the corporate nature of God's promises and the complex reality of Israel's history. In ancient Israel, tribal affiliation was a primary marker of social, religious, and territorial identity. Being a Danite meant sharing in the tribal inheritance, military obligations, and collective story. The Danites' migration and establishment of a northern settlement (Judges 18) reflect the tribal period's fluidity and the challenges of securing territory, a context quite different from modern national identities. שֵׁבֶט דָּן (shēvet Dān, H4294) — 'tribe of Dan'; a broader term for the tribe as a unit, whereas דָּנִי specifies a member or the collective people.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]