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Dan

Dan Fifth Son of Jacob, Whose Name Means Judgement

Old Testamentc. 1917 BC View journey on map

About Dan

Dan was the first son Bilhah bore to Jacob, and Rachel named him for the judgement she believed God had given in her favour. Jacob's blessing called him a serpent by the way, and his tribe, settled in the far north, was the first to fall into idolatry.

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Dan's Character Traits

JudgeNorthernmostSerpent by the way

Dan's Life Timeline

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  1. Birthc. 1917 BC

    Bilhah bears Dan; Rachel says God has judged her and heard her voice.

    GEN 30:6

  2. Into Egyptc. 1876 BC

    Dan goes down into Egypt with one son, Hushim.

    GEN 46:23

  3. Jacob's blessingc. 1859 BC

    Jacob says Dan shall judge his people, a serpent by the way.

    GEN 49:16

Who is linked to Dan

Who is linked to Dan
  • parent of
  • sibling of
  • spouse of
  • covenant with
  • master of
  • in conflict with

Dan's Key Relationships

Jacob
JacobFamily

Father - Dan was his fifth son, by Rachel's handmaid.

Bilhah
BilhahFamily

Mother - her firstborn, counted to Rachel.

Naphtali
NaphtaliFamily

Brother - both were Bilhah's sons.

Dan's Key Locations

Haran
Haran

Where he was born.

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Egypt
Egypt

Where he went down with his father's house.

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Spiritual Lessons from Dan

A Name Is Not a Destiny

Dan means judgement, and Jacob promised that Dan would judge his people. The tribe produced Samson, a judge who could not judge himself, and set up an idol at its northern shrine. A good name given at birth settles nothing about what is done with it.

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