Judges 18 29

Judges 18:29 kjv

And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.

Judges 18:29 nkjv

And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel. However, the name of the city formerly was Laish.

Judges 18:29 niv

They named it Dan after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel?though the city used to be called Laish.

Judges 18:29 esv

And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first.

Judges 18:29 nlt

They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor, Israel's son, but it had originally been called Laish.

Judges 18 verses

Judges 18 29 Meaning

Judges 18:29 records the crucial renaming of the conquered city of Laish by the migrating Danites. This act signifies their claim and establishment of a new tribal inheritance in the far north of Israel, a place not initially allotted to them. They renamed the city "Dan" to commemorate their ancestor, Dan, who was born to Jacob, later called Israel. The verse also serves as a historical note, stating the city's original name was Laish.

Judges 18 29 Context

Judges chapter 18 details the complete moral and spiritual breakdown of the tribe of Dan, characteristic of the entire period where "every man did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 17:6, 21:25). Unable to secure their assigned inheritance in the southern part of Israel, and under pressure from the Amorites (Jdg 1:34), a large contingent of 600 Danite warriors set out to find new territory. Their spies discovered Laish, a prosperous and undefended city whose Sidonian inhabitants lived in peace, far from any help (Jdg 18:7). En route to conquer Laish, the Danites encountered Micah’s idolatrous shrine and forcibly took his ephod, teraphim, carved image, and even convinced his Levite priest to abandon Micah and serve their whole tribe (Jdg 18:14-26). They then attacked Laish, mercilessly slaughtered its unsuspecting inhabitants, and burnt the city. Judges 18:29 marks the renaming of this destroyed city as "Dan," signifying their forceful appropriation and establishing their permanent settlement, which alarmingly became a central hub for the idolatrous worship they had just plundered, enduring for generations (Jdg 18:30-31). This event highlights the tribal disunity, moral corruption, and pervasive idolatry of the time, forming a foundational point for future religious corruption in the northern kingdom.

Judges 18 29 Word analysis

• And they named the city Dan,

  • And they named: This indicates a deliberate, communal act by the conquering Danites. The act of renaming a place was a powerful declaration of new ownership, identity, and historical significance for the victors. It often sought to erase previous identity and assert a new, permanent one.
  • the city: Refers to Laish, which they had just conquered and destroyed.
  • Dan: (Hebrew: דָּן - Dan). This name literally means "judge" or "he has judged," as per Rachel's statement at his birth (Gen 30:6). By naming the city "Dan," the tribe affirmed their patriarchal lineage and identity. However, given their violent and idolatrous actions, this naming takes on a darkly ironic tone; instead of upholding divine justice (as their ancestor's name implies), they acted contrary to it. This became a persistent centre for idol worship (Jdg 18:30-31; 1 Ki 12:29-30).

• after the name of Dan their father,

  • after the name of: This emphasizes the intentionality of linking the newly acquired territory directly to their tribal patriarch. Tribal identity was paramount, rooted in ancestry.
  • Dan their father: This refers to Dan, the fifth son of Jacob, and the progenitor of the Danite tribe. This connects the land with their lineage, legitimizing their claim from their own perspective, even if the conquest methods and the subsequent establishment of idolatry were illegitimate in God's eyes.

• who was born to Israel:

  • who was born: Clarifies the familial relationship, establishing the direct lineage from the tribal patriarch.
  • to Israel: (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisra'el). This refers to Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel (Gen 32:28, 35:10). Using "Israel" here emphasizes that Dan was one of the twelve sons who formed the nation of Israel, thereby implying their integral part in the covenant people. Yet, their actions—unauthorized migration, ruthless conquest, and especially idolatry—were contrary to the covenant God made with Israel, leading to further internal decay of the nation.

• however, the name of the city was Laish at the first.

  • however: This adverb acts as a strong contrast or qualifier, drawing attention to the former name and its history before the Danite takeover.
  • the name of the city was Laish: (Hebrew: לַיִשׁ - Layish). Laish, meaning "lion," was its original name, signifying its previous identity and inhabitants. The Danite renaming was not a creation ex nihilo but a forceful overwrite of existing history and culture. This detail underscores the violent displacement of the indigenous population and the obliteration of their prior identity, common in ancient conquests but stark when perpetrated by an Israelite tribe acting outside God's command regarding conquest.
  • at the first: Reinforces that the change in name signifies a profound change in control and identity for the location. This marks a new beginning under the Danites, albeit a foundation laid on violence and false worship.

Judges 18 29 Bonus section

The establishment of the city of Dan as Israel's northernmost boundary is significant, giving rise to the idiom "from Dan to Beersheba" (Jdg 20:1; 1 Sam 3:20; 1 Chr 21:2) which demarcated the entire span of the Promised Land. This phrase's origin thus springs from an act of tribal failure and self-will, rather than divine guidance, illustrating how Israel's self-defined boundaries often resulted from its internal moral decay. The long-standing idolatry at Dan (Jdg 18:30 mentions it persisted until the time of the land's captivity) underscores the far-reaching consequences of this single act of establishing an unauthorized cult. It demonstrates a direct antithesis to the purity of worship required by the Law and the ultimate reason for the division and eventual downfall of the Northern Kingdom. The Danites, given a divine commission to drive out enemies and uphold the covenant, instead perpetuated spiritual darkness.

Judges 18 29 Commentary

Judges 18:29, though a brief historical statement, encapsulates a tragic failure within the early history of Israel. The renaming of Laish to Dan marks the culmination of the Danites' disobedient migration, rooted in their failure to fully occupy their original inheritance and their subsequent opportunistic expansion. Instead of trusting God for victory in their own allotment, they resorted to self-reliance, violence, and unrighteous conquest against a peaceful, unsuspecting people. The establishment of "Dan" in the far north cemented a center of apostasy that incorporated stolen idols and an unrighteously obtained priest (Jdg 18:30). This new Dan became notorious for its idolatry, even later hosting one of Jeroboam's golden calves (1 Ki 12:29-30). Thus, the verse, in its simple announcement of a name change, prophetically points to a lasting stain of syncretism and disobedience that deeply impacted the future spiritual health of the northern kingdom, directly contravening the divine call for Israel to be a distinct and holy nation devoted solely to Yahweh.