Who was Dan in the Bible?
Dan was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's fifth son, Dan (Genesis 30:6). Dan appears in 50 verses across 14 books of the Bible.
The Bible uses the name Dan for 2 different people. All 2 are below, each with its own passages.
Dan in Numbers
Dan was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Jacob's fifth son, Dan (Genesis 30:6). The tribe was allotted territory in the northern part of Canaan (Joshua 19:40-48). The city of Dan, originally known as Laish or Leshem, was conquered by the Danites (Joshua 19:47; Judges 18:29). It became the northernmost city of Israel, often used in the phrase "from Dan to Beersheba" to describe the entire land (Judges 20:1; 1Sa.3.20). Jeroboam set up one of his golden calves in Dan (1Ki.12.29-30), leading to idolatry. The city was also known for its skilled craftsmen (2Ch.2.14). Dan was one of the first places to fall to foreign invaders due to its northern location (Jeremiah 4:15; 8:16).
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Compiled by Protos: the verse list on this page. Where one name belongs to more than one person or place, each of them gets a separate entry.
Dan, son of Israel
Dan was the fifth son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and the firstborn of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. His birth is recorded in Gen.30.6, where Rachel, who had been unable to conceive, gave Bilhah to Jacob as a concubine to bear children on her behalf. When Bilhah gave birth to a son, Rachel named him Dan, saying, "God has vindicated me; he has listened to my plea and given me a son." As one of Israel's twelve sons, Dan became the founder of the Israelite tribe bearing his name. In Gen.46.23, when Israel and his family moved to Egypt, Dan's son Hushim is mentioned as part of the household. In Israel's blessing to his sons before his death (Gen.49.16-17), Dan is described as one who will provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Jacob also compares Dan to a serpent by the roadside, an adder along the path, foreshadowing the tribe's future role in the Promised Land. The tribe of Dan was allocated territory in the northern part of Canaan during the conquest under Joshua. However, they later migrated northward and settled in the city of Laish, which they renamed Dan (Judges 18). In 1Ch.2.2, Dan is listed among the twelve tribes of Israel, confirming his status as one of the founding fathers of the nation. Throughout the Old Testament, the tribe of Dan is mentioned alongside the other Israelite tribes, although they are sometimes associated with idolatry and apostasy.
5 verses: 1 Chronicles 2:2, Genesis 30:6, Genesis 35:25, Genesis 46:23, Genesis 49:16
Definition text: STEPBible · Tyndale House Cambridge. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Lightly edited for length and formatting.
Where does Dan appear in the Bible?
Dan is referenced in 50 verses across 14 books. Every passage below is about this one, not just every verse the word turns up in.
- 1 Chronicles 12:35
- 1 Chronicles 27:22
- 1 Kings 4:25
- 1 Kings 12:29
- 1 Kings 12:30
- 1 Kings 15:20
- 1 Samuel 3:20
- 2 Chronicles 2:14
- 2 Chronicles 16:4
- 2 Chronicles 30:5
- 2 Samuel 3:10
- 2 Samuel 17:11
- 2 Samuel 24:2
- 2 Samuel 24:6
- 2 Samuel 24:15
- Amos 8:14
- Deuteronomy 27:13
- Deuteronomy 33:22
- Exodus 1:4
- Exodus 31:6
- Exodus 35:34
- Exodus 38:23
- Ezekiel 48:1
- Ezekiel 48:2
Showing the first 24 of 50.
Open all 50 references in ProtosWhat else appears in these passages?
These turn up in the same passages as Dan.
Common questions
How many people in the Bible are called Dan?
Dan refers to 2 different people in the Bible: Dan in Numbers; Dan, son of Israel.
How many times does the Bible mention Dan?
Dan appears in 50 verses across 14 books, most often in Numbers, which accounts for 9 of them.
Which books of the Bible mention Dan?
Numbers, 2 Samuel, Joshua, Genesis, 1 Kings, Exodus, 2 Chronicles, Ezekiel, and 6 more.
Where can I read every verse about Dan?
This page lists 24 of them. Protos carries all 50, and opens this entry on the verse you are reading rather than in a separate tab.
