Original Word: דִּין
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: diyn
Pronunciation: deen
Phonetic Spelling: (deen)
KJV: (come) with a straight course
NASB: judge, judges, plead, vindicate, administer, defend, dispute
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. a straight course, i.e. sail direct

Sail direct

Or (Gen. 6:3) duwn {doon}; a primitive roy a straight course, i.e. Sail direct -- (come) with a straight course.

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to judge
NASB Translation
administer (1), defend (1), dispute (1), execute judgment (1), govern (1), judge (9), judges (2), plead (2), pled (1), quarreling (1), strive (1), vindicate (2), vindicated (1).

[דון] verb dubious; only in יָדוֺן Genesis 6:3, see דין.

דִּין verb judge (compare Arabic intransitive to be obedient, submissive, transitive requite, compensate, rule, govern, obedience, abasement, recompense, requiter, governor, city; Assyrian dânu, Imperfect idin, judge Asrb^{Ann. x. 120} Dl^{HA 49}; Aramaic דִּין, judge, exercise judgment, punish, דַּיָּינָא, , judge, דִּינָא, judgment, city; — on √ עי֞ see Nö^{ZMG 1883, 533}), synonym שָׁפַט —

Qal Perfect דָּן Jeremiah 22:16 etc.; Imperfect יָדִין Genesis 49:16 9t., יָדוֺן Genesis 6:3 compare below, etc.; Imperative דִּין Proverbs 31:9; Job 35:14; דִּינוּ Jeremiah 21:12; Infinitive לָדִין Psalm 50:4 2t.; Participle דָּן Genesis 15:14; Jeremiah 30:13; —

1 act as judge, minister judgment, of God ידין עמוֺ Deuteronomy 32:36 (poetry = Psalm 135:14) Psalm 50:4; דין עמים Psalm 7:9; Psalm 96:10; Isaiah 3:13; יָדִין לְאֻמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים Psalm 9:9; Messianic king Psalm 72:2.

2 plead the cause,

a. of men, usually with accusative of congnate meaning with verb, אֵיןדָּֿן דִּינֵךְ there is none to plead thy cause Jeremiah 30:13; דִּין יָתוֺם ׳ד plead cause of orphan Jeremiah 5:28; דין עני ואביון ׳ד Jeremiah 22:16; also, accusative of congnate meaning with verb omitted, Proverbs 31:9.

b. of God, דָּנַנִּי אֱלֹהִים God has pled my cause Genesis 30:6 (E).

3 execute judgment, vindicate, in battle against enemies, דָּן יָדִין עַמּוֺ Dan will judge (vindicate as a warrior) his people (see Di) Genesis 49:16 (poetry); the Messianic king בגוים Psalm 110:6; God, בִּגְבוּרָֽתְךָ תְדִינֵנִי in thy might judge me (vindicate me) Psalm 54:3.

4 execute judgment, requite, of man, דִּינוּ לַבֹּקֶר מִשְׁמָּט execute judgment every morning Jeremiah 21:12; of God, upon Egypt Genesis 15:14 (E); עמים by means of powers of nature Job 36:31; אפסי ארץ 1 Samuel 2:10 (poetry)

5 govern, אַתָּה תָּדִין אֶתבֵּֿיתִי thou shalt govern my house Zechariah 3:7.

6 לֹאיֿוּכַל לָדִין עִם he cannot contend with one mightier than he Ecclesiastes 6:10.

Niph`al Participle וַיְהִי כָלהָֿעָם נָדוֺן בְּכָלשִֿׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל and all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel 2 Samuel 19:10 (reciprocal, compare Dr.)

Note. — לֹאיָֿדוֺן רוּחִי בָֽאָדָם לְעֹלָם Genesis 6:3 compare perhaps continue, do something continually, in modern Egyptian Arabic (So^{SK lxvii {1894}, 211 f.}). (1) ᵐ5 ᵑ9 ᵑ6 Onk read ידיר or (Kue) ילון abide in, dwell, — My spirit will not abide in man for ever; this best suits the context, but ידור, as Aramaism, is dubious (2) Kn De Schr RVm render rule in, supported by Zechariah 3:7 only. (3) Thes Ew Di render be humbled in, sustained by Arabic usage, but not by Hebrew (4) strive with of AV RV (compare

6 above) is hardly justified.

[דִּין] verb judge (Biblical Hebrew); —

Pe`al Participle plural דָּאֲנִין Ezra 7:25 Kt (Qr דָּֽנִין), followed by ל person

Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 1777 (dîn) expresses the exercise of judgment in all its facets—deciding a case, contending for a cause, executing justice, or securing vindication. Across twenty-four Old Testament occurrences the verb consistently presents a moral universe in which God Himself is Judge, His covenant people are responsible to reflect His justice, and every individual may appeal to Him for righteous vindication.

Foundational Uses in Genesis

• Genesis 6:3 introduces the term in a setting of universal corruption: “My Spirit shall not contend with man forever”. Divine judgment is portrayed as a patient but certain restraint on evil.
• In Genesis 15:14 the judgment of Egypt anticipates the Exodus: “I will judge the nation they serve.” Judgment is not merely punitive but covenant-protective, securing the promises given to Abraham.
• Genesis 30:6 records Rachel’s personal plea: “God has vindicated me.” The root thus ranges from cosmic decrees to intimate family struggles.
• Genesis 49:16 names Dan as the tribe that “shall provide justice for his people,” hinting that Israel’s social structures were designed to echo God’s own commitment to righteous adjudication.

National and Theocratic Context

Within the Song of Moses the verb underscores Yahweh’s covenant faithfulness: “The LORD will judge His people” (Deuteronomy 32:36). In Israel’s monarchy Hannah foresees the same pattern: “The LORD will judge the ends of the earth” (1 Samuel 2:10). By the time of David’s restoration the word can even describe political debate: “All the people were arguing throughout the tribes of Israel” (2 Samuel 19:9), indicating its breadth—contending, not merely rendering verdicts.

Wisdom Literature and the Prayer of the Righteous

Psalms employs dîn more than any other section, fusing worship with courtroom imagery:
• “He judges the world with justice” (Psalm 9:8).
• “Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might” (Psalm 54:1).

These prayers assume that righteous judgment is accessible, timely, and rooted in God’s own character. Proverbs 31:9 commands rulers: “Open your mouth, judge righteously,” making justice a moral obligation, not a governmental option. Ecclesiastes 6:10 warns that humanity “cannot contend with one stronger than he,” reminding the wise that God’s verdict is final.

Prophetic Covenant Lawsuits

The prophets often cast Israel’s unfaithfulness in legal terms:
• Isaiah 3:13—“The LORD takes His stand to contend, and stands to judge the peoples.”
• Jeremiah 5:28 condemns leaders who “do not plead the cause of the orphan.”
• Jeremiah 22:16 commends Josiah: “He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.”
• Zechariah 3:7 promises that faithful priesthood will “judge My house,” connecting priestly service with judicial responsibility.

Thus dîn operates as a prophetic measuring rod, exposing societal injustice and calling the nation back to covenant loyalty.

Divine Vindication and Eschatological Hope

Several psalms using dîn anticipate an ultimate, universal assize: “He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead” (Psalm 110:6). Psalm 96:10 links present proclamation to future certainty: “He will judge the peoples with equity.” The theme progresses toward eschatological climax, preparing the way for New Testament revelation that “the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son” (John 5:22).

Christological Fulfillment

The Messianic Psalms (e.g., Psalm 72:2) envision a king who will “judge Your people with righteousness.” The New Testament identifies this ideal ruler with Jesus Christ, who both embodies and executes perfect judgment (Acts 17:31; Revelation 19:11). The verb dîn therefore foreshadows the redemptive work by which the cross satisfies divine justice and the resurrection secures the believer’s vindication (Romans 3:26; 1 Peter 3:18).

Practical Ministry Implications

1. Advocacy for the vulnerable: Prophetic usage demands that contemporary believers “administer justice every morning” (Jeremiah 21:12).
2. Confidence in prayer: Like the psalmists, Christians may seek God’s righteous vindication amid oppression, trusting His unfailing character.
3. Proclamation of judgment and grace: The gospel message includes both the certainty of coming judgment and the provision of justification through Christ.
4. Ethical leadership: From tribal judges to modern authorities, the mandate remains—exercise judgment that reflects God’s impartial righteousness.

Summary

Dîn weaves through Scripture as a multifaceted witness to God’s just rule, human accountability, and the longing for righteous vindication ultimately met in the Messiah. Its occurrences form a coherent narrative: judgment begun in Genesis, institutionalized in Israel, pleaded for in worship, enforced by the prophets, and consummated in Christ’s kingdom.

דִּ֤ינוּ דָ֔נוּ דָּ֛ן דָּ֣ן דָּ֥ן דָּנַ֣נִּי דינו דן דנו דנני וְ֝דִ֗ין ודין יָד֨וֹן יָדִ֣ין יָדִ֤ין יָדִ֥ין יָדִ֪ין ידון ידין לָדִ֔ין לָדִ֥ין לדין נָד֔וֹן נדון תְדִינֵֽנִי׃ תָּדִ֣ין תדין תדינני׃ dā·nan·nî ḏā·nū dan dān daNanni dānannî Danu ḏānū dî·nū Dinu dînū lā·ḏîn laDin lāḏîn nā·ḏō·wn naDon nāḏōwn tā·ḏîn taDin tāḏîn ṯə·ḏî·nê·nî tediNeni ṯəḏînênî veDin wə·ḏîn wəḏîn yā·ḏîn yā·ḏō·wn yaDin yāḏîn yaDon yāḏōwnInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts