Original Word: דָּשֵׁן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dashen
Pronunciation: dah-SHEN
Phonetic Spelling: (daw-shane')
KJV: accept, anoint, take away the (receive) ashes (from), make (wax) fat
NASB: anointed, become greasy, become prosperous, find your acceptable, made fat, prosper, prosperous
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. to be fat
2. transitively, to fatten (or regard as fat)
3. specifically to anoint
4. (figuratively) to satisfy
5. denominatively (from H1880) to remove (fat) ashes (of sacrifices)

accept, anoint, take away the receive ashes from, make wax fat

A primitive root; to be fat; transitively, to fatten (or regard as fat); specifically to anoint; figuratively, to satisfy; denominatively (from deshen) to remove (fat) ashes (of sacrifices) -- accept, anoint, take away the (receive) ashes (from), make (wax) fat.

see HEBREW deshen

Word Origin
a prim. root
Definition
to be fat, grow fat
NASB Translation
anointed (1), become greasy (1), become prosperous (1), find your acceptable (1), made fat (1), prosper (1), prosperous (1), puts fat (1), removing its ashes (1), sated (1), take away (1), take away the ashes (1).

דָּשֵׁן verb be fat, grow fat (Arabic ; whence also grease, fat; Late Hebrew דִּשֵּׁן make fat, compare Late Hebrew דֶּשֶׁן fat) —

Qal Perfect3masculine singular וְדָשֵׁן consecutive Deuteronomy 31:20 (JE) figurative of Israel's prosperity.

Pi`el Perfect דִּשַּׁנְתָּ Psalm 23:5; וְדִשְּׁנוּ consecutive Numbers 4:13; Imperfect: יְדַשְּׁנֶהֶֿ˜סּלָה Psalm 20:4 volunt. (compare Ges^{§ 48}, 3 De; but perhaps read suffix נֶהָ-, נָהּ#NAME?^l.c.); 3 feminine singular תְּדַשֶּׁןֿ Proverbs 15:30; Infinitive לְדַשְּׁנוֺ Exodus 27:3 — causative make fat בשׁמן ׳ד ראשׁי i.e. anoint, symbol of festivity and joy Psalm 23:5; עָ֑צֶם ׳ד Proverbs 15:30 of bodily effect of good news; עולה ׳ד find a burnt-offering fat = acceptable Psalm 20:4; elsewhere denominative from דֶּשֶׁן (fat ashes); — take away, clear away the fat ashes (accusative of altar cleared) Numbers 4:13 (P), so סירות לְדַשְּׁנוֺ Exodus 27:3 (P).

Pu`al Imperfect יְדֻשָּׁ֑ן Proverbs 28:25; Isaiah 34:7; 3feminine singular תְּדֻשָּׁן Proverbs 11:25; Proverbs 13:4 — passive of causation

Pi`el be made fat, of dust saturated מֵחַלֶב Isaiah 34:7; figurative of prosperity of the liberal Proverbs 11:25, the diligent Proverbs 13:4, the trustful Proverbs 28:25.

Hothpa`al Perfect3feminine singular הֻדַּ֫שְׁנָה (compare Ol^{§ 271} Ges^{§ 54}. 3) Isaiah 34:6, of Yahweh's sword: — it hath fattened itself מֵחֶלֶב "" (מָֽלְאָה דָּםׅ

Semantic Range and Imagery

The noun דָּשֵׁן gathers the ideas of rich fatness, luxuriant fertility, and the residue of sacrifices. In ancient Israel those concepts naturally converged: when the choicest fat was offered on the altar (Leviticus 3:16), the remaining “ashes” were themselves saturated with fat, a visible reminder that the LORD alone receives the best and that abundance flows from His altar. The same word therefore moves easily between concrete “ashes” (Exodus 27:3), bodily or agricultural “fatness” (Deuteronomy 31:20; Isaiah 34:7), and the figurative fullness of soul (Proverbs 11:25).

Cultic Usage in the Tabernacle and Temple

Exodus 27:3 and Numbers 4:13 locate דָּשֵׁן at the heart of daily worship. Ash-pans were fashioned “to remove the ashes” from the bronze altar, and the Kohathites were charged to cover those ashes in preparation for transport. By calling the residue “fat-ashes,” Scripture dignifies what might seem refuse: even the remains of a true offering are treated with reverence, for they testify that atonement has been made. The detail underscores the holiness of the sacrificial system and foreshadows the once-for-all offering of Jesus Christ, whose cross leaves no pollution but rather becomes the wellspring of cleansing (Hebrews 10:10,14).

Psalm 20:3 employs the root in a priestly benediction: “May He remember all your gifts and accept your burnt offering”. “Accept” literally means “make fat,” portraying divine favor as the LORD’s own enrichment of the worshiper’s gift. The worshiper brings what he has; God transforms it into something weightier, pleasing, and effective.

Prosperity and Warning in Torah and Prophets

In Deuteronomy 31:20 the same abundance turns into a warning: “When they have eaten their fill and become prosperous, they will turn to other gods” (paraphrased). Here דָּשֵׁן marks the tipping point at which blessing, if unaccompanied by gratitude, becomes the seedbed of apostasy. The prophets pick up the theme with brutal irony. Isaiah 34:6–7 describes Edom’s downfall: the land will be “enriched with fat” not of blessing but of slaughter, a grim reversal in which the very symbol of prosperity becomes the emblem of judgment.

Soul-Enrichment in Wisdom Literature

Proverbs gives דָּשֵׁן a deliberately moral cast:

• “A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:25).
• “The soul of the diligent is richly supplied” (Proverbs 13:4).
• “Good news nourishes the bones” (Proverbs 15:30).
• “Whoever trusts in the LORD will prosper” (Proverbs 28:25).

In each instance true “fatness” belongs not to the self-indulgent but to those who live by covenant virtues—generosity, diligence, faith, and edifying speech. Material wealth may follow, but the accent falls on inward saturation with divine favor.

Personal Communion and Shepherd Imagery

Psalm 23:5 brings the term into intimate fellowship: “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows”. The verb form, derived from the same root, pictures the LORD as host and shepherd who lavishes abundance on His guest. The spread table, perfumed head, and brimming cup jointly declare that communion with God is far more than survival; it is superabundance that overflows to others.

Thematic Threads for Ministry

1. Reverent Stewardship: Even the “ashes” of worship hold significance; therefore, every act of service—however routine—should be handled with care.
2. Gratitude in Prosperity: Blessing can harden into rebellion (Deuteronomy 31:20). Pastors and parents alike must teach that abundance is covenantal, not autonomous.
3. Generosity as Pathway to Fullness: Proverbs 11:25 places enrichment on the far side of self-giving. Churches that prioritize missions and mercy often discover that God “makes fat” their own resources.
4. Spiritual Nourishment: Good news “nourishes the bones” (Proverbs 15:30). Expository preaching that heralds Christ’s finished work functions as the marrow-filling דָּשֵׁן of the congregation.
5. Eschatological Sobriety: Isaiah 34 warns that those who oppose God will have their soil “enriched with fat” of judgment. The same symbol that comforts believers thus cautions unbelievers, affirming the consistent moral order of Scripture.

Christological Trajectory

The accumulation of “fat-ashes” at the altar anticipated the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb of God. In Jesus, fullest provision and perfect acceptance converge. His death does not leave behind ashes to be removed by priests; instead, His resurrection proclaims a living altar that continuously supplies grace. Psalm 20:3’s desire—“May He accept your burnt offering”—finds ultimate fulfillment when the Father declares the Son’s offering “well-pleasing,” securing perpetual דָּשֵׁן for all who trust in Him.

Summary

דָּשֵׁן threads through Scripture as a multifaceted symbol: honored residue of sacrifice, marker of covenant blessing, and cautionary emblem of excess. From the ashes under the wilderness altar to the overflowing cup of the Shepherd’s table, the word testifies that true richness comes from the LORD, is maintained by reverent obedience, and finds its consummation in the sacrificial abundance of Christ.

דִּשַּׁ֖נְתָּ דשנת הֻדַּ֣שְׁנָה הדשנה וְדִשְּׁנ֖וּ וְדָשֵׁ֑ן ודשן ודשנו יְדַשְּׁנֶ֣ה יְדֻשָּֽׁן׃ ידשן׃ ידשנה לְדַשְּׁנ֔וֹ לדשנו תְּדַשֶּׁן־ תְּדֻשָּֽׁן׃ תְדֻשָּׁ֑ן תדשן תדשן־ תדשן׃ diš·šan·tā dishShanta diššantā hud·daš·nāh hudDashnah huddašnāh lə·ḏaš·šə·nōw ledashsheNo ləḏaššənōw tə·ḏaš·šen- tə·ḏuš·šān ṯə·ḏuš·šān tedashshen təḏaššen- tedushShan təḏuššān ṯəḏuššān vedaShen vedishsheNu wə·ḏā·šên wə·ḏiš·šə·nū wəḏāšên wəḏiššənū yə·ḏaš·šə·neh yə·ḏuš·šān yedashsheNeh yəḏaššəneh yedushShan yəḏuššānInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts