Original Word: בָּשָׁן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Bashan
Pronunciation: bah-SHAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-shawn')
KJV: Bashan
NASB: Bashan
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Bashan (often with the article), a region East of the Jordan

Bashan

Of uncertain derivation; Bashan (often with the article), a region East of the Jordan -- Bashan.

Word Origin
from an unused word
Definition
"smooth," a region E. of the Jordan
NASB Translation
Bashan (60).

בָּשָׁן₆₀ proper name, of a territory, masculine^{Deuteronomy 3:3} (smooth (& fertile) land) Bashan, first mentioned as kingdom of Og, east of Jordan, stretching from stream Jabbok (thus including northern Gilead) northward to Hermon, between Gennesaret (west) and mountains of Hauran (east); compare Di Numbers 21:33 Wetzst^{Hauran 82}; later a type of fertility; — usually with article ׳הַבּ Numbers 21:33 (twice in verse); Numbers 32:33; Deuteronomy 1:4 30t. Deuteronomy, Joshua; 1 Kings 4:13,19; 2 Kings 10:33; 1 Chronicles 5:11,12,16,23; 1 Chronicles 6:47; 1 Chronicles 6:56; Nehemiah 9:22; Psalm 68:23; Psalm 135:11; Psalm 136:20; Jeremiah 22:20; Jeremiah 50:19 ("" הַכַּרְמֶל), Micah 7:14 ("" id.), Nahum 1:4 ("" id.; personified, subject of אֻמְלַל), Isaiah 33:9 ("" id.; personified subject of נֹעֵר); הַרבָּֿשָׁן (i.e. range of Hauran) Psalm 68:16 (twice in verse) (called הַראֿלהים, — from a sanctuary there? — & הַרגַּֿבְנֻנִּים many-peaked mountain); of stately trees ׳אַלּוֺנֵי הַבּ Isaiah 2:13 (still seen on western slope of mountains of Hauran, Wetzst^{Hauran 88}); ׳אַלּוֺנֵי ב Zechariah 11:2 (figurative of prominent men); ׳אַלּוֺנִים מִבּ Ezekiel 27:6; of bulls ׳אַבִּידֵי ב Psalm 22:13 ("" מָּרִים figurative); so ׳בְּנֵיבֿ Deuteronomy 32:14 (+ כָּרִים וְאֵילִים also עַתּוּדִים, compare בָּקָר & צאֹן v^a; see בֵּן 1. j. (ν)); apparently more General is ׳מְרִיאֵי ב Ezekiel 39:18 (reference to אֵילִים כָּרִים וְעַתּוּדִים מָּרִים ֗֗֗ כֻּלָּם); once of kine (feminine, figurative of luxurious and haughty women of Samaria) Amos 4:1 ׳מָּרוֺת הַבּ.

Geographical Setting

Bashan designates the high fertile plateau east of the Jordan River between Mount Hermon to the north and the Wadi Yarmuk to the south. Bounded on the west by the Sea of Galilee and on the east by the Arabian Desert, its rich volcanic soil, rolling pasturelands, and prominent oak forests distinguished it from neighboring Gilead and Moab. Modern geography places the heart of ancient Bashan in the Golan Heights and the Hauran region of southern Syria.

Historical Overview

• Patriarchal Period – Genesis 14:5 already hints at a land inhabited by the Rephaim, a race of formidable giants.
• Conquest under Moses – Israel’s first large‐scale victory in the Transjordan came when “King Og of Bashan came out against us with his whole army” and the LORD delivered him into Israel’s hand (Deuteronomy 3:3-4). Sixty fortified cities, including Ashtaroth and Edrei, fell to Israel.
• Tribal Allotment – Moses gave Bashan to the half-tribe of Manasseh, with Jair controlling “sixty cities in all the region of Argob” (Joshua 13:29-31). Golan in Bashan became a Levitical city of refuge (Joshua 21:27).
• United Monarchy – Solomon organized Bashan into one of his twelve administrative districts under Ben-Gever (1 Kings 4:13).
• Divided Monarchy and Exile – Aramean and later Assyrian pressures eroded Israelite control until Tiglath-Pileser III deported the population in 732 BC (2 Kings 15:29).
• Post-Exilic and New Testament Era – Although not named in the New Testament, the region’s identity survived; Josephus mentions it, and early church writers associate it with the Decapolis.

Richness of Flora and Fauna

Bashan was proverbial for luxuriant pastures, stately oaks, and well-fed livestock:
• “the curds of the herd and milk of the flock, with fattened lambs and goats of Bashan” (Deuteronomy 32:14).
• “I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land… in Bashan and Gilead” (Ezekiel 34:13-14).

The phrase “cows of Bashan” (Amos 4:1) evokes pampered ease, while “strong bulls of Bashan” (Psalm 22:12) connotes intimidating power.

Symbolism and Prophetic Imagery

Prophets employ Bashan as a literary device in three primary ways:

1. Prosperity and Pride – Amos indicts the luxurious women of Samaria as “cows of Bashan.”
2. Judgment – Zechariah portrays cosmic desolation: “Wail, O oaks of Bashan, for the stately forest has been felled!” (Zechariah 11:2).
3. Restoration – Micah 7:14 prays, “Shepherd Your people… Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead as in days of old.”

Christological Connections

Psalm 22, the Messianic psalm echoed at the crucifixion, pictures hostile onlookers as “strong bulls of Bashan.” The imagery intensifies the scene, portraying Christ surrounded by earthly power yet ultimately triumphant. Psalm 68:22 links God’s victory with Bashan: “I will bring them back from Bashan; I will retrieve them from the depths of the sea,” foreshadowing resurrection power.

Theological Themes

1. Divine Sovereignty – The defeat of Og demonstrates that no earthly might, not even giants and fortified cities, can resist the LORD.
2. Covenant Faithfulness – The rich land given to Manasseh displays God’s provision; its later loss under Assyria warns against covenant breach.
3. Eschatological Hope – Prophetic mention of Bashan in restoration oracles affirms the future re-gathering and blessing of Israel.

Ministry Applications

• Victory over Strongholds – Og’s fall encourages believers facing daunting spiritual opposition.
• Stewardship – Bashan’s abundance calls for gratitude and responsible use of God’s gifts.
• Warning against Complacency – Like the “cows of Bashan,” unchecked luxury can dull spiritual sensitivity.
• Christ-Centered Preaching – Psalm 22 invites proclamation of the suffering and exaltation of Jesus Christ, with Bashan’s imagery enriching exposition.

Key References

Numbers 21:33-35; Deuteronomy 3:1-11; Deuteronomy 32:14; Joshua 13:29-31; Psalm 22:12; Psalm 68:15-22; Amos 4:1; Ezekiel 27:6; Ezekiel 39:18; Micah 7:14; Zechariah 11:2.

בַּבָּשָֽׁן׃ בַּבָּשָׁ֑ן בַּבָּשָׁ֔ן בַּבָּשָׁ֖ן בַּבָּשָׁן֒ בַּבָּשָׁן֙ בַבָּשָׁן֙ בָּשָֽׁן׃ בָּשָׁ֑ן בָּשָׁ֖ן בָּשָׁן֙ בָשָׁ֔ן בָשָׁ֖ן בָשָׁ֛ן בָשָׁ֣ן בָשָׁן֙ בבשן בבשן׃ בשן בשן׃ הַבָּשָֽׁן׃ הַבָּשָׁ֑ן הַבָּשָׁ֔ן הַבָּשָׁ֖ן הַבָּשָׁ֗ן הַבָּשָׁ֜ן הַבָּשָׁ֧ן הַבָּשָׁ֨ן הַבָּשָׁן֙ הבשן הבשן׃ וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃ וְהַבָּשָׁ֑ן וְהַבָּשָׁ֔ן וּבַבָּשָׁ֖ן ובבשן והבשן והבשן׃ מִבָּ֔שָׁן מִבָּשָׁ֞ן מִבָּשָׁ֣ן מבשן bā·šān ḇā·šān bab·bā·šān ḇab·bā·šān babbāšān ḇabbāšān babbaShan bāšān ḇāšān baShan hab·bā·šān habbāšān habbaShan mib·bā·šān mibbāšān mibbaShan mibBashon ū·ḇab·bā·šān ūḇabbāšān uvabbaShan vabbaShan vaShan vehabbaShan wə·hab·bā·šān wəhabbāšānInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts