Original Word: דַּיָּן
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: dayan
Pronunciation: dah-YAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (dah-yawn')
KJV: judge
NASB: judge
Word Origin: [from H1777 (דִּין דּוּן - judge)]

1. a judge or advocate

judge

From diyn; a judge or advocate -- judge.

see HEBREW diyn

Word Origin
from din
Definition
a judge
NASB Translation
judge (2).

דַּיָּן noun masculine judge 1 Samuel 24:16; construct דַּיַּן Psalm 68:6.

Overview

דַּיָּן (dayan) designates a judge—one who upholds justice, vindicates the innocent, and executes righteous judgment. In its two canonical appearances the word is applied solely to the LORD, emphasizing His role as the supreme arbiter whose verdicts are final and whose courtroom transcends human tribunals.

Occurrences and Immediate Contexts

• 1 Samuel 24:15 records David’s appeal: “May the LORD therefore be judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.” David, hounded by Saul, refuses vigilantism and entrusts his cause to the divine Dayan.
• Psalm 68:5 proclaims, “A father of the fatherless and a defender of widows is God in His holy habitation.” Though rendered “defender” in, the underlying term is dayan, linking divine compassion with judicial action on behalf of society’s most vulnerable.

The LORD as Ultimate Judge

Dayan underscores God’s personal, relational involvement in justice. He is not a detached magistrate but a covenant Lord who judges in favor of His people (Exodus 22:22-24), defends the powerless (Deuteronomy 10:18), and confronts oppression (Isaiah 3:13-15). His judgments are true (Psalm 19:9) and inexorable (Nahum 1:3), providing the moral framework for all human authority.

Historical Setting of Judicial Practice in Israel

Israel’s civic life featured appointed elders, priests, and later formal courts (Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Chronicles 19:5-7). Yet every earthly judge operated under—and was accountable to—the heavenly Dayan. Prophets repeatedly invoked this truth, indicting corrupt officials (Micah 3:1-4) and calling the nation back to righteous adjudication modeled on God’s own character.

Human Appeal to Divine Justice

David’s petition in 1 Samuel 24:15 exemplifies faithful reliance on God rather than personal retaliation. The psalmists echo this posture, turning grievances into prayers (Psalm 7:6-11). Believers today mirror that faith when they entrust unresolved wrongs to God (Romans 12:19; 1 Peter 2:23), confident that the Dayan will vindicate righteousness in His time.

Compassionate Judging

Psalm 68:5 couples judicial authority with paternal tenderness. God’s judgments flow from covenant love, safeguarding those least able to protect themselves—orphans, widows, foreigners (Psalm 146:9). This blend of justice and mercy sets the standard for Christian ministry, motivating advocacy, benevolence, and equitable treatment in church and society (James 1:27; Isaiah 1:17).

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus Christ embodies and executes the prerogatives of the Dayan. The Father “has given Him authority to judge” (John 5:27). At the cross justice and mercy converge: sin is condemned, sinners are justified (Romans 3:26). The risen Lord now presides over His people (2 Corinthians 5:10) and will consummate judgment at His return (Revelation 20:11-12), ensuring that every wrong is righted.

Pastoral and Practical Implications

1. Encouragement amid injustice: Suffering believers can echo David’s prayer, resting in divine adjudication.
2. Ethical accountability: Knowing God judges impartially fuels integrity in leadership, business, and family life (Colossians 3:25).
3. Advocacy for the marginalized: The church, reflecting the Dayan’s heart, must defend vulnerable groups, pairing proclamation with tangible aid.
4. Evangelistic urgency: The certainty of final judgment presses the call to repentance and faith (Acts 17:30-31).

Related Themes and References

Genesis 18:25; Deuteronomy 1:17; Psalm 9:7-8; Isaiah 33:22; Matthew 25:31-46; Hebrews 12:23.

Summary

דַּיָּן, though rare in Scripture, powerfully portrays the LORD as the righteous, compassionate Judge. His verdicts secure justice for His people, call human authorities to account, and culminate in the redemptive reign of Christ. Confidence in this divine Dayan energizes worship, sustains endurance in persecution, and shapes a ministry committed to truth, mercy, and hope until He renders the final, perfect judgment.

וְדַיַּ֣ן ודין לְדַיָּ֔ן לדין lə·ḏay·yān ledaiYan ləḏayyān vedaiYan wə·ḏay·yan wəḏayyanInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts