Original Word: דָּנִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Daniy
Pronunciation: dah-nee
Phonetic Spelling: (daw-nee')
KJV: Danites, of Dan
NASB: Danites
Word Origin: [patronymically from H1835 (דָּן - Dan)]

1. a Danite (often collectively) or descendants (or inhabitants) of Dan

Danites, of Dan

Patronymically from Dan; a Danite (often collectively) or descendants (or inhabitants) of Dan -- Danites, of Dan.

see HEBREW Dan

Word Origin
from Dan
Definition
desc. of Dan
NASB Translation
Danites (5).

דָּנִי adjective, of a people always with article as proper name collective הַדָּנִי 1 Chronicles 12:35; שֵׁבֶט הַדָּנִי Judges 18:1,30; מִשְׁמַּחַת הַדָּנִי Judges 13:2; Judges 18:11.

Meaning and Identity

Strong’s Hebrew 1839 designates an individual or a group belonging to the tribe of Dan—hence “Danite.” The word is used for both singular and plural contexts, identifying persons whose lineage traces back to Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and firstborn of Bilhah (Genesis 30:6).

Occurrences in Scripture

1. Judges 13:2 – Manoah, Samson’s father, is introduced as “a Danite from Zorah.”
2. Judges 18:1 – “In those days there was no king in Israel, and the tribe of the Danites sought an inheritance of their own to settle in.”
3. Judges 18:11 – Six hundred armed Danites depart from Zorah and Eshtaol on their migration northward.
4. Judges 18:30 – After conquering Laish, “the Danites set up for themselves the carved image.”
5. 1 Chronicles 12:36 – In David’s Hebron mustering, “from Dan, twenty-eight thousand six hundred men armed for battle.”

Historical Context

The Danites originally received coastal territory (Joshua 19:40–46) but failed to secure it fully against Philistine pressure. Judges 18 records their decision to relocate to the far north, capturing Laish and renaming it Dan. This move granted them fertile land but distanced them from the central sanctuary, a factor that later contributed to persistent idolatry within the tribe (1 Kings 12:28–30).

Samson’s family remained in the original allotment, illustrating that not all Danites migrated. Centuries later, men of Dan rallied to David at Hebron (1 Chronicles 12:36), showing that remnants of the tribe retained faithfulness and military vigor.

Theological and Ministry Insights

Idolatry versus Covenant Faithfulness:

Judges 18:30 highlights the tragedy of a tribe that chose convenience over covenant. The Danites installed a graven image even while possessing a rich heritage rooted in the Mosaic law. Their example warns believers about the spiritual cost of pragmatism and geographic isolation from God-ordained worship.

Divine Empowerment Despite Tribal Weakness:

God raised up Samson from a Danite family (Judges 13–16), demonstrating sovereignty in granting deliverance through a tribe struggling for identity. Ministry workers may take heart that the Lord can employ those from disadvantaged or compromised backgrounds to accomplish His purposes.

Restoration and Inclusion:

Although Dan disappears from the tribal listing in Revelation 7, Ezekiel’s future land allotments (Ezekiel 48:1–2, 32) restore the tribe, underscoring God’s commitment to covenant promises. This anticipates the ultimate reconciliation of wayward people who turn back to the Lord.

Lessons for Believers Today

• Seek God’s inheritance rather than self-selected comforts (Judges 18:1, 27–29).
• Guard corporate worship from syncretism; proximity to truth does not guarantee fidelity (Judges 18:30).
• Celebrate God’s grace that equips imperfect people for His mission (Judges 13:5).
• Remember that faithfulness in one generation can influence national revival, as seen when Danites joined David’s kingdom purposes (1 Chronicles 12:36).

Noteworthy Danites

– Samson: Judge and Nazarite deliverer (Judges 13–16).

– Aholiab: Skilled craftsman for the Tabernacle, “of the tribe of Dan” (Exodus 31:6).

– Hiram of Tyre’s mother: “a widow from the tribe of Dan,” contributing to Solomon’s temple artistry (1 Kings 7:14).

Summary

The term “Danite” encapsulates a complex narrative of promise, failure, discipline, and hope. Through scattered yet telling appearances, Scripture presents the Danites as a mirror of Israel’s broader story—called, challenged, judged, and finally remembered in God’s redemptive plan.

הַדָּנִ֔י הַדָּנִ֖י הַדָּנִ֞י הַדָּנִי֙ הדני had·dā·nî haddaNi haddānîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts