Judges 18:29
Judges 18:29 in Multiple Translations
They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city was formerly named Laish.
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first.
And they gave the town the name of Dan, after Dan their father, who was the son of Israel: though the town had been named Laish at first.
They renamed the city Dan after their forefather, the son of Israel. Laish was its former name.
And called the name of the citie Dan, after the name of Dan their father which was borne vnto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the beginning.
and call the name of the city Dan, by the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; and yet Laish [is] the name of the city at the first.
They called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; however the name of the city used to be Laish.
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel: but the name of the city was Laish at the first.
Calling the name of the city Dan after the name of their father, who was the son of Israel, which before was called Lais.
They gave to the city a new name, Dan, in honor of their ancestor Dan, who was one of the sons of Jacob.
Berean Amplified Bible — Judges 18:29
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Judges 18:29 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Judges 18:29
Study Notes — Judges 18:29
- Context
- Cross References
- Judges 18:29 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Judges 18:29
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 18:29
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 18:29
- Trapp's Commentary on Judges 18:29
- Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 18:29
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 18:29
- Cambridge Bible on Judges 18:29
- Whedon's Commentary on Judges 18:29
- Sermons on Judges 18:29
Context — The Danites Take Micah’s Idols
29They named it Dan, after their forefather Dan, who was born to Israel—though the city was formerly named Laish.
30The Danites set up idols for themselves, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image, and it was there the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joshua 19:47 | (Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and put it to the sword. So they took possession of Leshem, settled there, and renamed it after their father Dan.) |
| 2 | Genesis 14:14 | And when Abram heard that his relative had been captured, he mobilized the 318 trained men born in his household, and they set out in pursuit as far as Dan. |
| 3 | 1 Kings 15:20 | And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, conquering Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maacah, and the whole land of Naphtali, including the region of Chinnereth. |
| 4 | 1 Kings 12:29–30 | One calf he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves. |
| 5 | Judges 20:1 | Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah. |
| 6 | Genesis 32:28 | Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men, and you have prevailed.” |
| 7 | Genesis 30:6 | Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan. |
| 8 | 2 Samuel 17:11 | Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. |
Judges 18:29 Summary
This verse tells us that the Danites renamed the city Laish to Dan, after their ancestor Dan, who was one of the twelve sons of Israel. This shows how the Danites wanted to claim the city as their own and establish their identity. However, as we see in the rest of the chapter, this led to idolatry and disobedience to God's commands, as warned against in Deuteronomy 12:1-3. We can learn from this that our actions and decisions should always be guided by a desire to follow God's will, rather than our own desires or sense of identity, and that we should be careful not to 'rename' or redefine God's commands to fit our own circumstances, as seen in Psalm 119:105, where the psalmist writes about the importance of following God's word.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Danites rename the city Laish to Dan?
The Danites renamed the city Laish to Dan after their forefather Dan, who was one of the twelve sons of Israel, as mentioned in Genesis 29:32 and 30:6, to establish their identity and claim on the city.
What is the significance of the city's former name, Laish?
The former name Laish is not directly mentioned in other parts of the Bible, but it shows that the city had a history before the Danites conquered it, similar to how other cities in the Bible had previous names, like Jerusalem being formerly known as Jebus in Judges 19:10-11.
Is this verse related to the rest of the chapter?
Yes, this verse is part of the narrative of the Danites' conquest of Laish, as told in Judges 18:27-31, where they defeat the peaceful inhabitants and establish their own city, which becomes a place of idolatry as mentioned in Judges 18:30-31.
What can we learn from the Danites' actions in this verse?
The Danites' actions serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry and the importance of following God's commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 12:1-3, where God warns the Israelites against worshiping other gods and setting up idols.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I, like the Danites, might be trying to establish my own identity or legacy, and how can I ensure that these efforts are aligned with God's will?
- How can I balance my desire for a sense of belonging and heritage with the need to follow God's commands and avoid idolatry?
- What are some 'idols' in my life that I may be unknowingly worshiping, and how can I remove them and focus on worshiping the one true God?
- In what ways can I, like the Danites, be tempted to 'rename' or redefine God's commands to fit my own desires or circumstances, and how can I resist this temptation?
Gill's Exposition on Judges 18:29
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 18:29
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Judges 18:29
Trapp's Commentary on Judges 18:29
Ellicott's Commentary on Judges 18:29
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Judges 18:29
Cambridge Bible on Judges 18:29
Whedon's Commentary on Judges 18:29
Sermons on Judges 18:29
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Genesis #13 Ch. 14-15 Contrast of Abraham and Lot by Chuck Missler | In this sermon on Genesis chapters 14 and 15, Chuck Misler explores the relationship between Abraham and Lot. He introduces the concept of the law of first mention, which suggests |
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(Genesis) Genesis 13:14-18 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on God's appearance to Abram and the promise of land and offspring. God instructs Abram to look in all directions and confirms that he will giv |
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Where Would You Pitch Your Tent? by Percy Ray | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of believing and following the word of God without being influenced by those who try to undermine it. He encourages the congr |
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Training in the House of God (Genesis 14:14) by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes that the House of God serves as a training ground for believers, akin to Abram's trained men who were prepared for spiritual warfare. He highlights that |
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The Ministry of Melchizedek by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches on the priesthood of Melchizedek, highlighting how Melchizedek knew God intimately and blessed Abraham with a prophetic word that saved him from pride and covet |
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(The Full Gospel) 22. the Ministry of Melchizedek by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches on the priesthood of Melchizedek, emphasizing the importance of quietly blessing others without seeking recognition or honor. He highlights how Melchizedek met |
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Truly, Thou Art a God Who Hides Thyself by Zac Poonen | Zac Poonen preaches on the characteristic of God's nature to work without seeking recognition, using the example of Melchizedek who quietly blessed Abraham without seeking any cred |





