King James Version

What Does Judges 18:29 Mean?

Judges 18:29 in the King James Version says “And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Judges 18:29 · KJV

Context

27

And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

28

And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Bethrehob. And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

29

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.

30

And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

31

And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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. The Danites renamed their conquered city "Dan" (Dan, דָּן) after their tribal patriarch, Jacob's son born to Bilhah (Genesis 30:6). The Hebrew Dan means "judgment" or "he judged," reflecting Rachel's statement "God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice" at his birth. This renaming asserted Danite identity and ownership, following ancient Near Eastern conquest patterns where victors imposed their names on captured territories, erasing previous identity and establishing new political reality.

The phrase "who was born unto Israel" (asher yulad le-Yisrael, אֲשֶׁר יֻלַּד לְיִשְׂרָאֵל) emphasizes Dan's legitimate place among Israel's twelve tribes, descended from Jacob/Israel himself. This legitimizing language contrasts ironically with the illegitimate means of conquest and the false worship about to be established (v. 30). External covenant identity doesn't guarantee internal covenant faithfulness—a warning Jesus repeated regarding those who claimed "We have Abraham to our father" while rejecting truth (Matthew 3:9, John 8:39-44). True covenant membership requires heart faithfulness, not merely external genealogy (Romans 2:28-29, Galatians 3:7-9).

"Howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first" (ve'ulam Layish shem-ha'ir la-rishonah, וְאוּלָם לַיִשׁ שֵׁם־הָעִיר לָרִאשֹׁנָה) preserves historical memory of the conquered city's original identity. This detail demonstrates the narrator's historical accuracy and perhaps subtly critiques the Danite conquest—Laish's peaceful character (v. 7) and violent destruction (v. 27) are remembered even as its name was erased. Scripture frequently preserves such details, honoring historical truth while revealing moral complexity. The conquered city's memorial warns that worldly success built on violence and false worship, though apparently triumphant, carries seeds of eventual judgment (1 Kings 12:28-30, 2 Kings 10:29).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Ancient Near Eastern conquest regularly included renaming captured cities to assert dominance and erase previous identity. Egyptian, Assyrian, and Babylonian records document this practice. However, biblical usage often preserves original names alongside new ones (Jerusalem/Jebus, Hebron/Kiriath-arba, Bethel/Luz), showing respect for historical memory even when celebrating conquest. This historiographic practice distinguishes biblical narrative from propagandistic ancient Near Eastern royal inscriptions that glorified conquest while suppressing inconvenient details.

Dan's location at Israel's northern extremity made it strategically significant despite its distance from tribal heartland. The city controlled routes from the Mediterranean coast inland toward Damascus and Mesopotamia. Its position near Mount Hermon's foothills provided water from Jordan River headwaters (the name "Dan" became associated with one of Jordan's three source springs). This resource-rich location explains both the original Sidonian settlement and the Danite conquest—the territory was valuable enough to justify migration from distant coastal regions.

Archaeological excavations at Tel Dan have revealed extensive remains from Iron Age I (judges period) through the Hellenistic period. A massive city gate from the Middle Bronze Age (patriarchal period) demonstrates the site's long occupation history. Most significantly, excavations uncovered a large cult center with altar, high place, and religious installations dating to the monarchy period, confirming biblical accounts of false worship established at Dan. The Aramaic "Tel Dan Stele" (9th century BCE) found at the site contains the earliest extrabiblical reference to the "House of David," providing remarkable archaeological confirmation of biblical historicity.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the contrast between external covenant identity ("born unto Israel") and internal covenant betrayal (establishing false worship) warn against presuming on religious heritage?
  2. What does Scripture's preservation of Laish's original name alongside Dan's conquest teach about honest historical memory versus triumphalistic propaganda?
  3. In what ways can worldly success and apparent achievement mask spiritual compromise and future judgment?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וַיִּקְרְא֤וּ1 of 15

“And they called”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

שֵׁם2 of 15

“after the name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

הָעִ֖יר3 of 15

“of the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

דָּ֣ן4 of 15

“Dan”

H1835

dan, one of the sons of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in palestine colonized by them

שֵׁם5 of 15

“after the name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

דָּ֣ן6 of 15

“Dan”

H1835

dan, one of the sons of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in palestine colonized by them

אֲבִיהֶ֔ם7 of 15

“their father”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

אֲשֶׁ֥ר8 of 15
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יוּלַּ֖ד9 of 15

“who was born”

H3205

to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage

לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל10 of 15

“unto Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

וְאוּלָ֛ם11 of 15

“howbeit”

H199

however or on the contrary

לַ֥יִשׁ12 of 15

“was Laish”

H3919

laish, the name of two places in palestine

שֵׁם13 of 15

“after the name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

הָעִ֖יר14 of 15

“of the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

לָרִֽאשֹׁנָֽה׃15 of 15

“at the first”

H7223

first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 18:29 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 18:29 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Kings 15:20Genesis 14:14Joshua 19:471 Kings 12:29-30Judges 20:1Genesis 32:28

Places in This Verse

DanSettlement · Modern: Tel Dan · 33.25°N, 35.65°E25 verses across 12 books
View all places in Judges 18 →

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