Lexical Summary Dagon: Dagon Original Word: דָּגוֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Dagon From dag; the fish-god; Dagon, a Philistine deity -- Dagon. see HEBREW dag NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dag Definition a god and an idol of the Philistines NASB Translation Dagon (12), Dagon's (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דָּגוֺן proper name, masculine: 1 Samuel 5:4 god & idol of Philistines (compare Assyrian Dagan, Dakan(nu), name perhaps non-Shemitic COT Judges 16:23 DlPa 139 SayceRel. Babylonian 188 f. but see Jen below) **oldest tradition (Jerome) seems to waver between דָּג fish and דָּגָן grain, as explanation of דָּגוֺן, see בית. — god of Ashdod, except Judges 16:23 (Gaza) & 1 Chronicles 10:10 (but compare below); — דגון אֱלֹהֵיהֶם Judges 16:23 compare דגון אֱלֹהֵינוּ 1 Samuel 5:7, ׳בֵּית ד1Samuel 5:2,5; 1 Chronicles 10:10 (here hardly original compare "" 1 Samuel 31:10 & We Dr); ׳כֹּהֲנֵי ד 1 Samuel 5:5, ׳מִפְתַּן ד 1 Samuel 5:5; as name of image ׳(אֵצֶל) ד 1 Samuel 5:2; 1 Samuel 5:3; 1 Samuel 5:4, דגון נֹפֵל 1 Samuel 5:3; 1 Samuel 5:4, נִשְׁאַר עָלָיו ׳רַק ד 1 Samuel 5:4 (but sense difficult; We proposes דָּגוֺ only his fish, i.e. fishy part, was left upon him, see also Dr; — but was Dagon a fish-god ? compare works cited above & ScholzG-tzendienst 238 ff., Baud in PRE2iii. 460 ff. especially JenKosmol. 449 ff.) see בֵּית דָּגוֺן p. III. Topical Lexicon Identity and CultDagon is presented in Scripture as the principal deity of the Philistines, worshiped especially at Gaza, Ashdod, and Beth-shan. Whereas pagans viewed him as a giver of grain and maritime prosperity, the biblical record consistently portrays Dagon as a powerless idol, incapable of defending himself or his devotees when confronted with the living God. Biblical Occurrences and Narrative Themes Judges 16:23 records the Philistines assembling in the temple of Dagon to celebrate Samson’s capture: “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.” The scene underscores the Philistines’ confidence in Dagon just moments before the LORD empowers Samson to bring the house down—literally—upon their heads (Judges 16:30), exposing the futility of their trust. The most concentrated focus appears in 1 Samuel 5:2–7. After seizing the ark, the Philistines place it “beside Dagon” (1 Samuel 5:2). Twice the idol is found prostrate before the ark; the second fall leaves its head and hands severed, “Only the torso remained” (1 Samuel 5:4). The LORD’s supremacy is affirmed not only in the idol’s humiliation but also in the plague that follows, driving the Philistines to confess, “His hand is severe against us and against our god Dagon” (1 Samuel 5:7). 1 Chronicles 10:10 reports that the Philistines displayed Saul’s head “in the temple of Dagon,” an act meant to honor their god. Yet the larger canonical narrative soon shows the kingdom transferred to David, demonstrating again that victories claimed for Dagon are temporary and illusory. Historical and Archaeological Notes Extra-biblical findings confirm Dagon’s prominence in Philistine and earlier Mesopotamian contexts. Temples at Ashdod (modern tell Ashdod) and Beth-shan reveal cultic installations dating to Iron Age levels, aligning with the geographic references in Scripture. Iconography varies—some depictions show a combination of human and fish elements, others a grain deity—yet archaeological diversity merely amplifies the biblical critique: regardless of form, Dagon is an idol fashioned by human hands. Theological Significance 1. The Sovereignty of God. The ark narrative dramatizes that the LORD does not need human armies to vindicate His glory; He topples Dagon unaided, turning the Philistines’ triumph into terror. Lessons for Ministry and Discipleship • Spiritual Warfare: Believers contend not merely with cultural ideologies but with spiritual forces behind idolatry; yet the victory of the LORD over Dagon assures ultimate triumph (Colossians 2:15). Foreshadowing of Christ Dagon fallen before the ark anticipates every power bowing to Christ (Philippians 2:10). His severed head and hands anticipate the crushing of Satan (Genesis 3:15) and the nullifying of all hostile dominion (1 Corinthians 15:24-25). Thus the narrative of Dagon is not an antiquarian curiosity but a preview of the gospel’s decisive victory over idols, culminating in the universal acknowledgment that “the LORD, He is God; there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:35). Forms and Transliterations דָּג֑וֹן דָּג֔וֹן דָּג֖וֹן דָּג֛וֹן דָּג֜וֹן דָּג֥וֹן דָּגֽוֹן׃ דָג֗וֹן דָג֜וֹן דגון דגון׃ לְדָג֥וֹן לדגון dā·ḡō·wn ḏā·ḡō·wn daGon dāḡōwn ḏāḡōwn lə·ḏā·ḡō·wn ledaGon ləḏāḡōwnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 16:23 HEB: זֶֽבַח־ גָּד֛וֹל לְדָג֥וֹן אֱלֹהֵיהֶ֖ם וּלְשִׂמְחָ֑ה NAS: sacrifice to Dagon their god, KJV: sacrifice unto Dagon their god, INT: sacrifice A great to Dagon their god rejoice 1 Samuel 5:2 1 Samuel 5:2 1 Samuel 5:3 1 Samuel 5:3 1 Samuel 5:4 1 Samuel 5:4 1 Samuel 5:4 1 Samuel 5:5 1 Samuel 5:5 1 Samuel 5:5 1 Samuel 5:7 1 Chronicles 10:10 13 Occurrences |
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