1712. Dagon
Lexical Summary
Dagon: Dagon

Original Word: דָּגוֹן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Dagown
Pronunciation: dah-GOHN
Phonetic Spelling: (daw-gohn')
KJV: Dagon
NASB: Dagon, Dagon's
Word Origin: [from H1709 (דָּג דָּאגּ - fish)]

1. the fish-god
2. Dagon, a Philistine deity

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Dagon

From dag; the fish-god; Dagon, a Philistine deity -- Dagon.

see HEBREW dag

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from 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 Cult

Dagon 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.
2. The Powerlessness of Idols. Dagon’s decapitation and mutilation (1 Samuel 5:4) symbolize the total incapacity of false gods to think (head) or act (hands).
3. The Consequences of Misplaced Trust. Philistine confidence in Dagon culminates in national calamity, while Israel’s later flirtations with idolatry reap similar judgment, reinforcing the call to exclusive covenant loyalty.

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).
• Evangelism: The ark episode models how God exposes idols’ impotence, preparing hearts to receive the gospel.
• Worship Purity: Churches must guard against syncretism; the threshold of Dagon’s temple remained a reminder of judgment (1 Samuel 5:5). Similarly, every gathering around the true ark—Jesus Christ—must reject rival allegiances.

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 ləḏāḡōwn
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman'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
HEB: אֹת֖וֹ בֵּ֣ית דָּג֑וֹן וַיַּצִּ֥יגוּ אֹת֖וֹ
NAS: it to the house of Dagon and set
KJV: it into the house of Dagon, and set
INT: and brought to the house of Dagon and set by

1 Samuel 5:2
HEB: אֹת֖וֹ אֵ֥צֶל דָּגֽוֹן׃
NAS: of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
KJV: and set it by Dagon.
INT: and set by Dagon

1 Samuel 5:3
HEB: מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וְהִנֵּ֣ה דָג֗וֹן נֹפֵ֤ל לְפָנָיו֙
NAS: behold, Dagon had fallen
KJV: on the morrow, behold, Dagon [was] fallen
INT: the next behold Dagon had fallen his face

1 Samuel 5:3
HEB: וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־ דָּג֔וֹן וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ
NAS: So they took Dagon and set
KJV: And they took Dagon, and set
INT: of the LORD took Dagon and set his place

1 Samuel 5:4
HEB: מִֽמָּחֳרָת֒ וְהִנֵּ֣ה דָג֗וֹן נֹפֵ֤ל לְפָנָיו֙
NAS: behold, Dagon had fallen
KJV: morning, behold, Dagon [was] fallen
INT: the next behold Dagon had fallen his face

1 Samuel 5:4
HEB: יְהוָ֑ה וְרֹ֨אשׁ דָּג֜וֹן וּשְׁתֵּ֣י ׀ כַּפּ֣וֹת
NAS: And the head of Dagon and both
KJV: and the head of Dagon and both
INT: of the LORD and the head of Dagon and both the palms

1 Samuel 5:4
HEB: הַמִּפְתָּ֔ן רַ֥ק דָּג֖וֹן נִשְׁאַ֥ר עָלָֽיו׃
NAS: only the trunk of Dagon was left
KJV: upon the threshold; only [the stump of] Dagon was left
INT: the threshold but of Dagon was left and

1 Samuel 5:5
HEB: יִדְרְכוּ֩ כֹהֲנֵ֨י דָג֜וֹן וְכָֽל־ הַבָּאִ֧ים
NAS: neither the priests of Dagon nor all
KJV: Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come
INT: tread the priests of Dagon all enter

1 Samuel 5:5
HEB: הַבָּאִ֧ים בֵּית־ דָּג֛וֹן עַל־ מִפְתַּ֥ן
NAS: all who enter Dagon's house tread
KJV: nor any that come into Dagon's house,
INT: enter house Dagon's on the threshold

1 Samuel 5:5
HEB: עַל־ מִפְתַּ֥ן דָּג֖וֹן בְּאַשְׁדּ֑וֹד עַ֖ד
NAS: on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod
KJV: on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod
INT: on the threshold of Dagon Ashdod against

1 Samuel 5:7
HEB: עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְעַ֖ל דָּג֥וֹן אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃
NAS: is severe on us and on Dagon our god.
KJV: is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.
INT: and on and Dagon our god

1 Chronicles 10:10
HEB: תָקְע֖וּ בֵּ֥ית דָּגֽוֹן׃ ס
NAS: his head in the house of Dagon.
KJV: his head in the temple of Dagon.
INT: and fastened the house of Dagon

13 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 1712
13 Occurrences


dā·ḡō·wn — 12 Occ.
lə·ḏā·ḡō·wn — 1 Occ.

1711
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