Lexical Summary deshen: Fatness, abundance, fertility, ashes (of sacrifices) Original Word: דֶּשֶׁן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ashes, fatness From dashen; the fat; abstractly fatness, i.e. (figuratively) abundance; specifically the (fatty) ashes of sacrifices -- ashes, fatness. see HEBREW dashen NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom dashen Definition fatness, ashes of fat NASB Translation abundance (3), ashes (8), fatness (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs דֶּ֫שֶׁן noun masculine fatness, fat ashes — absolute ׳ד Psalm 63:6 8t., דָּ֑שֶׁן Leviticus 1:16 3t.; construct דֶּשֶׁן Psalm 36:9; suffix דִּשְׁנִי Judges 9:9 — 1 fatness, abundance, luxuriance, oil, Judges 9:9 (of olive tree); abundance, fertility Psalm 63:6 (in simile "" חֵלֶב), Psalm 65:12, of food and drink, Job 36:16; Jeremiah 31:14; passing over into figurative of spiritual blessing Psalm 36:9 (ביתך ׳ד), Isaiah 55:2. 2 fat ashes, i.e. ashes of victims, mixed with the fat Leviticus 1:16; Leviticus 4:12 (twice in verse); Leviticus 6:3; Leviticus 6:4 (all P) Jeremiah 31:40; 1 Kings 13:3,5. Topical Lexicon Priestly Ashes and the Continuity of AtonementThe earliest occurrences of דֶּשֶׁן are bound to the sacrificial system (Leviticus 1:16; 4:12; 6:10–11). After the burnt offering was reduced to ashes, the priest gathered the דֶּשֶׁן and deposited it in “a ceremonially clean place outside the camp” (Leviticus 4:12). The same material also accumulated on the altar itself and had to be removed daily before the morning sacrifice (Leviticus 6:10). The repeated handling of these ashes underscores three intertwined truths: 1. Sacrifice was perpetual and could not lapse; sin’s presence demanded continual atonement. Ritual Purity and Prophetic Sign At Bethel, the unnamed man of God declared, “This is the sign that the LORD has spoken: ‘The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out’” (1 Kings 13:3). The immediate fulfillment (1 Kings 13:5) showed that corrupt worship defiles even a consecrated structure; its דֶּשֶׁן was no longer the residue of accepted offerings but evidence against apostasy. Similarly, Jeremiah foresaw a day when the “Valley of the Dead Bodies and of the Ashes” (Jeremiah 31:40) would become “holy to the LORD,” indicating a final, comprehensive cleansing that would reach even the places where impurity had collected. Symbol of Divine Provision and Plenty Outside cultic settings, דֶּשֶׁן speaks of rich abundance. The olive tree in Jotham’s parable refuses kingship lest it forsake “my richness by which gods and men are honored” (Judges 9:9). The metaphor then permeates Wisdom and Psalms: • “He will also bring you into a broad place, a place free of constraint, to feast on the richness of food" (Job 36:16). In each case דֶּשֶׁן conveys more than caloric richness; it signals covenant blessing flowing from a God who “opens His hand” (Psalm 145:16) and supplies both physical and spiritual fullness. Imagery of Spiritual Satisfaction Because דֶּשֶׁן holds together the concepts of sacrificial residue and luxuriant abundance, it becomes a perfect emblem of gospel grace: what once symbolized sin consumed now speaks of souls filled. The altar’s ashes whisper of substitutionary death; the table’s fatness proclaims resurrection life. Thus believers find their hunger met at the foot of the cross and their thirst quenched in the risen Christ. Eschatological Reversal Jeremiah 31 unites the two major motifs. In verses 14 and 40, abundance and ashes bookend the promise of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). God will fill priests with דֶּשֶׁן even as He transforms the very ash-heap valley into holy ground. Final redemption will not merely replace but transfigure what was formerly corrupt. Ministry Implications 1. Worship: Regular confession and remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice should accompany joyful celebration of His abundance. דֶּשֶׁן therefore gathers the ashes of judgment and the fatness of blessing into one rich testimony: the Lord who consumes sin is the same Lord who satisfies His people forever. Forms and Transliterations בַּדֶּ֖שֶׁן בדשן דִּשְׁנִ֔י דָּ֑שֶׁן דָּֽשֶׁן׃ דָֽשֶׁן׃ דשן דשן׃ דשני הַדֶּ֔שֶׁן הַדֶּ֖שֶׁן הַדֶּ֗שֶׁן הַדֶּ֙שֶׁן֙ הַדֶּ֥שֶׁן הַדָּֽשֶׁן׃ הדשן הדשן׃ וְהַדֶּ֡שֶׁן וָ֭דֶשֶׁן ודשן והדשן מִדֶּ֣שֶׁן מדשן bad·de·šen baddešen badDeshen dā·šen ḏā·šen dāšen ḏāšen Dashen diš·nî dishNi dišnî had·dā·šen had·de·šen haddāšen hadDashen haddešen hadDeshen mid·de·šen middešen midDeshen Vadeshen vehadDeshen wā·ḏe·šen wāḏešen wə·had·de·šen wəhaddešenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Leviticus 1:16 HEB: אֶל־ מְק֖וֹם הַדָּֽשֶׁן׃ NAS: eastward, to the place of the ashes. KJV: by the place of the ashes: INT: to the place of the ashes Leviticus 4:12 Leviticus 4:12 Leviticus 6:10 Leviticus 6:11 Judges 9:9 1 Kings 13:3 1 Kings 13:5 Job 36:16 Psalm 36:8 Psalm 63:5 Psalm 65:11 Isaiah 55:2 Jeremiah 31:14 Jeremiah 31:40 15 Occurrences |
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