from דָּגָה; properly, increase, i.e. grain; corn (floor), wheat.
Transliteration:dâgân
Pronunciation:daw-gawn'
Detailed Word Study
AI-Generated
Loading Study...
### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word דָּגָן (dâgân), transliterated as dâgân and assigned Strong's number `{{H1715}}`, fundamentally signifies "grain" or "cereal crops." Its etymological root is linked to the verb דָּגָה (dâgâh), `{{H1711}}`, meaning "to multiply" or "to increase." This etymological connection is crucial, as it imbues dâgân with the inherent sense of abundance and proliferation that characterizes a successful harvest.
Semantically, dâgân is a collective noun referring to the harvested kernels of various cereal plants, such as wheat and barley, which formed the staple diet and economic backbone of ancient Israel. While it primarily denotes the threshed grain ready for consumption or storage, it can implicitly refer to the entire crop from which these kernels are derived. It does not typically distinguish between specific types of grain unless specified by context, functioning as a general term for edible cereals.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term dâgân appears frequently throughout the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts related to divine blessing, covenant faithfulness, economic prosperity, and cultic practice.
1. **Divine Blessing and Provision:** dâgân is consistently presented as a primary manifestation of God's blessing upon His people. When Israel walks in obedience, God promises abundant grain.
* [[Deuteronomy 7:13]] states, "He will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain, your new wine, and your oil." This triad of grain, new wine, and oil is a recurring motif representing agricultural prosperity and divine favor.
* [[Deuteronomy 11:14]] promises, "I will give the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the later rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil." This highlights God's direct involvement in providing the conditions necessary for a bountiful harvest.
* [[Psalm 4:7]] expresses a joy in God's presence greater "than when their grain and new wine abound," indicating the deep satisfaction found in divine favor over material wealth.
2. **Covenant and Obedience:** The presence or absence of dâgân often served as a tangible indicator of Israel's covenant relationship with Yahweh. Abundance was a sign of blessing for obedience, while scarcity or destruction of grain crops signaled divine judgment for disobedience.
* [[Haggai 1:11]] illustrates judgment: "I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil, on what the ground brings forth."
* [[Joel 1:10]] laments, "The field is destroyed, the ground mourns, because the grain is destroyed." This portrays the devastating consequences of divine displeasure.
3. **Tithe and Offerings:** As a fundamental life-sustaining commodity, dâgân was a primary component of the tithes and offerings brought to the tabernacle and later the Temple. It represented the firstfruits of the land, given back to God in gratitude and acknowledgment of His ownership.
* [[Deuteronomy 14:23]] instructs, "You shall eat before the LORD your God, in the place that he will choose, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil."
* [[Nehemiah 10:37]] records the commitment of the people: "We would bring the first of our grain, our new wine, and our oil to the priests."
4. **Sustenance and Economic Stability:** dâgân was the bedrock of the Israelite economy and daily sustenance. Its availability was synonymous with life and well-being.
* [[Genesis 27:28]] features Isaac's blessing to Jacob: "May God give you of the dew of heaven and of the fatness of the earth and plenty of grain and wine."
### Related Words & Concepts
The understanding of dâgân is enriched by its frequent association with other agricultural terms and theological concepts:
* **Paired with "new wine" and "oil":** The most common pairing is with תִּירוֹשׁ (tîrôš), `{{H8492}}`, "new wine," and יִצְהָר (yiṣhār), `{{H3323}}`, "oil." This triad (grain, wine, oil) represents the complete agricultural bounty and is a pervasive symbol of God's abundant provision and blessing (e.g., [[Deuteronomy 7:13]], [[Hosea 2:8]]).
* **Root Verb:** The direct connection to דָּגָה (dâgâh), `{{H1711}}`, "to multiply, increase," underscores the concept of fruitfulness and abundance inherent in dâgân.
* **Specific Grains:** While dâgân is a general term, specific grains like חִטָּה (ḥiṭṭâ), `{{H2406}}`, "wheat," and שְׂעֹרָה (śe‘ôrâ), `{{H8184}}`, "barley," are also mentioned, indicating the types of crops encompassed by the broader term.
* **Agricultural Terms:** Concepts such as זֶרַע (zera‘), `{{H2233}}`, "seed"; שָׂדֶה (śādeh), `{{H7797}}`, "field"; and קָצִיר (qāṣîr), `{{H7105}}`, "harvest," are intrinsically linked to the cultivation and yield of dâgân.
* **Theological Concepts:** Blessing, provision, sustenance, covenant, tithe, offering, judgment, famine, prosperity, and life itself are all intimately connected to the biblical understanding of dâgân.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of dâgân extends beyond its physical properties as a food source:
1. **Divine Sustenance and Faithfulness:** dâgân serves as a tangible symbol of God's faithful provision for His people. It is a fundamental necessity for life, and its abundance signifies divine blessing, while its scarcity indicates judgment or hardship. God, as the Creator, is the ultimate source of all life and provision, both physical and spiritual.
2. **Covenant Indicator:** The presence or absence of dâgân crops is frequently tied to Israel's obedience or disobedience to the Mosaic covenant. God promises abundant grain for obedience ([[Deuteronomy 28:1-8]]) and threatens famine for disobedience ([[Deuteronomy 28:15-20]]). Thus, the harvest of dâgân becomes a barometer of the nation's spiritual health and relationship with Yahweh.
3. **Foundation of Worship:** As a primary agricultural product, dâgân was central to the sacrificial system, particularly in grain offerings (*minḥah*). These offerings represented the firstfruits of the land, offered back to God in gratitude and acknowledgment of His ownership and sovereign provision. This act of giving back a portion of the grain consecrated the entire harvest and affirmed the worshiper's reliance on God.
4. **Symbol of Life and Prosperity:** In a broader theological sense, dâgân represents the very sustenance of life and the flourishing of a community. Its abundance ensured economic stability and allowed for societal well-being and spiritual focus. In prophetic literature, the restoration of grain and agricultural prosperity often accompanies promises of future blessing and the messianic age, signifying a time of peace and abundance under God's rule.
### Summary
The Hebrew word דָּגָן (dâgân), `{{H1715}}`, meaning "grain" or "cereal crops," derives its core meaning from the concept of "increase" or "multiplication." Biblically, dâgân is far more than a mere agricultural product; it is a profound symbol of God's faithful provision, a tangible sign of covenant blessing or judgment, and a central component of Israelite worship and daily life. Frequently paired with "new wine" and "oil," it forms a triumvirate representing complete agricultural bounty and divine favor. Theologically, dâgân underscores God's role as the ultimate sustainer of life, the faithful covenant partner, and the rightful recipient of firstfruits and offerings, symbolizing the very foundation of physical existence and the sacred relationship between God and His people.
TRV