English · KJV
H1781

דַּיָּן

dayân /dah-yawn'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom דִּין
Meaninga judge or advocate
KJV usagejudge.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dayân — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word dayân, represented by H1781, means judge or advocate. It is derived from the root word for judgment, דִּין. Though it appears only 2 times in 2 unique verses, its usage specifically defines a divine role of adjudication and defense.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical appearances, H1781 is used exclusively to describe God. In Psalms, God is called "a judge of the widows," portraying Him as the defender of the vulnerable and helpless Psalms 68:5. In a plea for justice, David asks the LORD to act as the judge between him and his pursuer, calling on God to not only see and judge but also to plead his cause and deliver him 1 Samuel 24:15.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the role and context of the dayân:

  • H8199 shâphaṭ (to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against)): This verb is used alongside H1781 in 1 Samuel 24:15, where David asks the LORD to be the judge (dayân) and to judge (shâphaṭ) the situation, highlighting the action that the dayân performs.
  • H7378 rîyb (to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (by implication) to defend; ... plead): This term, also found in 1 Samuel 24:15, shows the advocate aspect of the dayân. The judge is called upon to plead the cause, indicating an active role in defense, not just a passive verdict.
  • H3490 yâthôwm (a bereaved person; fatherless (child), orphan): The context for God as a judge of widows in Psalms 68:5 also names Him as a "father of the fatherless," placing the judicial role of H1781 squarely in the realm of protecting the defenseless.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H1781 is focused on God's character as the ultimate arbiter of justice.

  • Divine Adjudicator: Both scriptural uses apply this title directly to God, establishing Him as the supreme Judge to whom individuals can appeal for a righteous verdict, as David does 1 Samuel 24:15.
  • Protector of the Vulnerable: The role of the dayân is explicitly linked with caring for society's most vulnerable members, specifically widows Psalms 68:5. This connects divine judgment with mercy and protection.
  • Advocate and Defender: The term implies more than just sentencing. By being asked to "plead my cause" 1 Samuel 24:15, the dayân is shown to be an advocate who contends on behalf of the wronged.

Summary

In summary, dayân H1781 is a specific and potent title for a judge and advocate. While rare, its appearances in scripture are significant, exclusively designating God as the one who renders perfect judgment, defends the defenseless, and pleads the cause of the righteous. The word powerfully combines the concepts of judgment and advocacy into a single divine role.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • דַיָּן
  • דַיַּן

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H8199 שָׁפַט a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenss H7378 רִיב or רוּב; a primitive root; properly, to toss, i.e. grapple; mostly figuratively, to wrangle, i.e. hold a controversy; (b H3490 יָתוֹם from an unused root meaning to be lonely; a bereaved person; fatherless (child), orphan.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 2 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in 1 Samuel and Psalms (1 verse each); never once in the other 37.

1
1 Samuel
1
Psalms

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.