Word Study for H1879 (דָּשֵׁן)

dâshên /daw-shane'/ Ask about this word

Meaningfat; figuratively, rich, fertile

KJV usagefat.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of dâshên — 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 dâshên, represented by H1879, means fat and is used figuratively to describe something as rich or fertile. Though it appears only 3 times in 3 unique verses, its usage consistently points to themes of abundance, prosperity, and vitality as a result of divine blessing.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its scriptural contexts, H1879 illustrates a state of thriving. In Psalms, it describes the righteous in old age who will still "be fat and flourishing" Psalms 92:14, indicating enduring vitality. Isaiah uses the term to characterize the blessed produce of the land, promising bread that "shall be fat and plenteous" Isaiah 30:23 as a result of God-given rain. The word is also used to describe the prosperous of the world, stating that "All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship" Psalms 22:29, linking physical well-being to the act of worship.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of flourishing associated with H1879:

H8082 shâmên (fat, lusty, plenteous): This word appears alongside H1879 in Isaiah 30:23, reinforcing the idea of a rich and abundant harvest. It is a close synonym, emphasizing material wealth and plenty.
H5107 nûwb (to bring forth fruit, make cheerful, increase): Found in Psalms 92:14, this term connects being "fat" with the ability to "bring forth fruit," highlighting a state of active productivity and generativity.
H7488 raʻănân (green, flourishing): Also used in Psalms 92:14, this word likens the state of being "fat" to a verdant, healthy plant, adding a layer of visual vitality and newness to the concept of prosperity.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H1879 centers on the connection between God's favor and tangible prosperity.

Sign of Divine Blessing: The word is used to describe the direct outcome of God's provision, such as the abundant bread resulting from the rain He sends on the land Isaiah 30:23.
Enduring Vitality: It portrays the life of the righteous not as one of decay but of sustained, God-given strength and fruitfulness, even into old age Psalms 92:14.
Prosperity and Worship: The term implies a call to acknowledge the source of abundance, as the "fat upon earth" are depicted as those who will ultimately eat and worship, directing their reverence toward God Psalms 22:29.

Summary

In summary, while its occurrences are few, H1879 provides a specific and potent image of prosperity. It moves beyond a simple physical description to serve as a marker for divine blessing, agricultural abundance, and the sustained vitality of the righteous. Ultimately, dâshên illustrates that the proper response to such God-given richness and health is worship.

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 an adjective across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

דְּשֵׁנִים
דִּשְׁנֵי
דָשֵׁן

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 3 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Psalms (2 verses); never once in the other 37.

Psalms

Isaiah

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.