And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The narrative notes that the city was renamed "Dan" after the tribe, but it also highlights its original name, "Laish," which etymologically means "lion." This subtle inclusion might be hinting at a prophetic echo of Jacob's blessing on his son Dan, describing him as a "lion's cub" leaping from Bashan.
And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After violently conquering the unsuspecting city of Laish and taking Micah's idolatrous idols, the migrating Danites rename the city "Dan" after their ancestor. This act solidifies their claim to this distant territory, far from their original tribal inheritance in the south. The mention of the city's former name, Laish, highlights the significant change and establishes Dan as a prominent northern boundary marker for Israel.
When the tribe of Dan conquered this northern city, they didn't just rename it; they were asserting who they were. Why is a name so powerful?
The conquest of Laish by the tribe of Dan and its renaming to Dan was more than just a geographical shift. It was a bold declaration of identity and presence.
Asserting Tribal Belonging
The tribe of Dan's allotted territory was in the south, but they found themselves settling far to the north. Renaming the city 'Dan' was a way to physically claim this new land and connect it to their tribal heritage, even though it was distant from their ancestral lands.
A New Beginning Rooted in the Past
The original name, Laish, meant 'lion,' possibly referencing the dangers of the area. By renaming it Dan, they replaced the old identity with one tied to their patriarch, Jacob's son. This act signified not just conquest, but the establishment of their lineage and claim in this new territory.
This northern city, once called Laish, eventually became a famous landmark. How did its new name help define the entire land?
The renaming of Laish to Dan by the conquering tribe had lasting implications for how the Promised Land was understood geographically and culturally.
Establishing a Northern Boundary
With the tribe of Dan settling in the far north, the city bearing their name became the recognized northernmost point of Israelite territory. This contrasted with Beer-Sheba in the south.
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A Phrase Defining the Whole
The expression 'from Dan to Beer-Sheba' became a common way to describe the full extent of the land of Israel. This simple phrase, incorporating the newly named city, encapsulated the nation's dominion from its northernmost settlement to its southernmost.
Understand the original words
Yisrael · Hebrew Proper Noun
The name given to the patriarch Jacob by God after he wrestled with the Angel of the Lord. It serves as the covenant name for the entire nation descended from him, signifying their unique status as God's chosen people.
The renaming of Laish to Dan signifies a pivotal moment where a group of Israelites, displaced from their original inheritance, established a new identity and territory in the north, marking a significant expansion and a new 'capstone' for the nation's geography.
c. 14th-13th century BC
Israelites Settle Canaan
Following their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites gradually conquered and settled the land of Canaan, distributing territories among the twelve tribes.
c. 13th century BC
Tribe of Dan's Land Grant
The tribe of Dan received a territory in the southern part of Canaan, but they struggled to fully possess it and later sought new lands.
c. 13th century BC
Danites Explore North
A contingent of Danites, seeking a more suitable homeland, explored the northern regions of Canaan.
c. 13th century BC
Conquest of Laish
The exploring Danites attacked and conquered the city of Laish, a settlement of peaceful Sidonians, and burned it.
c. 13th century BC— this verse
City Renamed Dan
The victorious Danites renamed the city 'Dan' after their ancestor, establishing a new northern outpost for their tribe.
Later Israelite Period
Dan Becomes Northern Boundary
The city of Dan became a significant landmark, representing the northernmost extent of Israelite territory, often paired with Beer-Sheba in the south.
This passage prophesies about the tribe of Dan, describing him as 'a servant who will render service,' and this renaming of the city ties directly back to his lineage.
Deuteronomy 33:22This verse poetically describes Dan as 'a lion's cub leaping from Bashan,' which ancient commentators linked to the city's original name, Laish, meaning 'lion.'
Joshua 19:47This passage records the original name of the city as Leshem before the tribe of Dan conquered and renamed it, highlighting the change and its significance.
1 Kings 12:29This verse references the northernmost city of Dan in the famous 'from Dan to Beersheba' phrase, showing how this renamed city became a well-known boundary marker for the entire land.
gillJudges 18:29: "And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first."
And they called the name of the city Dan,.... The name of their tribe, and to show that though they were at the furthest part of the land northward, and at such a distance from their tribe, which lay to the southwest, yet they belonged to it: after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel; one of the twelve son…
clarkeJudges 18:29: "And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at the first."
Called the name of the city Dan - This city was afterwards very remarkable as one of the extremities of the promised land. The extent of the Jewish territories was generally expressed by the phrase, From Dan to Beer-Sheba; that is, From the most northern to the southern extremity.
The narrative notes that the city was renamed "Dan" after the tribe, but it also highlights its original name, "Laish," which etymologically means "lion." This subtle inclusion might be hinting at a prophetic echo of Jacob's blessing on his son Dan, describing him as a "lion's cub" leaping from Bashan.
After violently conquering the unsuspecting city of Laish and taking Micah's idolatrous idols, the migrating Danites rename the city "Dan" after their ancestor. This act solidifies their claim to this distant territory, far from their original tribal inheritance in the south. The mention of the city's former name, Laish, highlights the significant change and establishes Dan as a prominent northern boundary marker for Israel.
After violently conquering the unsuspecting city of Laish and taking Micah's idolatrous idols, the migrating Danites rename the city "Dan" after their ancestor. This act solidifies their claim to this distant territory, far from their original tribal inheritance in the south. The mention of the city's former name, Laish, highlights the significant change and establishes Dan as a prominent northern boundary marker for Israel.
"And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first." — The narrative notes that the city was renamed "Dan" after the tribe, but it also highlights its original name, "Laish," which etymologically means "lion." This subtle inclusion might be hinting at a…
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Last reviewed October 2026