Deuteronomy 33 · Verse 22

Deuteronomy 33:22

And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
Deuteronomy 33:22, King James Version

Deuteronomy 33:22 in other translations

BSBConcerning Dan he said: “Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan.”
WEBAbout Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps out of Bashan.”
ASVAnd of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp, That leapeth forth from Bashan.
YLTAnd of Dan he said: --Dan is a lion's whelp; he doth leap from Bashan.
DARBYAnd of Dan he said, Dan is a young lion; He shall spring forth from Bashan.
BBEAnd of Dan he said, Dan is a young lion, springing out from Bashan.
WebsterAnd of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

What does Deuteronomy 33:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
22. Dan is a lion's whelp--His proper settlement in the south of Canaan being too small, he by a sudden and successful irruption, established a colony in the northern extremity of the land. This might well be described as the leap of a young lion from the hills of Bashan.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 22 Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan - The Jewish interpreters observe that Bashan was a place much frequented by lions, who issued thence into all parts to look for prey. By this probably Moses intended to point out the strength and prowess of this tribe, that it should extend its territories, and live a sort of predatory life. It appears from Jos 19:47, that the portion originally assigned to this tribe was not sufficient for them; hence we find them going out to war against Leshem and taking it, adding it to their territories, and calling it by the name of the tribe. Jacob, in his prophetic blessing of this tribe, represents it under the notion of a serpent in the path, Gen 49:17. The character there, and that given here, constitute the complete warrior-stratagem and courage. See the note on Gen 49:17.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Deuteronomy 33:6-23

The order in which the tribes are here blessed, is not the same as is observed elsewhere. The blessing of Judah may refer to the whole tribe in general, or to David as a type of Christ. Moses largely blesses the tribe of Levi. Acceptance with God is what we should all aim at, and desire, in all our devotions, whether men accept us or not, 2Co 5:9. This prayer is a prophecy, that God will keep up a ministry in his…

Read the full comment on Deuteronomy 33:6-23 →

Deuteronomy 33:22 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וּלְדָ֣ןu.le.Danand of DanH1835
אָמַ֔ר'a.Marhe saidH559
דָּ֖ןdanDanH1835
גּ֣וּרgur[is] a cub ofH1482
אַרְיֵ֑ה'ar.Yeha lionH738
יְזַנֵּ֖קye.za.Nekhe leaps forthH2187
מִן\־min-fromH4480
הַבָּשָֽׁן\׃ha.ba.Shan<the> BashanH1316

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Deuteronomy 33:22

  • Joshua 19:47

    And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

  • Judges 18:27

    And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

  • Judges 16:30

    And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life.

  • Judges 13:24-25

    And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

  • Judges 15:15

    And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

  • Judges 14:19

    And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.

  • 1 Chronicles 12:35

    And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.

  • Judges 15:8

    And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.

  • Judges 14:6

    And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.

  • Judges 13:2

    And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

  • Genesis 49:16-17

    Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ge 49:16,17; Jos 19:47; Jud 13:2,24,25; 14:6,19; 15:8,15; 16:30
Jud 18:27; 1Ch 12:35

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Deuteronomy 33:21

    And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel.

  • Deuteronomy 33:22

    And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

  • Deuteronomy 33:23

    And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south.

Read all of Deuteronomy 33

Deuteronomy 33:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y á Dan dijo: Dan, cachorro de león: saltará desde Basán.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et de Dan il dit: Dan est un jeune lion, il s’élance de Basan.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und von Dan sprach er: Dan ist ein junger Löwe, der hervorspringt aus Basan.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Dan quoque ait: Dan catulus leonis, fluet largiter de Basan.