דִּימוֹן
𐤃𐤉𐤌𐤅𐤍
Dimon
H1775 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Dimon — a locale referenced as a toponym in the Hebrew Bible, likely designating a settlement east of the Jordan River in the region of Moab. The term appears almost exclusively as a place name (toponym), distinct from neighboring locations but possibly related to Dibon. Its primary lexical usage is as a geographical designation.
Semantic Range
place name/toponym (city in Moab), potentially nuanced by prophetic wordplay (association with 'blood' in Isaiah 15:9)
Root / Etymology
From the root דִּים (dim), the meaning of which is uncertain, but the form is sometimes taken as a variant spelling or dialectal form of דִּיבוֹן (Dibon). The precise etymological relationship is unclear; some propose a root meaning associated with 'weep' or 'blood' in connection with the Isaiah passage, but this is not certain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Dimon is mentioned in Isaiah 15:9 in an oracle against Moab. The context and spelling suggest it may be an alternate or dialectal form of Dibon (דִּיבוֹן), a prominent Moabite city known from both biblical references and Moabite inscriptions (notably the Mesha Stele). The variation in spelling may reflect local dialect, archaic tradition, or poetic usage. The use of Dimon (instead of Dibon) in Isaiah has led some interpreters to associate the name with similar-sounding Hebrew words for 'blood' (דָּם), perhaps alluding to the judgment described, but this is a wordplay rather than the etymological meaning. The identification of Dimon with a specific archaeological site remains debated, though most locate it broadly in Moab. Later translations and traditions sometimes treat Dimon and Dibon as identical; however, the biblical authors distinguish between them linguistically, if not geographically. English translations may not always signal this distinction, sometimes harmonizing the two.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
perhaps for דִּיבוֹן; Dimon, a place in Palestine; Dimon.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דים (d-y-m) — uncertain; possibly weep, flow; dialectal relation to Dibon
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1775-01 |
דִימוֹן֙ | dimon | HNp |
Dimon | Dimon | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1775-01 |
Isaiah 15:9 | דִימוֹן֙ | dimon | HNp |
Dimon | Dimon |
H1775-01 |
Isaiah 15:9 | דִּימ֖וֹן | dimon-2 | HNp |
Dimon | Dimon |