דִּין
𐤃𐤉𐤍
dîyn
H1779 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Legal dispute, judgment, or legal decision rendered by an authority. Refers to the broader concepts of a case brought before a judge, the legal process, or the verdict/result of deliberation. In certain poetic or archaic contexts, can also include the sense of litigation or contention between parties. The word centers on formal judicial or adjudicatory contexts but can overlap with general conflict or legal quarrel.
Semantic Range
judgment, legal dispute, legal case, litigation, verdict, formal sentence, legal process, lawsuit, plea, strife (in legal context)
Root / Etymology
From the root דִּין, which has the core meaning of 'to judge, administer justice, govern.' The noun דִּין derives as a substantive denoting the act, process, or result of judging, hence 'judgment, litigation, legal case.' A variant form is דּוּן (dûn), attested rarely in poetic or archaic usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
דִּין appears primarily in legal contexts throughout the Hebrew Bible, especially in passages describing formal dispute resolution, litigation, or the role of judges among the Israelites. It is found in narrative and legal passages, as well as in sapiential and poetic literature (e.g., Job, Psalms), often in the sense of a legal decision or lawsuit. Over time, the word extends to denote cases brought to authorities, not just the act of judging. It is distinct from מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), which generally refers more broadly to law, justice, or the concept of rightful order, while דִּין emphasizes the specific instance of judgment or litigation. In later periods (Qumran, early Rabbinic literature), דִּין more frequently designates a ruling, legal precedent, or legal principle. Modern translations often render דִּין as 'case,' 'legal dispute,' or 'judgment,' but may obscure its specific focus on legal action versus more general concepts of justice. The alternate form דּוּן, seen in Job 19:29, reflects a rare or dialectal variant rather than a fundamentally different meaning.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (Job 19:29) דּוּן; from דִּין; judgement (the suit, justice, sentence or tribunal); by implication also strife; cause, judgement, plea, strife.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
דין (d-y-n) — to judge, to govern, to vindicate, to rule
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1777 | דִּין | Judge |
| H1778 | דִּין | those who judge |
| H1780 | דִּין | legal judgment |
| H1781 | דַּיָּן | to a judicial official |
| H1782 | דַּיָּן | and judicial officials |
Word Forms
9 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1779-01 |
דִּ֣ין | din | HNcmsa |
judgment | legal judgment | 13 |
H1779-09 |
וְ/דִינִ֑/י | vedini | HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
and my case | my legal case | 1 |
H1779-06 |
ש/דין | shdyn | HTr/Ncmsa |
judgment | legal judgment | 1 |
H1779-03 |
לְ/דִ֗ין | ledin | HR/Ncmsa |
and lawsuit | for legal judgment | 1 |
H1779-04 |
מִ/דִּין֙ | midin | HR/Ncmsa |
from justice | from legal judgment | 1 |
H1779-05 |
שַׁ/דּֽוּן | shadun | HTr/Ncmsa |
judgment | legal judgment | 1 |
H1779-08 |
וְ/דִין | vedin | HC/Ncmsa |
and judgment | and judge | 1 |
H1779-02 |
דִּינֵ֖/ךְ | dinekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your judgment/cause | your legal case | 1 |
H1779-07 |
וָ/דִֽין | vadin | HC/Ncmsa |
and judgment | and legal judgment | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
21 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1779-01 |
Deuteronomy 17:8 | דִּ֣ין | din | HNcmsa |
lawsuit | legal judgment |
H1779-03 |
Deuteronomy 17:8 | לְ/דִ֗ין | ledin | HR/Ncmsa |
and lawsuit | for legal judgment |
H1779-04 |
Isaiah 10:2 | מִ/דִּין֙ | midin | HR/Ncmsa |
from justice | from legal judgment |
H1779-01 |
Jeremiah 5:28 | דִּ֣ין | din | HNcmsa |
the cause | legal judgment |
H1779-01 |
Jeremiah 5:28 | דִּ֥ין | din-2 | HNcmsc |
the cause | legal judgment |
H1779-01 |
Jeremiah 22:16 | דִּין | din | HNcmsc |
cause | legal judgment |
H1779-02 |
Jeremiah 30:13 | דִּינֵ֖/ךְ | dinekhe | HNcmsc/Sp2fs |
your judgment/cause | your legal case |
H1779-09 |
Psalms 9:5 | וְ/דִינִ֑/י | vedini | HC/Ncmsc/Sp1cs |
and my case | my legal case |
H1779-01 |
Psalms 76:9 | דִּ֑ין | din | HNcmsa |
judgment | legal judgment |
H1779-01 |
Psalms 140:13 | דִּ֣ין | din | HNcmsc |
cause | legal judgment |