דֵּן
𐤃𐤍
dên
H1836 pronoun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Demonstrative particle in Aramaic meaning 'this,' 'these,' or 'this one,' often used to identify or specify a particular object, person, event, situation, or period of time being referenced, either spatially, temporally, or logically. Used to call attention to something present, immediate, or newly introduced in discourse.
Semantic Range
this, these, this one, such, thus, after this manner, hereafter, in this matter, therefore, wherefore
Root / Etymology
Dan (דֵּן) derives from the Aramaic demonstrative system, tracing back to older Northwest Semitic forms analogous to the Hebrew זה (zeh, 'this'). It is related to other Aramaic demonstratives such as דָּךְ (dakh, 'that'), but דֵּן is distinct as the proximal (near) marker. Aramaic demonstratives share a root with other Semitic languages, but the exact etymological root is debated and may simply represent a secondary formation within Aramaic. Hebrew dên does not occur, but occurences are found in Imperial, Biblical and later Aramaic.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical Aramaic (e.g., Daniel, Ezra), דֵּן typically occurs as a standalone demonstrative meaning 'this,' sometimes extended to 'this matter' or 'such a case.' It is often paired with temporal or logical phrases (e.g., 'after this manner,' 'hereafter,' 'thus') in legal, narrative, and dialogic contexts. The term is distinct from the more familiar Hebrew demonstrative זה (zeh, 'this'). In cases of spelling variation, דֵּךְ (dekh) is the distal ('that'), reflecting the demonstrative contrast common to Semitic languages. Later Aramaic (including Targums and rabbinic Aramaic) continues to use דֵּן and its plural and suffixed forms. English translations sometimes render דֵּן with 'thus,' 'such,' or adverbial phrases, depending on context, but the primary force is demonstrative rather than adverbial. This particle was central to the structure of Aramaic, especially in legal formulations or formulaic contexts.
Translation Consistency
דֵּן is a demonstrative particle whose primary function is to point out or identify something immediate or newly introduced. The dominant and most natural English rendering in the corpus is “this” (54 of 58 occurrences). “This” cleanly covers the typical senses (this, this one, these; can be expanded in context to “thus/in this matter”) while remaining natural and consistent across all forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) an orthographical variation of דֵּךְ; this; (afore-) time, [phrase] after this manner, here (-after), one...another, such, there(-fore), these, this (matter), [phrase] thus, where(-fore), which.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
דנ (d-n) — to specify, to point out, to indicate
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1835 | דָּן | from Dan |
Word Forms
5 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1836-01 |
דְּנָ֔ה | denah | AC |
this | this | this | 53 |
H1836-03 |
כִּ/דְנָה֙ | kidenah | AR/Pdxcs |
like-this | like this | like this | 2 |
H1836-02 |
כִ/דְנָה֙ | khidenah | AR/Pdxms |
like this | like this one | like this | 1 |
H1836-04 |
וּ/דְנָ֥ה | udenah | AC/Pdxms |
and-this | and this one | and this | 1 |
H1836-05 |
וְ/כִ/דְנָה֙ | vekhidenah | AC/R/Pdxms |
as follows | this one | as follows | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
58 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1836-03 |
Jeremiah 10:11 | כִּ/דְנָה֙ | kidenah | AR/Pdxcs |
Thus | like this | like this |
H1836-02 |
Daniel 2:10 | כִ/דְנָה֙ | khidenah | AR/Pdxms |
like this | like this one | like this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:12 | דְּנָ֔ה | denah | AC |
this | this | this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:18 | דְּנָ֑ה | denah | APdxms |
this | this | this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:24 | דְּנָ֗ה | denah | AC |
this | this | this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:28 | דְּנָ֥ה | denah | APdxms |
this | this | this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:29 | דְנָ֑ה | denah | APdxms |
this | this | this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:30 | דְנָ֖ה | denah | APdxms |
this | this | this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:36 | דְּנָ֣ה | denah | APdxms |
This | this | this |
H1836-01 |
Daniel 2:43 | דְּנָ֣ה | denah | APdxms |
this | this | this |