דָּשֵׁן
𐤃𐤔𐤍
dâshên
H1879 adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
To become fat, grow fat, or to anoint with fat; by extension, to be rich, luxuriant, or abundantly supplied. In literal contexts, refers to the physical state of being well-nourished or having an abundant supply of fat, typically in animals (including sacrificial animals). In figurative and poetic contexts, denotes richness, prosperity, or fruitfulness, conveying the ideas of thriving and abundant blessing.
Semantic Range
to be fat (literal), to grow fat, to anoint with fat or oil, to prosper, to thrive, to be abundantly supplied, to be luxuriant, to treat with favor, to enrich, to fertilize, to be satisfied
Root / Etymology
Root: דָּשֵׁן (d-š-n), meaning 'to be fat' or 'to become fat.' The verb דָּשֵׁן derives directly from the root, which conveys the state of being fertile or well-nourished, particularly by fat or richness. The lexical meaning stems from the physical property of being fat or anointed with fat, which figuratively extends to other contexts of abundance or prosperity.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, דָּשֵׁן is used both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it describes the fatness of animals, often in connection with sacrifices and the best portions (e.g., Leviticus 3:16 — the fat as the Lord's portion). Metaphorically, it expresses the concepts of abundance, blessing, and prosperity (e.g., Proverbs 11:25 — 'he who waters will himself be watered'). The verb and its derivatives appear most frequently in poetic and wisdom literature to evoke ideas of satisfaction and flourishing. The concept of 'fatness' was understood positively in ancient Israelite culture, representing the best, the richest, or the most fruitful. Related terms such as שֶׁמֶן (shemen, 'oil') and חֵלֶב (ḥēleb, 'fat, choicest part') overlap in sacrificial and celebratory contexts. In later periods, connotations shift to figurative uses, emphasizing prosperous or spiritually full states. Standard English translations ('fat,' 'rich,' 'prosperous,' 'abundant') sometimes obscure the agricultural and ritual undertones present in the original Hebrew.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from דָּשֵׁן; fat; figuratively, rich, fertile; fat.
Bantu Hebrew
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דשן (d-š-n) — to be fat, to become fat, to make rich, to make fertile
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1879-02 |
דְּשֵׁנִ֖ים | deshenim | HAampa |
fat | fat ones | 1 |
H1879-01 |
דָשֵׁ֖ן | dashen | HAamsa |
rich | fat, luxuriant | 1 |
H1879-03 |
דִּשְׁנֵי | disheney | HAampc |
fat ones | fat-rich ones of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1879-01 |
Isaiah 30:23 | דָשֵׁ֖ן | dashen | HAamsa |
rich | fat, luxuriant |
H1879-03 |
Psalms 22:30 | דִּשְׁנֵי | disheney | HAampc |
fat ones | fat-rich ones of |
H1879-02 |
Psalms 92:15 | דְּשֵׁנִ֖ים | deshenim | HAampa |
fat | fat ones |