דֹּתָן
𐤃𐤕𐤍
Dotan
H1886 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Dothan: a proper noun designating a specific location in the central hill country of ancient Israel, most notably the site where Joseph's brothers sold him and where Elisha resided and performed miracles. The word functions solely as a place name in the Hebrew Bible and does not carry a discernible meaning beyond identifying this specific site.
Semantic Range
a specific place name, Dothan; place of Joseph's betrayal; site of prophetic events in the Elisha cycle
Root / Etymology
Root uncertain. The term דֹּתָן does not appear to derive transparently from any known Hebrew root or word with a recognized meaning; its etymology is considered uncertain. The occasional Aramaic dual form דֹּתַיִן appears in the narrative of Genesis 37:17, likely reflecting later scribal influence or variant dialectal forms rather than a distinct meaning.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Dothan is attested as a city within the territory typically associated with the Northern Kingdom of Israel, located in the region just north of Shechem. It is mentioned primarily in the patriarchal narrative concerning Joseph (Genesis 37) and in the prophetic narratives involving Elisha (2 Kings 6). The form דֹּתַיִן (Dothayin) in Genesis represents a dual or plural ending common in Aramaic, possibly reflecting either a scribal variant or the linguistic situation of the text's transmission, but does not evidence two sites or any additional meaning. Standard English versions transliterate the name as 'Dothan,' but this does not convey a lexical sense in English beyond being a proper noun. There is no evidence in the biblical text for Dothan being used to identify a people, ethnic group, or any religious association; it is strictly a toponym. Archaeological evidence tentatively associates Dothan with the site of Tell Dothan, northwest of modern Jenin. The term does not reflect an Israelite tribal, Judahite, or Judean identity or function. Usage is consistent between pre-exilic (Genesis) and monarchic (2 Kings) texts, with no discernible semantic shift.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or (Aramaic dual) דֹּתַיִן; (Genesis 37:17), of uncertain derivation; Dothan, a place in Palestine; Dothan. h
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
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דֹתָן (dōṯān) — uncertain (proper noun only)
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1886-02 |
דֹּתָ֑יְנָ/ה | dotayenah | HNp/Sd |
to Dothan | Dothan | 1 |
H1886-01 |
בְּ/דֹתָֽן | bedotan | HR/Np |
in Dothan | in Dothan | 1 |
H1886-03 |
בְ/דֹתָֽן | vedotan | HR/Np |
in Dothan | in Dothan | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1886-02 |
Genesis 37:17 | דֹּתָ֑יְנָ/ה | dotayenah | HNp/Sd |
to Dothan | Dothan |
H1886-01 |
Genesis 37:17 | בְּ/דֹתָֽן | bedotan | HR/Np |
in Dothan | in Dothan |
H1886-03 |
2 Kings 6:13 | בְ/דֹתָֽן | vedotan | HR/Np |
in Dothan | in Dothan |