Hebrew · Strong's H1715
דָּגָן
(dah-GAHN)
noun, masculine
This term refers to grain, encompassing various cultivated cereals, and often appears alongside wine and oil as staple agricultural products.
The Hebrew word *dagan* broadly refers to grain, a fundamental food source in the ancient Near East. It is a general term that can include various cereals such as wheat and barley. Its semantic range primarily focuses on the edible produce of cultivated fields, reflecting its importance in daily sustenance and the agricultural economy of ancient Israel.
Biblically, *dagan* often symbolizes divine blessing and provision when appearing in conjunction with "wine" and "oil." These three commodities represent the primary agricultural yields and are frequently mentioned together to denote abundance and prosperity given by God. Conversely, the withholding or destruction of *dagan* signifies divine judgment, famine, and scarcity, highlighting Israel's dependence on God for their sustenance.
Key biblical usage demonstrates *dagan* as a foundational element in offerings and tithes to the Lord, emphasizing its sacred dimension. It is frequently associated with the "firstfruits" (Deuteronomy 18:4) and tithes (Deuteronomy 12:17, 14:23), underscoring its role in religious practices and covenantal obligations. The availability of *dagan* was seen as a direct indicator of God's favor and faithfulness to the covenant, promising a land flowing with plenty (Deuteronomy 7:13, 2 Kings 18:32).
Common English renderings
- corn
- wheat
- grain
Key verses
"and he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee; he will also bless the fruit of thy body and the fruit of thy ground, thy grain and thy new wine and thine oil, the increase of thy cattle and the young of thy flock, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee."
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"And thou shalt eat before Jehovah thy God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of thy grain, of thy new wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear Jehovah thy God always."
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"until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive-trees and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, Jehovah will deliver us."
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"And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel gave in abundance the first-fruits of grain, new wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly."
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"And God give thee of the dew of heaven, And of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and new wine:"
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