Genesis 30:5-6

30:5 Bilhah became pregnant ¹  and gave Jacob a son. ²  30:6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer ³  and given me a son.” That is why ⁴  she named him Dan. ⁵ 

Genesis 46:23

46:23 The son of Dan: Hushim. ⁶ 

Genesis 49:16-17

49:16 Dan ⁷  will judge ⁸  his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

49:17 May Dan be a snake beside the road,

a viper by the path,

that bites the heels of the horse

so that its rider falls backward. ⁹ 

¹ tn Or “Bilhah conceived” (also in v. 7).

² tn Heb “and she bore for Jacob a son.”

³ tn Heb “and also he has heard my voice.” The expression means that God responded positively to Rachel’s cry and granted her request.

⁴ tn Or “therefore.”

⁵ sn The name Dan means “he vindicated” or “he judged.” The name plays on the verb used in the statement which appears earlier in the verse. The verb translated “vindicated” is from דִּין (din, “to judge, to vindicate”), the same verbal root from which the name is derived. Rachel sensed that God was righting the wrong.

⁶ tn This name appears as “Shuham” in Num 26:42. The LXX reads “Hashum” here.

⁷ sn The name Dan (דָּן, dan) means “judge” and forms a wordplay with the following verb.

⁸ tn Or “govern.”

⁹ sn The comparison of the tribe of Dan to a venomous serpent is meant to say that Dan, though small, would be potent, gaining victory through its skill and shrewdness. Jewish commentators have linked the image in part with Samson. That link at least illustrates the point: Though a minority tribe, Dan would gain the upper hand over others.