The Hebrew verb דּוּן (root: ד־ו־ן) means “to judge,” “to litigate,” “to contend,” or “to argue a case.” It is used in legal and judicial contexts, and sometimes in a broader sense of striving or pleading a cause. The root appears both as a verb and as a noun (e.g., דִּין, meaning “judgment” or “justice”).
In the Tanakh, this verb is typically found in the Qal binyan, though it is relatively rare as a verb form. Much more frequently, its root is expressed through nouns and derivatives, such as דָּן (judge), דִּין (judgment), and the name of the tribe דָּן.
Qal Binyan Conjugation of דּוּן (“to judge, contend”)
Past (Perfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | דַּנְתִּי |
| 2nd person masculine singular | דַּנְתָּ |
| 2nd person feminine singular | דַּנְתְּ |
| 3rd person masculine singular | דּוּן |
| 3rd person feminine singular | דָּנָה |
| 1st person plural | דַּנּוּ |
| 2nd person masculine plural | דַּנְתֶּם |
| 2nd person feminine plural | דַּנְתֶּן |
| 3rd person plural | דָּנוּ |
Present (Participle) Tense
| Gender/Number | Form |
|---|---|
| Masculine singular | דָּן |
| Feminine singular | דָּנָה |
| Masculine plural | דָּנִים |
| Feminine plural | דָּנוֹת |
Future (Imperfect) Tense
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st person singular | אָדִין |
| 2nd person masculine singular | תָּדִין |
| 2nd person feminine singular | תָּדִינִי |
| 3rd person masculine singular | יָדִין |
| 3rd person feminine singular | תָּדִין |
| 1st person plural | נָדִין |
| 2nd person masculine plural | תָּדִינוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | תָּדֵ֫ינָה |
| 3rd person plural | יָדִינוּ |
Imperative Mood
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 2nd person masculine singular | דּוּן |
| 2nd person feminine singular | דִּינִי |
| 2nd person masculine plural | דִּינוּ |
| 2nd person feminine plural | דֵּ֫ינָה |
Usage in Scripture
- Genesis 6:3 – לֹא יָדוֹן רוּחִי בָּאָדָם לְעֹלָם
“My Spirit shall not strive [or plead] with man forever.” — one of the few direct verbal uses in the Tanakh. - Psalm 9:9 – הוּא יִשְׁפֹּט תֵּבֵל בְּצֶדֶק יָדִין לְאֻמִּים בְּמֵישָׁרִים
“He shall judge the world in righteousness; He shall minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness.” - Deuteronomy 33:21 – כִּי שָׁם חֶלְקַת מְחֹקֵק סָפוּן וַיֵּתֵא רָאשֵׁי עָם צִדְקַת יְהוָה עָשָׂה וּמִשְׁפָּטָיו עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל
(While not using the verb דון directly, the theme of judgment is linked by root with דִּין and related words.)
Summary
The verb דּוּן means “to judge” or “to contend,” appearing rarely in verbal form but frequently reflected in related nouns throughout the Bible. Its core idea centers on judicial process, debate, and divine justice. In modern Hebrew, it retains legal and argumentative connotations, and its root is still used in phrases involving judgment, reasoning, and deliberation.
