Dagon
Culture & SocietyWhat is the meaning of Dagon in the Bible?
Dagon was a prominent god of the Philistines, with major cult centers at Gaza and Ashdod, where he was venerated by priests and worshippers. While later artistic traditions often depicted him as a half-man, half-fish figure, ancient textual evidence suggests he was originally a grain deity. The biblical narrative in 1 Samuel 5 describes his idol falling prostrate before the Ark of the Covenant in the Philistine temple at Ashdod, leading to a custom where priests avoided stepping on his threshold.
SIGNIFICANCE
Understanding Dagon as a fertility god rather than a fish-man clarifies the specific nature of the Philistine challenge to Israel's God, emphasizing that the narrative demonstrates the supremacy of Yahweh over the specific agricultural deities relied upon by neighboring nations for their livelihood.
Bible Study Quick-Reference Guide
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Source Attribution
Built upon the 1915 International Standard Bible Encyclopedia and Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897). Entries have been modernized, checked for academic truthfulness, and shortened for clarity.