Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site brl-tgr.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!matt From: matt@brl-tgr.ARPA (Matthew Rosenblatt ) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: The name "Dan" Message-ID: <2405@brl-tgr.ARPA> Date: Thu, 24-Oct-85 16:21:12 EST Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.2405 Posted: Thu Oct 24 16:21:12 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 31-Oct-85 02:04:40 EST References: <2361@brl-tgr.ARPA> Distribution: net Organization: Ballistic Research Lab Lines: 27 WILL MARTIN writes: > In English, the proper name "Dan" is just about always a nickname and > an abbreviation for "Daniel". Is the Israeli name "Dan" the same, or > is it a completely separate name, with nothing to do with "Daniel"? > (Would a native Israeli ever have the name "Daniel"? If so, would he > ever have "Dan" as a nickname?) Thanks! "Dan" comes from a Hebrew root meaning, "to judge." "Daniel" is one of many Biblical names ending in "El," where "El" means "G-d" or "mighty one." If "Dan" = "judge," then "Dani" = "my judge" (Hebrew first person possessive ending), and "Daniel" = "G-d is my judge." Scripture tells us that when Rachel's handmaid Bilhah conceived and bore a son for her to her husband Jacob, Rachel said, "G-d hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son." (Genesis 30:6) We see from all this that (1) "Dan" and "Daniel" are related; (2) Dan came first in time, so his name cannot be short for Daniel. I have heard of Israelis nicknamed "Dani" (sort of like the English "Danny," where the "-i" here is a nickname ending, not the "-i" of the first person possessive), but not "Dan." Does anyone else have more complete information? -- Matt Rosenblatt