📖 Biblical Definition
Bashan was the fertile, well-watered tableland east of the Sea of Galilee, famous in Scripture for its strong cattle (Psalm 22:12; Amos 4:1) and great oaks (Isaiah 2:13). It belonged originally to Og, the last of the Rephaim — a giant whose iron bedstead measured nine cubits (Deuteronomy 3:11) — and was conquered under Moses (Numbers 21:33-35) and given to half-Manasseh. In the prophets Bashan symbolizes worldly strength brought low under God’s judgment, and in Psalm 68:15-22 it becomes the stage on which the LORD ascends in triumph, leading captivity captive — the very passage Paul applies to the ascended Christ in Ephesians 4:8.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Fertile region east of Galilee; Og's kingdom.
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The lush, well-watered region north and east of the Sea of Galilee; conquered from Og, last of the Rephaim giants; famed for strong cattle and tall oaks; symbol of fat prosperity in the prophets.
📖 Key Scripture
Numbers 21:33 — "And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them."
Psalm 22:12 — "Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round."
Amos 4:1 — "Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Reduced to obscure place-name, missing the symbolic weight Scripture gives it for prosperous strength.
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No major postmodern redefinition of this place. The risk is that the geographic-symbolic resonance Scripture builds with it gets lost — modern readers skim past place-names that the biblical writers used as shorthand for whole histories.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Bashan — fruitful.
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['Hebrew', 'H1316', 'Bashan', 'Bashan']
['Hebrew', 'H5747', 'Og', 'Og']
Usage
"Bulls of Bashan oppose the cross."
"Bashan represents fat strength under judgment."