The Grandfather in the First Case of Blasphemy
The Book of Leviticus establishes the divine, immutable standard of holiness required of the covenant people, illustrating that even sins of the tongue are offenses of the highest magnitude. Dibri is a figure whose name is recorded in the Scriptures only because his grandson was the perpetrator of a grave spiritual offense that demanded the ultimate penalty. Dibri’s lineage thus serves as a powerful, permanent marker illustrating the cost of dishonouring the sacred Name of God.
The Man and His Lineage
Dibri, a man of the tribe of Dan, is mentioned only to identify his daughter, Shelomith, and his grandson:
“And the son of a woman of Israel, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; And the Israelitish woman’s son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:)” (Leviticus 24:10-11, KJV)
The focus is not on Dibri’s actions, but on the actions of his grandson, a man of mixed heritage—his mother was Shelomith (Dibri’s daughter, an Israelite of Dan) and his father was an Egyptian. This mixed lineage is central to the account, as it places the grandson on the spiritual boundary between the covenant community and the pagan world.
The Uncompromising Offense
The conflict arose when Dibri’s grandson quarreled with another Israelite in the camp. In his anger, the grandson committed the unthinkable act of blasphemy—speaking evil against and cursing the sacred Name of the Lord.
This incident immediately halted the entire community. Blasphemy was an unprecedented sin in the wilderness, and Moses had to seek the direct, specific counsel of God to determine the required judgment. The response was immediate and uncompromising:
“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death.” (Leviticus 24:13-16, KJV)
The Defense of the Holy Name
Dibri’s tragic connection to this story provides an enduring lesson in the defense of the truth and the absolute, unwavering conviction concerning God’s holiness.
- The Severity of the Law: The judgment establishes the principle that the highest crime is the failure to respect the Lord’s Name. The penalty was severe to instill the fear of the Lord and prevent the contamination of the holy community.
- The Principle of No Exception: The law applied equally to all—the “stranger” and “he that is born in the land”—demonstrating that all who live under the covenant have a non-negotiable obligation to honour the revealed Name of God.
Dibri’s single mention serves as a somber historical marker in the Tribe of Dan, reminding every generation that the purity and sanctity of God’s Name are the foundation of all righteous existence, and any attack upon that Name invites swift and devastating judgment.