King James Bible Dictionary

A lair of wild beasts (Psalms 10:9; 104:22; Job 37:8); the hole of a venomous reptile (Isaiah 11:8); a recess for secrecy "in dens and caves of the earth" (Hebrews 11:38); a resort of thieves (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17). Daniel was cast into "the den of lions" (Daniel 6:16, 17). Some recent discoveries among the ruins of Babylon have brought to light the fact that the practice of punishing offenders against the law by throwing them into a den of lions was common.

DEN, noun

1. A cave or hollow place in the earth; usually applied to a cave, pit, or subterraneous recess, used for concealment, shelter, protection or security; as a lions den; a den of robbers or thieves.

The beasts go into dens. The children of Israel made themselves dens. Job 37:8. Judges 6:2.

2. As a termination, in names of places, it denotes the place to be in a valley or near a wood.

DEN, verb intransitive To dwell as in a den