Genesis 34

Genesis 34 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter
Israel

Jacob's name was changed to Israel. It is his descendants who inherited the promised blessings given to him and to Isaac and Abraham. This is the first time his descendants are collectively referred to as the people group Israel. The people group Israel is identified through the covenant of circumcision. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#inherit, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#promise, /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#covenant and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#circumcise)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter
Implicit information

Jacob's reacted to the rape of Dinah with indifference. This is possibly because she was not a daughter of Rachel. His reaction was both unwise and improper. This action brought shame on the whole family. Therefore, Jacob's sons corrected this wrong and plotted against Hamor and Shechem.

Shechem raped Dinah, but then he said he loved her. By raping her, he ensured that no one else would want to marry her. This is not love. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#wise and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#love and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

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Genesis 34:1

Now

Here this word is used to mark a new part of the story.

Dinah

This is the name of Leah's daughter. See how you translated this name in Genesis 30:21. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

Genesis 34:2

the Hivite

This is the name of a people group. See how you translated the similar word "Hivites" in Genesis 10:17. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)

the prince of the land

This is referring to Hamor not Shechem. Also, "prince" here does not mean son of a king. It means Hamor was the leader of the people in that area.

He took her and lay with her

Possible meanings are 1) "took" and "lay with" are two separate actions. Alternate translation: "he grabbed her and had sexual relations with her" or 2) "took" and "lay with" are a hendiadys, two words used to describe one action, Alternate translation: "raped her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hendiadys)

lay with her

This is a polite way of speaking of sexual relations. You may have to use other words in your translation. Alternate translation: "had sexual relations with her" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

Genesis 34:3

He was drawn to Dinah

"He was very attracted to her." This speaks about Shechem loving Dinah and wanting to be with her as if something were forcing him to come to Dinah. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "He wanted very much to be with Dinah" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

spoke tenderly to her

He tried to convince her that he loved her and that he wanted her to love him also.

Genesis 34:4

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Genesis 34:5

Now Jacob

"Now" is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Jacob. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

Jacob heard that he

The word "he" refers to Shechem.

he had defiled

This means that Shechem had greatly dishonored and disgraced Dinah by forcing her to sleep with him.

held his peace

This is a way of saying that Jacob did not say or do anything about the matter. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Genesis 34:6

Hamor ... went out to Jacob

"Hamor ... went to meet Jacob"

Genesis 34:7

The men were offended

"The men were very insulted" or "They were shocked"

he had disgraced Israel

Here the word "Israel" refers to every member of Jacob's family. Israel as a people group was disgraced. Alternate translation: "he had humiliated the family of Israel" or "he had brought shame on the people of Israel" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

lying with Jacob's daughter

Here "lying with" is a euphemism. Alternate translation: "having sexual relations with Jacob's daughter" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)

for such a thing should not have been done

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "for he should not have done such a terrible thing" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 34:8

Hamor spoke with them

"Hamor spoke with Jacob and his sons"

loves your daughter

Here the word "love" refers to romantic love between a man and a woman. Alternate translation: "loves her and wants to marry her"

give her to him as a wife

In some cultures, the parents decide whom their children will marry.

Genesis 34:9

Intermarry with us

To intermarry is to marry a member of a different racial, social, religious or tribal group. Alternate translation: "Allow marriages between your people and ours"

Genesis 34:10

the land will be open to you

"the land will be available to you"

Genesis 34:11

Shechem said to her father

"Shechem said to Dinah's father Jacob"

Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you tell me I will give

The phrase "find favor" is an idiom which means to be approved of by someone. Also, the eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. Alternate translation: "If you will approve of me, then I will give you whatever you ask" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 34:12

bride price

In some cultures, it is customary for a man to give money, property, cattle, and other gifts to the bride's family at the time of marriage.

Genesis 34:13

The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with deceit

The abstract noun "deceit" can be stated as the verb "lied." Alternate translation: "But the sons of Jacob lied to Shechem and Hamor when they answered them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

Shechem had defiled Dinah

This means that Shechem had greatly dishonored and disgraced Dinah by forcing her to sleep with him. See how you translated "defiled" in Genesis 34:5.

Genesis 34:14

They said to them

"Jacob's sons said to Shechem and Hamor"

We cannot do this thing, to give our sister

"We cannot agree to give Dinah in marriage"

for that would be a disgrace to us

"for that would cause us shame." Here "us" refers to Jacob's sons and all the people of Israel. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)

Genesis 34:15

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Genesis 34:16

give our daughters to you ... take your daughters to ourselves

This means they will allow a person from Jacob's family to marry a person who lives in Hamor's land.

Genesis 34:17

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Genesis 34:18

Their words pleased Hamor and his son Shechem

"Hamor and his son Shechem agreed with what Jacob's sons said"

Genesis 34:19

to do what they said

"to become circumcised"

Jacob's daughter

"Jacob's daughter Dinah"

because he was the most honored person in all his father's household

This can be translated as a new sentence. It can be made explicit that Shechem knew the other men would agree to be circumcised because they greatly respected him. Alternate translation: "Shechem knew all the men in his father's household would agree with him because he was the most honored among them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 34:20

the gate of their city

It was common for leaders to meet at the city gate to make official decisions.

Genesis 34:21

These men

"Jacob, his sons, and the people of Israel"

peace with us

Here "us" includes Hamor, his son and all the people they spoke with at the city gate. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)

let them live in the land and trade in it

"let them live and trade in the land"

for, really, the land is large enough for them

Shechem uses the word "really" to add emphasis to his statement. "because, certainly, the land is large enough for them" or "because, indeed, there is plenty of land for them"

take their daughters ... give them our daughters

This refers to marriages between the women of one group and the men of the other group. See how you translated similar phrases in Genesis 34:9.

Genesis 34:22

General Information:

Hamor and Shechem his son continue to talk to the city elders.

Only on this condition will the men agree to live with us and become one people: If every male among us is circumcised, as they are circumcised

"Only if every man among us is circumcised, as the men of Israel are circumcised, will they agree to live among us and unite with us as one people"

Genesis 34:23

Will not their livestock and their property—all their animals be ours?

Shechem uses a question to emphasize that Jacob's livestock and property will belong to the people of Shechem. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "All of their animals and property will be ours." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Genesis 34:24

All who went out to the gates of his city

This refers to men old enough to gather at the city gates to discuss community affairs. The word "his" probably refers to Hamor, who was the king.

All males were circumcised

The meaning of this statement is clarified, not contradicted, by the words "all who went out to the gates." If a literal translation would be misunderstood, you can specify that this refers only to adult males. It can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "All adult males were circumcised" or "So Hamor and Shechem had someone circumcise all the adult men" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 34:25

On the third day

"third" is the ordinal number for three. It can be stated without the ordinal number. Alternate translation: "After two days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-ordinal)

when they were still in pain

"when the men of the city were still in pain"

each took his sword

"took their swords"

they attacked the city

Here "city" stands for the people. Alternate translation: "they attacked the people of the city" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

security, and they killed all the males

This can be translated as a new sentence. "security. Simeon and Levi killed all the men of the city"

Genesis 34:26

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Genesis 34:27

the dead bodies

"the dead bodies of Hamor, Shechem, and their men"

plundered the city

"stole everything in the city that was valuable"

because the people had defiled their sister

Shechem alone had defiled Dinah, but Jacob's sons considered Shechem's entire family and everyone in the city responsible for this act.

had defiled

This means that Shechem had greatly dishonored and disgraced Dinah by forcing her to sleep with him. See how you translated "defiled" in Genesis 34:5.

Genesis 34:28

They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, and everything

"Jacob's sons took the people's flocks, herds, and donkeys, as well as everything"

Genesis 34:29

They captured all their wealth, all their children, and their wives

"They took all their wealth, and they captured all their children and their wives"

their wealth ... their children ... their wives

The word "their" refers to the people of Shechem.

all their wealth

"all their possessions and money"

Genesis 34:30

brought trouble on me

Causing someone to experience trouble is spoken of as if trouble were an object that is brought and placed on a person. Alternate translation: "caused great problems for me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

to make me stink to the inhabitants of the land

Causing the people in the surrounding areas to hate Jacob is spoken of as if Jacob's sons made him smell bad physically. This can be translated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "You have made me repulsive to the people who live in the land" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

I am few in number ... against me and attack me, then I will be destroyed, I and my household

Here the words "I" and "me" refer to all of Jacob's household. Jacob only says "I" or "me" since he is the leader. Alternate translation: "My household is small ... against us and attack us, then they will destroy all of us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

gather themselves together against me and attack me

"form an army and attack me" or "form an army and attack us"

then I will be destroyed

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they will destroy me" or "they will destroy us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 34:31

Should Shechem have dealt with our sister as with a prostitute?

Simeon and Levi use a question to emphasize that Shechem did what was wrong and deserved to die. Alternate translation: "Shechem should not have treated our sister as if she were a prostitute!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)