Genesis 34
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Commentaries
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And Dinah - went out to see the daughters of the land - It is supposed that Jacob had been now about seven or eight years in the land, and that Dinah, who was about seven years of age when Jacob came to Canaan, was now about fourteen or fifteen. Why or on what occasion she went out we know not, but the reason given by Josephus is very probable, viz., that it was on one of their festivals.
Open source ↗THE DISHONOR OF DINAH. (Gen. 34:1-31) Though freed from foreign troubles, Jacob met with a great domestic calamity in the fall of his only daughter. According to JOSEPHUS, she had been attending a festival; but it is highly probable that she had been often and freely mixing in the society of the place and that she, being a simple, inexperienced, and vain young woman, had been flattered by the attentions of the ruler's son. There must have been time and opportunities of acquaintance to produce the strong attachment that Shechem had for her.
Open source ↗And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob,.... Who is supposed to be at this time about fourteen or fifteen years of age: for that she was but about nine or ten years old is not to be credited, as some compute it (z): she is observed to be the daughter of Leah, partly that the following miscarriage might bring to mind her forwardness to intrude herself into Jacob's bed, and be a rebuke unto her; and partly to account for Simeon and Levi being so active in revenging her abuse, they being Leah's sons: of Dinah it is said, that she went out to see the daughters of the land; of the land of Canaan, to visit them, and contract an acquaintance with them; and she having no sisters to converse with at home, it might be a temptation to her to go abroad. According to the Targum of Jonathan, she went to see the manners, customs, and fashions of the women of that country, to learn them, as the Septuagint version renders the word; or to see their habit and dress, and how they ornamented themselves, as Josephus (a) observes; and who also says it was a festival day at Shechem, and therefore very probably many of the young women of the country round about might come thither on that occasion; and who being dressed in their best clothes would give Dinah a good opportunity of seeing and observing their fashions; and which, with the diversions of the season, and shows to be seen, allured Dinah to go out of her mother's tent into the city, to gratify her curiosity. Aben Ezra's note is, that she went of herself, that is, without the leave of either of her parents: according to other Jewish writers (b) there was a snare laid for her by Shechem, who observing that Jacob's daughter dwelt in tents, and did not go abroad, he brought damsels out of the city dancing and playing on ti…
Open source ↗During their stay at Shechem, Dinah, Jacob's daughter by Leah, went out one day to see, i.e., to make the acquaintance of the daughters of the land; when Shechem the Hivite, the son of the prince, took her with him and seduced her. Dinah was probably between 13 and 15 at the time, and had attained perfect maturity; for this is often the case in the East at the age of 12, and sometimes earlier. There is no ground for supposing her to have been younger. Even if she was born after Joseph, and not till the end of Jacob's 14 years' service with Laban, and therefore was only five years old when they left Mesopotamia, eight or ten years may have passed since then, as Jacob may easily have spent from eight to eleven years in Succoth, where he had built a house, and Shechem, where he had bought "a parcel of a field." But she cannot have been older; for, according to Gen 37:2, Joseph was sold by his brethren when he was 17 years old, i.e., in the 11th year after Jacob's return from Mesopotamia, as he was born in the 14th year of Jacob's service with Laban (Note: This view is generally supported by the earlier writers, such as Demetrius, Petavius (Hengst. Diss.), etc.; only they reckon Dinah's age at 16, placing her birth in the 14th year of Jacob's service.) (cf. Gen 30:24). In the interim between Dinah's seduction and the sale of Joseph there occurred nothing but Jacob's journey from Shechem to Bethel and thence to Ephratah, in the neighbourhood of which Benjamin was born and Rachel died, and his arrival in Hebron (Gen 35). This may all have taken place within a single year. Jacob was till at Hebron, when Joseph was sent to Shechem and sold by his brethren (Gen 37:14); and Isaac's death did not happen for 12 years afterwards, although it is mentioned in connection with the accou…
Open source ↗Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob's only daughter, and we may suppose her therefore the mother's fondling and the darling of the family, and yet she proves neither a joy nor a credit to them; for those children seldom prove either the best or the happiest that are most indulged. She is reckoned now but fifteen or sixteen years of age when she here occasioned so much mischief. Observe, 1. Her vain curiosity, which exposed her. She went out, perhaps unknown to her father, but by the connivance of her mother, to see the daughters of the land (Gen 34:1); probably it was at a ball, or on some public day. Being an only daughter, she thought herself solitary at home, having none of her own age and sex to converse with; and therefore she must needs go abroad to divert herself, to keep off melancholy, and to accomplish herself by conversation better than she could in her father's tents. Note, It is a very good thing for children to love home; it is parents' wisdom to make it easy to them, and children's duty then to be easy in it. Her pretence was to see the daughters of the land, to see how they dressed, and how they danced, and what was fashionable among them. She went to see, yet that was not all, she went to be seen too; she went to see the daughters of the land, but, it may be, with some thoughts of the sons of the land too. I doubt she went to get an acquaintance with those Canaanites, and to learn their way. Note, The pride and vanity of young people betray them into many snares. 2. The loss of her honour by this means (Gen 34:2): Shechem, the prince of the country, but a slave to his own lusts, took her, and lay with her, it should seem, not so much by force as by surprise. Note, Great men think they may do any thing; and what more mischievous than untaught and un…
Open source ↗34:1-31 Once Jacob and his family settled in the land, the Canaanite presence became a threat. This account is a stern warning to the Israelites about the possibility of their being defiled by the Canaanites. The nation of Israel was later commanded not to intermarry or make treaties with them, for they were a corrupt and corrupting people. This chapter implicitly warns against becoming familiar with the way they lived (34:1-2). It also taught Israel that in dealing with the Canaanites, they were to keep their integrity and not use the holy things of the covenant for deception and slaughter (34:13); Israel’s reputation was at stake in the land (34:30). For their ruthless violence, Simeon and Levi were passed over in the birthright blessing (49:5-7). 34:1-2 As far as we know, Dinah was Jacob’s only daughter (30:21). • Shechem . . . seized her and raped her: Shechem violated and debased Dinah, so she had no chance for a proper marriage.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
דִּינָה (Dîynâh, H1783) — Dinah, the daughter of Jacob בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… לֵאָה (Lêʼâh, H3812) — Leah, a wife of Jacob יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
Open source ↗שְׁכֶם (Shᵉkem, H7927) — Shekem, a place in Palestine בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… חֲמוֹר (Chămôwr, H2544) — Chamor, a Canaanite חִוִּי (Chivvîy, H2340) — a Chivvite, one of the aboriginal tribes of Palestine נָשִׂיא (nâsîyʼ, H5387) — properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6031) — to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various…
Open source ↗נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… דָּבַק (dâbaq, H1692) — properly, to impinge, i.e. cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit דִּינָה (Dîynâh, H1783) — Dinah, the daughter of Jacob בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch אָהַב (ʼâhab, H157) — to have affection for (sexually or otherwise) נַעֲרָה (naʻărâh, H5291) — a girl (from infancy to adolescence) דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the…
Open source ↗שְׁכֶם (Shᵉkem, H7927) — Shekem, a place in Palestine אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application חֲמוֹר (Chămôwr, H2544) — Chamor, a Canaanite לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) יַלְדָּה (yaldâh, H3207) — a lass אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman
Open source ↗יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated) דִּינָה (Dîynâh, H1783) — Dinah, the daughter of Jacob בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מִקְנֶה (miqneh, H4735) — something bought, i.e. property, but only livestock; abstractly, acquisition שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) חָרַשׁ (chârash, H2790) — to scratch, i.e. (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗חֲמוֹר (Chămôwr, H2544) — Chamor, a Canaanite אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application שְׁכֶם (Shᵉkem, H7927) — Shekem, a place in Palestine יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אֵת (ʼêth, H854) — properly, nearness (used only as a preposition or an adverb), near; hence, generally,…
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) עָצַב (ʻâtsab, H6087) — properly, to carve, i.e. fabricate or fashion; hence (in a bad sense) to worry, pain or… מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… חָרָה (chârâh, H2734) — to glow or grow warm; figuratively (usually) to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application נְבָלָה (nᵉbâlâh, H5039) — foolishness, i.e. (morally) wickedness; concretely, a crime; by extension, punishment יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity שָׁכַב (shâkab, H7901) — to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose) בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and…
Open source ↗חֲמוֹר (Chămôwr, H2544) — Chamor, a Canaanite דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שְׁכֶם (Shᵉkem, H7927) — Shekem, a place in Palestine חָשַׁק (châshaq, H2836) — to cling, i.e. join, (figuratively) to love, delight in; elliptically; to deliver בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman
Open source ↗חָתַן (châthan, H2859) — to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications)
Open source ↗יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) הָיָה (hâyâh, H1961) — to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… סָחַר (çâchar, H5503) — to travel round (specifically as a pedlar); intensively, to palpitate אָחַז (ʼâchaz, H270) — to seize (often with the accessory idea of holding in possession)
Open source ↗שְׁכֶם (Shᵉkem, H7927) — Shekem, a place in Palestine אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… מָצָא (mâtsâʼ, H4672) — properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or… חֵן (chên, H2580) — graciousness, i.e. subjective (kindness, favor) or objective (beauty) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Open source ↗רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) מְאֹד (mᵉʼôd, H3966) — properly, vehemence, i.e. (with or without preposition) vehemently; by implication,… מֹהַר (môhar, H4119) — a price (for a wife) מַתָּן (mattân, H4976) — a present נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) נַעֲרָה (naʻărâh, H5291) — a girl (from infancy to adolescence) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb, H3290) — Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch עָנָה (ʻânâh, H6030) — properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond;… שְׁכֶם (Shᵉkem, H7927) — Shekem, a place in Palestine חֲמוֹר (Chămôwr, H2544) — Chamor, a Canaanite אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application מִרְמָה (mirmâh, H4820) — fraud דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… טָמֵא (ṭâmêʼ, H2930) — to be foul, especially in a ceremial or moral sense (contaminated) דִּינָה (Dîynâh, H1783) — Dinah, the daughter of Jacob אָחוֹת (ʼâchôwth, H269) — a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively)
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) לֹא (lôʼ, H3808) — not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might) עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application דָּבָר (dâbâr, H1697) — a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אָחוֹת (ʼâchôwth, H269) — a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively) אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… עׇרְלָה (ʻorlâh, H6190) — the prepuce חֶרְפָּה (cherpâh, H2781) — contumely, disgrace, the pudenda
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
After that, Leah gave birth to a daughter and named her Dinah.
How unstable you are, constantly changing your ways! You will be disappointed by Egypt just as you were by Assyria.
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.
These are the sons of Leah born to Jacob in Paddan-aram, in addition to his daughter Dinah. The total number of sons and daughters was thirty-three.
At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, discussing things they should not mention.
Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a Hittite wife from among them, what good is my life?”
Now Esau learned that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him to Paddan-aram to take a wife there, commanding him, “Do not marry a Canaanite woman,”
Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.
to be self-controlled, pure, managers of their households, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be discredited.