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Genesis 34:3-5
New English Translation
Genesis 34:3-5
New English Translation
3 Then he became very attached[a] to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her.[b] 4 Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Acquire this young girl as my wife.”[c] 5 When[d] Jacob heard that Shechem[e] had violated his daughter Dinah, his sons were with the livestock in the field. So Jacob remained silent[f] until they came in.
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- Genesis 34:3 tn Heb “his soul stuck to [or “joined with”],” meaning Shechem became very attached to Dinah emotionally.
- Genesis 34:3 tn Heb “and he spoke to the heart of the young woman,” which apparently refers in this context to tender, romantic speech (Hos 2:14). Another option is to translate the expression “he reassured the young woman” (see Judg 19:3, 2 Sam 19:7; cf. NEB “comforted her”).
- Genesis 34:4 tn Heb “Take for me this young woman for a wife.”
- Genesis 34:5 tn The two disjunctive clauses in this verse (“Now Jacob heard…and his sons were”) are juxtaposed to indicate synchronic action.
- Genesis 34:5 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Shechem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 34:5 sn The expected response would be anger or rage, but Jacob remained silent. He appears too indifferent or confused to act decisively. When the leader does not act decisively, the younger zealots will, and often with disastrous results.
Genesis 34:3-5
New International Version
Genesis 34:3-5
New International Version
3 His heart was drawn to Dinah(A) daughter of Jacob;(B) he loved(C) the young woman and spoke tenderly(D) to her. 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as my wife.”(E)
5 When Jacob heard that his daughter Dinah had been defiled,(F) his sons were in the fields with his livestock; so he did nothing about it until they came home.
Genesis 34:3-5
King James Version
Genesis 34:3-5
King James Version
3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
4 And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
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Genesis 34:3-5
New King James Version
Genesis 34:3-5
New King James Version
3 His soul [a]was strongly attracted to Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the young woman and spoke [b]kindly to the young woman. 4 So Shechem (A)spoke to his father Hamor, saying, “Get me this young woman as a wife.”
5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field; so Jacob (B)held[c] his peace until they came.
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- Genesis 34:3 Lit. clung to
- Genesis 34:3 tenderly
- Genesis 34:5 kept silent
New English Translation (NET)
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New International Version (NIV) 
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New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.