Genesis 34:13-19
New English Translation
13 Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully when they spoke because Shechem[a] had violated their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, “We cannot give[b] our sister to a man who is not circumcised, for it would be a disgrace[c] to us. 15 We will give you our consent on this one condition: You must become[d] like us by circumcising[e] all your males. 16 Then we will give[f] you our daughters to marry,[g] and we will take your daughters as wives for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people. 17 But if you do not agree to our terms[h] by being circumcised, then we will take[i] our sister[j] and depart.”
18 Their offer pleased Hamor and his son Shechem.[k] 19 The young man did not delay in doing what they asked[l] because he wanted Jacob’s daughter Dinah[m] badly. (Now he was more important[n] than anyone in his father’s household.)[o]
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- Genesis 34:13 tn Heb “he”; the referent (Shechem) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 34:14 tn Heb “we are not able to do this thing, to give.” The second infinitive is in apposition to the first, explaining what they are not able to do.
- Genesis 34:14 tn The Hebrew word translated “disgrace” usually means “ridicule; taunt; reproach.” It can also refer to the reason the condition of shame or disgrace causes ridicule or a reproach.
- Genesis 34:15 tn Heb “if you are like us.”
- Genesis 34:15 tn The infinitive here explains how they would become like them.
- Genesis 34:16 tn The perfect verbal form with the vav (ו) consecutive introduces the apodosis of the conditional sentence.
- Genesis 34:16 tn The words “to marry” (and the words “as wives” in the following clause) are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 34:17 tn Heb “listen to us.”
- Genesis 34:17 tn The perfect verbal form with the vav (ו) consecutive introduces the apodosis of the conditional sentence.
- Genesis 34:17 tn Heb “daughter.” Jacob’s sons call Dinah their daughter, even though she was their sister (see v. 8). This has been translated as “sister” for clarity.
- Genesis 34:18 tn Heb “and their words were good in the eyes of Hamor and in the eyes of Shechem son of Hamor.”
- Genesis 34:19 tn Heb “doing the thing.”
- Genesis 34:19 tn Heb “Jacob’s daughter.” The proper name “Dinah” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
- Genesis 34:19 tn The Hebrew verb כָּבֵד (kaved), translated “was…important,” has the primary meaning “to be heavy,” but here carries a secondary sense of “to be important” (that is, “heavy” in honor or respect).
- Genesis 34:19 tn The parenthetical disjunctive clause explains why the community would respond to him (see vv. 20-24).
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