the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
Click here to learn more!
Read the Bible
Complete Jewish Bible
Genesis 34:14
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- ThompsonDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalParallel Translations
and said to them, "We can't do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us.
And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
And they said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised, for that is a disgrace for us.
The brothers said to them, "We cannot allow you to marry our sister, because you are not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us.
They said to them, "We cannot give our sister to a man who is not circumcised, for it would be a disgrace to us.
They said to them, "We cannot do this thing and give our sister [in marriage] to one who is not circumcised, because that would be a disgrace to us.
They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, that is, give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
And they said vnto them, We can not do this thing, to giue our sister to an vncircumcised man: for that were a reproofe vnto vs.
And they said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us.
So they tricked them by saying: You're not circumcised! It would be a disgrace for us to let you marry Dinah now.
and said to them, We cannot do this, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that [were] a reproach to us.
The brothers said to them, "We cannot allow our sister to marry you because you are not yet circumcised. That would bring us shame.
They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
And they said to them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised; for that would be a reproach to us;
They said to him, "We cannot let our sister marry a man who is not circumcised; that would be a disgrace for us.
“We cannot do this thing,” they said to them. “Giving our sister to an uncircumcised man is a disgrace to us.
And they said to them, We are not able to do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised. For it is a reproach to us.
& sayde vnto them: That can we not do, to geue oure sister to an vncircumcided man: for that were a shame vnto vs.
and said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us.
And they said, It is not possible for us to give our sister to one who is without circumcision, for that would be a cause of shame to us:
And they sayde vnto them: we can not do this thing, that we shoulde geue our sister to one that is vncircumcised, for that were an abomination vnto vs.
and said unto them: 'We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us.
And they saide vnto them, wee cannot doe this thing, to giue our sister to one that is vncircumcised: for that were a reproch vnto vs.
And Symeon and Levi, the brothers of Dina, said to them, We shall not be able to do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised, for it is a reproach to us.
and said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:
"We cannot do such a thing," they said. "To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us.
We moun not do this that ye axen, nether we moun yyue oure sistir to a man vncircumcidid, which thing is vnleueful and abhomynable anentis vs.
and say unto them, `We are not able to do this thing, to give our sister to one who hath a foreskin: for it [is] a reproach to us.
and said to them, We can't do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that would be a reproach to us.
And they said to them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised: for that [would be] a reproach to us:
and said to them, "We can't do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised; for that is a reproach to us.
And they said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us.
They said to them, "We couldn't possibly allow this, because you're not circumcised. It would be a disgrace for our sister to marry a man like you!
They said to them, "We cannot do this. We cannot give our sister to one who has not gone through the religious act of having his flesh cut. For that would be a shame to us.
They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
and said unto them - We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a man that is uncircumcised, - for a reproach, it would be to us.
We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; which with us is unlawful and abominable.
They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
uncircumcised: Genesis 17:11, Joshua 5:2-9, 1 Samuel 14:6, 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, 2 Samuel 1:20, 2 Samuel 15:7, 1 Kings 21:9, Matthew 2:8, Matthew 2:13, Matthew 23:1-39, Romans 4:11
Reciprocal: Genesis 29:8 - until Numbers 12:1 - married Joshua 5:9 - I rolled away Judges 14:3 - uncircumcised 1 Samuel 11:2 - reproach Psalms 5:6 - the bloody
Cross-References
You are to be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; this will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.
Any uncircumcised male who will not let himself be circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin — that person will be cut off from his people, because he has broken my covenant."
(v) One time Dinah the daughter of Le'ah, whom she had borne to Ya‘akov, went out to visit the local girls;
and Sh'khem the son of Hamor the Hivi, the local ruler, saw her, grabbed her, raped her and humiliated her.
and intermarry with us: give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.
Y'honatan said to his armor-bearer, "Come on, let's go across to the garrison of these uncircumcised people. Maybe Adonai will do something for us, since Adonai can rescue with a few people as easily as with many."
David said to the men standing with him, "What reward will be given to the man who kills this P'lishti and removes this disgrace from Isra'el? Who is this uncircumcised P'lishti anyway, that he challenges the armies of the living God?"
Your servant has defeated both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised P'lishti will be like one of them, because he has challenged the armies of the living God."
Don't speak of it in Gat; don't proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon; then the daughters of the P'lishtim won't rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised won't gloat.
At the end of forty years, Avshalom said to the king, "Please let me go to Hevron and fulfill the vow I made to Adonai .
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And they said unto them,.... Levi and Simeon, to Hamor and Shechem:
we cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; not that there was any law against it at that time; and there were, on the other hand, precedents for it both in Isaac and Jacob, who had married the daughters of uncircumcised persons; nor indeed do they plead any law, only that it was not becoming their character, nor agreeably to their religion, nor honourable in their esteem:
for that [were] a reproach unto us; and they should be reflected upon for slighting the institution of circumcision, which was of God: so they pretend it might be interpreted, should they enter into affinity with uncircumcised persons.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
- Dinah’s Dishonor
This chapter records the rape of Dinah and the revenge of her brothers.
Genesis 34:1-5
Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land. The Jewish doctors of a later period fix the marriageable age of a female at twelve years and a day. It is probable that Dinah was in her thirteenth year when she went out to visit the daughters of the land. Six or seven years, therefore, must have been spent by Jacob between Sukkoth, where he abode some time, and the neighborhood of Shekerm, where he had purchased a piece of ground. If we suppose Dinah to have been born in the same year with Joseph, who was in his seventeenth year at the time of his being sold as a bondslave Genesis 37:2, the events of this chapter must have occurred in the interval between the completion of her twelfth and that of her sixteenth year. “Shekem.” This name is hereditary in the family, and had taken hold in the locality before the time of Abraham. The Hivite was a descendant of Kenaan. We find this tribe now occupying the district where the Kenaanite was in possession at a former period Genesis 12:6. “Spake to the heart of the damsel.” After having robbed her of her honor, he promises to recognize her as his wife, provided he can gain the consent of her relatives. “Shekem spake unto his father Hamor.” He is in earnest about this matter. “Jacob held his peace.” He was a stranger in the land, and surrounded by a flourishing tribe, who were evidently unscrupulous in their conduct.
Genesis 34:6-17
A conference takes place between the parties. Hamer and Jacob, the parents on both sides, are the principals in the negotiation. The sons of Jacob, being brothers of the injured damsel, are present, according to custom. “Wrought fully in Israel;” a standing phrase from this time forward for any deed that was contrary to the sanctity which ought to characterize God’s holy people. Israel is used here to designate the descendants of Israel, the special people. Hamer makes his proposal. “Shekem, my son.” These words are a nominative pendent, for which “his soul” is substituted. He proposes a political alliance or amalgamation of the two tribes, to be sealed and actually effected by intermarriage. He offers to make them joint-possessors of the soil, and of the rights of dwelling, trading, and acquiring property. Shekem now speaks with becoming deference and earnestness.
He offers any amount of dowry, or bridal presents, and of gift to the mother and brothers of the bride. It must be acknowledged that the father and the son were disposed to make whatever amends they could for the grievous offence that had been committed. The sons of Jacob answer with deceit. They are burning with resentment of the wrong that “ought not to have been done,” and that cannot now be fully repaired. Yet they are in presence of a superior force, and therefore, resort to deceit. “And spake.” This goes along with the previous verb “answered,” and is meant to have the same qualification “with deceit.” The last clause of the verse then assigns the cause of this deceitful dealing. Their speech, for the matter of it, is reasonable. They cannot intermarry with the uncircumcised. Only on condition that every male be circumcised will they consent. On these terms they promise to “become one people” with them. Otherwise they take their daughter, and depart. Our daughter. They here speak as a family or race, and therefore, call Dinah their daughter, though her brothers are the speakers.
Genesis 34:18-24
Hamor and Shekem accept the terms, and immediately proceed to carry them into effect. It is testified of Shekem, that he delayed not to do the thing, and that he was more honorable than all his house. They bring the matter before their fellow-citizens, and urge them to adopt the rite of circumcision, on the ground that the men are peaceable, well-conducted, and they and their cattle and goods would be a valuable addition to the common wealth of their tribe. Hence, it appears that the population was still thin, that the neighboring territory was sufficient for a much larger number than its present occupants, and that a tribe found a real benefit in an accession to his numbers. The people were persuaded to comply with the terms proposed. There is nothing said here of the religious import of the rite, or of any diversity of worship that may have existed between the two parties. But it is not improbable that the Shekemites were prepared for mutual toleration, or even for the adoption of the religion of Israel in its external forms, though not perhaps to the exclusion of their own hereditary customs. It is also possible that the formal acknowledgment of the one true God was not yet extinct. Circumcision has been in use among the Egyptians, Colchians (Herodotus ii. 104), and other eastern nations; but when and how introduced we are not informed. The present narrative points out one way in which it may have spread from nation to nation.
Genesis 34:25-31
Simon and Levi, at the head no doubt of all their father’s men, now fall upon the Shekemites, when feverish with the circumcision, and put them to the sword. Simon and Levi were the sons of Leah, and therefore, full brothers of Dinah. If Dinah was of the same year as Joseph, they would be respectively seven and six years older than she was. If she was in her thirteenth year, they would therefore, be respectively in their twentieth and nineteenth years, and therefore, suited by age and passion for such an enterprise. All the sons of Jacob joined in the sacking of the city. They seized all their cattle and goods, and made captives of their wives and little ones. Jacob is greatly distressed by this outrage, which is equally contrary to his policy and his humanity. He sets before his sons, in this expostulation, the danger attendant upon such a proceeding. The “Kenaanite and the Perizzite,” whom Abraham found in the land on his return from Egypt Genesis 13:7. “I am a few men” - men of number that might easily be counted. I here denotes the family or tribe with all its dependents. When expanded, therefore, it is, “I and my house.” Simon and Levi have their reply. It justifies the retribution which has fallen on the Shekemites for this and all their other crimes. But it does not justify the executioners for taking the law into their own hands, or proceeding by fraud and indiscriminate slaughter. The employment of circumcision, too, which was the sign of the covenant of grace, as a means of deception, was a heinous aggravation of their offence.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Genesis 34:14. That were a reproach unto us — Because the uncircumcised were not in the covenant of God; and to have given an heiress of the promise to one who had no kind of right to its spiritual blessings, from whom might spring children who would naturally walk in the way of their father would have been absurd, reproachful and wicked. Thus far they were perfectly right; but to make this holy principle a cloak for their deceitful and murderous purposes, was the full sum of all wickedness.
