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Geneva Bible

Genesis 34:13

Then the sonnes of Iaakob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, talking deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Deception;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Dinah;   Levi;   Shechem;   Simeon;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Anger;   Sexuality, Human;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Laban (2);   Patriarchs;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Genesis;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Dinah;   Family;   Hamor;   Israel;   Levi;   Marriage;   Simeon;   Tribes of Israel;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Dinah ;   Hamor ;   Shechem ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Canaan (2);   Dinah;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Ha'mor;   She'chem;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Guile;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Absalom;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Dinah;   Laws, Noachian;   Midrashim, Smaller;   Shechem;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
The sons of Ya`akov answered Shekhem and Hamor his father with deceit, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,
King James Version
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
Lexham English Bible
Then the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor speaking deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
New Century Version
Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father with lies, because Shechem had disgraced their sister Dinah.
New English Translation
Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully when they spoke because Shechem had violated their sister Dinah.
Amplified Bible
Jacob's sons answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, because Shechem had defiled and disgraced their sister Dinah.
New American Standard Bible
But Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor with deceit, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
Legacy Standard Bible
But Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor with deceit, and thus they spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
Contemporary English Version
Jacob's sons wanted to get even with Shechem and his father because of what had happened to their sister.
Complete Jewish Bible
The sons of Ya‘akov answered Sh'khem and Hamor his father deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
Darby Translation
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and spoke—because he had defiled Dinah their sister—
Easy-to-Read Version
Jacob's sons decided to lie to Shechem and his father because Shechem had done such a bad thing to their sister Dinah.
English Standard Version
The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
George Lamsa Translation
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, because they had defiled Dinah their sister,
Good News Translation
Because Shechem had disgraced their sister Dinah, Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor in a deceitful way.
Christian Standard Bible®
But Jacob’s sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
Literal Translation
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor, speaking with deceit because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then Iacobs sonnes answered Sichem and Hemor his father (and spake disceatfully, because their sister Dina was defyled)
American Standard Version
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spake, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,
Bible in Basic English
But the sons of Jacob gave a false answer to Shechem and Hamor his father, because of what had been done to Dinah their sister.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the sonnes of Iacob aunswered to Sichem and Hemor his father, talking amongest themselues deceiptfully, because he had defiled Diua their sister.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,
King James Version (1611)
And the sonnes of Iacob answered Shechem, and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the sons of Jacob answered to Sychem and Emmor his father craftily, and spoke to them, because they had defiled Dina their sister.
English Revised Version
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spake, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,
Berean Standard Bible
But because Shechem had defiled their sister Dinah, Jacob's sons answered him and his father Hamor deceitfully.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The sones of Jacob answeriden in gile to Sichem and his fadir, and weren feerse for the defoulyng of maidenhod of the sistir,
Young's Literal Translation
And the sons of Jacob answer Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and they speak (because he defiled Dinah their sister),
Update Bible Version
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,
Webster's Bible Translation
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, (because he had defiled Dinah their sister,)
World English Bible
The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with deceit, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister,
New King James Version
But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.
New Living Translation
But since Shechem had defiled their sister, Dinah, Jacob's sons responded deceitfully to Shechem and his father, Hamor.
New Life Bible
But Jacob's sons lied in their answer to Shechem and his father Hamor because he had put their sister Dinah to shame.
New Revised Standard
The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and spake (because he had defiled Dinah their sister) -
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sons of Jacob answered Sichem and his father deceitfully, being enraged at the deflowering of their sister:
Revised Standard Version
The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah.
THE MESSAGE
Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father with cunning. Their sister, after all, had been raped. They said, "This is impossible. We could never give our sister to a man who was uncircumcised. Why, we'd be disgraced. The only condition on which we can talk business is if all your men become circumcised like us. Then we will freely exchange daughters in marriage and make ourselves at home among you and become one big, happy family. But if this is not an acceptable condition, we will take our sister and leave."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Jacob's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor with deceit, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.

Contextual Overview

6 Then Hamor the father of Shechem went out vnto Iaakob to commune with him. 7 And whe the sonnes of Iaakob were come out of the fielde and heard it, it grieued the men, & they were very angry, because he had wrought villenie in Israel, in yt he had lyen with Iaakobs daughter: which thing ought not to be done. 8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, the soule of my sonne Shechem longeth for your daughter: giue her him to wife, I pray you. 9 So make affinitie wt vs: giue your daughters vnto vs, and take our daughters vnto you, 10 And ye shall dwell with vs, and the lande shalbe before you: dwell, and doe your businesse in it, and haue your possessions therein. 11 Shechem also said vnto her father & vnto her brethren, Let me finde fauour in your eyes, and I will giue whatsoeuer ye shall appoint me. 12 Aske of me abundantly both dowrie and giftes, and I will giue as ye appoint me, so that ye giue me the maide to wife. 13 Then the sonnes of Iaakob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, talking deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, 14 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. 15 But in this will we consent vnto you, if ye will be as we are, that euery man childe among you be circumcised:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

deceitfully: Genesis 25:27-34, Judges 15:3, 2 Samuel 13:23-29, Job 13:4, Job 13:7, Psalms 12:2, Proverbs 12:13, Proverbs 12:18-20, Proverbs 24:28, Proverbs 24:29, Proverbs 26:24-26, Isaiah 59:13, Micah 7:2, Romans 12:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Matthew 28:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 34:27 - General Genesis 34:31 - General Genesis 37:29 - he rent Joshua 9:4 - work wilily 1 Kings 21:9 - Proclaim a fast Daniel 11:23 - work

Cross-References

Genesis 34:18
Nowe their wordes pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamors sonne.
Genesis 34:20
Then Hamor and Shechem his Sonne went vnto the gate of their citie, and communed with the men of their citie, saying,
Genesis 34:23
Shall not their flockes and their substance and all their cattell be ours? onely let vs consent herein vnto them, and they will dwell with vs.
Genesis 34:24
And vnto Hamor, and Shechem his sonne hearkened all that went out of the gate of his citie: and all the men children were circumcised, euen all that went out of the gate of his citie.
Genesis 34:26
They slewe also Hamor and Shechem his sonne wt the edge of the sword, & tooke Dinah out of Shechems house, and went their way.
Genesis 34:27
Againe the other sonnes of Iaakob came vpon the dead, and spoyled the citie, because they had defiled their sister.
Genesis 34:28
They tooke their sheepe & their beeues, and their asses, and whatsoeuer was in the citie, and in the fieldes.
Genesis 34:29
Also they caryed away captiue & spoyled all their goods, and all their children and their wiues, and all that was in the houses.
Judges 15:3
Then Samson saide vnto them, Nowe am I more blamelesse then the Philistims: therefore will I doe them displeasure.
Job 13:4
For in deede ye forge lyes, and all you are physitions of no value.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor deceitfully,.... Proposing the marriage of their sister on terms after mentioned, when they never intended it should ever be: Onkelos, Jonathan, and Jarchi interpret it, "with wisdom", as if they answered wisely and prudently, but the word is never used in a good sense; and if it was wisdom, it was carnal wisdom and wicked cunning, and was disapproved of by plain hearted Jacob:

and said: or spoke in this deceitful manner:

because he had defiled Dinah their sister; and therefore were filled with indignation at him, and fired with resentment against him, and vowed within themselves revenge upon him.

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 34:13. Answered - deceitfully — Which nothing could excuse; yet, to show that they had had much provocation, it is immediately subjoined וידברו vaidabberu, they spoke thus because he had defiled Dinah their sister; for so this parenthesis should be read.


 
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