Old Testament

New Testament

Genesis 34:4-19 God's Word Translation (GW)

4. So Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl for my wife.”

5. Jacob heard that Shechem had dishonored his daughter Dinah. His sons were with his livestock out in the open country, so Jacob kept quiet until they came home.

6. So Shechem’s father Hamor came to Jacob to speak with him.

7. Jacob’s sons came in from the open country as soon as they heard the news. The men felt outraged and very angry because Shechem had committed such a godless act against Israel’s family by raping Jacob’s daughter. This shouldn’t have happened.

8. Hamor told them. “My son Shechem has his heart set on your daughter. Please let her marry him.

9. Intermarry with us; give your daughters to us, and take ours for yourselves.

10. You can live with us, and the land will be yours. Live here, move about freely in this area, and acquire property here.”

11. Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and her brothers, “Do me this favor. I’ll give you whatever you ask.

12. Set the price I must pay for the bride and the gift I must give her as high as you want. I’ll pay exactly what you tell me. Give me the girl as my wife.”

13. Then Jacob’s sons gave Shechem and his father Hamor a misleading answer because he had dishonored their sister Dinah.

14. They said, “We can’t do this. We can’t give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised. That would be a disgrace to us!

15. We will give our consent to you only on one condition: Every male must be circumcised as we are.

16. Then we’ll give our daughters to you and take yours for ourselves, and we’ll live with you and become one people.

17. If you won’t agree to be circumcised, we’ll take our daughter and go.”

18. Their proposal seemed good to Hamor and his son Shechem.

19. The young man didn’t waste any time in doing what they said because he took such pleasure in Jacob’s daughter. He was the most honored person in all his father’s family.

Read complete chapter Genesis 34