Key Verse Spotlight
Genesis 34:1 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: King James Version
" And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. "
Genesis 34:1
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
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Dinah was, as far as we can tell, Jacob’s only daughter. We may suppose that made her the special favorite of her mother and the darling of the family. Yet she proves to be neither a joy nor a credit to them, because children who are most spoiled are often neither the best nor the happiest.
She was likely only fifteen or sixteen years old when she caused so much trouble here. Notice, first, her foolish curiosity, which put her in danger. She went out, perhaps without her father knowing, and maybe with her mother allowing it, to see the daughters of the land (Genesis 34:1). It may have been at a dance or some public gathering. Since she was the only daughter, she may have felt lonely at home, with no one her own age or sex to talk with. So she had to go out for amusement, to avoid sadness, and to become more polished by social life than she could be in her father’s tents.
It is a very good thing for children to love home. It is parents’ wisdom to make home pleasant, and it is children’s duty to be content there. Dinah said she wanted to see the daughters of the land, to watch how they dressed, how they danced, and what was fashionable among them. She went to see, but that was not all, she also went to be seen. She went to meet the daughters of the land, and perhaps she had some thoughts of the sons of the land too. I fear she went to make friends with those Canaanites and to learn their ways. The pride and vanity of young people lead them into many traps.
Second, this led to the loss of her honor (Genesis 34:2). Shechem, the prince of the country, but a slave to his own lusts, took her and lay with her, apparently not so much by force as by surprise. Great men think they can do anything. Nothing is more dangerous than young people who are not taught and not restrained. See what came of Dinah’s wandering. Young women must learn to be modest and stay at home, as Paul joins those duties together in Titus 2:5, because those who do not keep at home expose their chastity, their sexual purity. Dinah went out to look around, but if she had looked around as she should have, she would not have fallen into this trap. The start of sin is like letting water out of a dam. A little spark can start a great fire. So we must carefully avoid every occasion of sin and every step toward it.
Third, after he had defiled her, Shechem tried to win her by marriage. This was fair and commendable, and it made the best of a bad situation. He loved her, unlike Amnon in 2 Samuel 13:15, and he asked his father to arrange a marriage with her (Genesis 34:4).
Fourth, poor Jacob heard the news (Genesis 34:5). As soon as his children grew up, they began to be a sorrow to him. Godly parents who grieve over their children’s failures should not think their case is strange or unheard of. The good man kept silent, like someone stunned and not knowing what to say. Or he said nothing because he feared saying the wrong thing, as David did (Psalm 39:1-2). He held back his feelings, lest they burst out and carry him into improper actions. Or it may be that he had left the handling of his affairs too much, perhaps even too much, to his sons, and would not act without them. At the least, he knew they would make him uneasy if he did, since they had lately shown themselves bold, eager, and overbearing in everything. Things never go well when a father’s authority grows weak in a family. Let every man rule his own house and keep his children under control with proper dignity.
People and relationships
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See how people in this passage connect. Open a source to read the supporting Scripture.
Dinah
-
Jacob Jacob is the father of Dinah.
Source: Genesis 34:1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Read Genesis 34:1 -
Leah Leah is the mother of Dinah.
Source: Genesis 34:1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Read Genesis 34:1
Leah
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Reuben Leah is the mother of Reuben.
Source: Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Simeon, son of Jacob Leah is the mother of Simeon, son of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Levi, son of Jacob Leah is the mother of Levi, son of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Judah, son of Jacob Leah is the mother of Judah, son of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Issachar Leah is the mother of Issachar.
Source: Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Zebulun Leah is the mother of Zebulun.
Source: Genesis 35:23
The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Dinah Leah is the mother of Dinah.
Source: Genesis 34:1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Read Genesis 34:1 -
Jacob Jacob is the husband of Leah.
Source: Genesis 29:23; Genesis 29:25
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
Read Genesis 29:23And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
Read Genesis 29:25 -
Rachel Leah is the sister of Rachel.
Source: Genesis 29:16
And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
Read Genesis 29:16
Jacob
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Isaac Isaac is the father of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 25:26
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Read Genesis 25:26 -
Rebekah Rebekah is the mother of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 25:21; Genesis 25:26
And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Read Genesis 25:21And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Read Genesis 25:26 -
Esau Esau is the brother of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 25:26
And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.
Read Genesis 25:26 -
Reuben Jacob is the father of Reuben.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:23
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Simeon, son of Jacob Jacob is the father of Simeon, son of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:23
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Levi, son of Jacob Jacob is the father of Levi, son of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:23
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Judah, son of Jacob Jacob is the father of Judah, son of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:23
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Issachar Jacob is the father of Issachar.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:23
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Zebulun Jacob is the father of Zebulun.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:23
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun:
Read Genesis 35:23 -
Joseph, son of Jacob Jacob is the father of Joseph, son of Jacob.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:24
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
Read Genesis 35:24 -
Benjamin Jacob is the father of Benjamin.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:24
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:
Read Genesis 35:24 -
Dan Jacob is the father of Dan.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:25
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Read Genesis 35:25 -
Naphtali Jacob is the father of Naphtali.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:25
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:
Read Genesis 35:25 -
Gad Jacob is the father of Gad.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:26
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
Read Genesis 35:26 -
Asher Jacob is the father of Asher.
Source: Genesis 35:22; Genesis 35:26
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:
Read Genesis 35:22And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
Read Genesis 35:26 -
Dinah Jacob is the father of Dinah.
Source: Genesis 34:1
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Read Genesis 34:1 -
Leah Jacob is the husband of Leah.
Source: Genesis 29:23; Genesis 29:25
And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her.
Read Genesis 29:23And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
Read Genesis 29:25 -
Rachel Jacob is the husband of Rachel.
Source: Genesis 29:28
And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also.
Read Genesis 29:28
From This Chapter
Genesis 34:2
"And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her."
Genesis 34:3
"And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel."
Genesis 34:4
"And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife."
Genesis 34:5
"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."
Genesis 34:6
"And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him."
Genesis 34:7
"And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done."
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