Genesis 34:31
New International Version
But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

New Living Translation
“But why should we let him treat our sister like a prostitute?” they retorted angrily.

English Standard Version
But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”

Berean Standard Bible
But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

King James Bible
And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

New King James Version
But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”

New American Standard Bible
But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?”

NASB 1995
But they said, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?”

NASB 1977
But they said, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?”

Legacy Standard Bible
But they said, “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?”

Amplified Bible
But they said, “Should he [be permitted to] treat our sister as a prostitute?”

Christian Standard Bible
But they answered, “Should he treat our sister like a prostitute? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But they answered, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

American Standard Version
And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?

Contemporary English Version
They answered, "Was it right to let our own sister be treated that way?"

English Revised Version
And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Simeon and Levi asked, "Should Shechem have been allowed to treat our sister like a prostitute?"

Good News Translation
But they answered, "We cannot let our sister be treated like a common whore."

International Standard Version
"Should he have treated our sister like a whore?" they asked in response.

Majority Standard Bible
But they replied, ?Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute??

NET Bible
But Simeon and Levi replied, "Should he treat our sister like a common prostitute?"

New Heart English Bible
But they said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And they said, Should he deal with our sister, as with a harlot?

World English Bible
They said, “Should he deal with our sister as with a prostitute?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they say, “Does he make our sister as a harlot?”

Young's Literal Translation
And they say, 'As a harlot doth he make our sister?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say, Shall he do to our sister as an harlot?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
They answered: Should they abuse our sister as a strumpet?

Catholic Public Domain Version
They responded, “Should they abuse our sister like a prostitute?”

New American Bible
But they retorted, “Should our sister be treated like a prostitute?”

New Revised Standard Version
But they said, “Should our sister be treated like a whore?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But they said, Our sister has been treated like a harlot.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they said, “Our sister was treated like a whore!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they said: 'Should one deal with our sister as with a harlot?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they said, Nay, but shall they treat our sister as an harlot?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Revenge of Dinah's Brothers
30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.” 31But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”

Cross References
Genesis 49:5-7
Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence. / May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim. / Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.

Leviticus 19:29
You must not defile your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the land will be prostituted and filled with depravity.

Deuteronomy 22:25-27
But if the man encounters a betrothed woman in the open country, and he overpowers her and lies with her, only the man who has done this must die. / Do nothing to the young woman, because she has committed no sin worthy of death. This case is just like one in which a man attacks his neighbor and murders him. / When he found her in the field, the betrothed woman cried out, but there was no one to save her.

2 Samuel 13:12-14
“No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not violate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! / Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” / But Amnon refused to listen to her, and being stronger, he violated her and lay with her.

Judges 19:23-25
The owner of the house went out and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not do this wicked thing! After all, this man is a guest in my house. Do not commit this outrage. / Look, let me bring out my virgin daughter and the man’s concubine, and you can use them and do with them as you wish. But do not do such a vile thing to this man.” / But the men would not listen to him. So the Levite took his concubine and sent her outside to them, and they raped her and abused her throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go.

2 Samuel 13:32-33
But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. / So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

Proverbs 6:34-35
For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance. / He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.

Proverbs 24:29
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they prostitute themselves, nor your daughters-in-law when they commit adultery. For the men themselves go off with prostitutes and offer sacrifices with shrine prostitutes. So a people without understanding will come to ruin.

Matthew 5:38-39
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’ / But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Matthew 7:12
In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.

Luke 6:27-29
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. / If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.

Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would have them do to you.


Treasury of Scripture

And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

See on ver.

Genesis 34:13
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

Genesis 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Proverbs 6:34
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

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Deal Harlot Loose Prostitute Sister Treat Treated Use
Genesis 34
1. Dinah is ravished by Shechem.
4. He requests to marry her.
13. The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites.
20. Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it.
25. The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, and spoil their city.
30. Jacob reproves Simeon and Levi.














But they replied
This phrase introduces the response of Simeon and Levi, the sons of Jacob, to their father's rebuke. The Hebrew root for "replied" is "עָנָה" (anah), which means to answer or respond. This indicates a direct and deliberate response, suggesting that Simeon and Levi felt justified in their actions. In the context of ancient Near Eastern culture, family honor was paramount, and their reply reflects a defense of their sister's dignity and the family's reputation.

Should he have treated
The phrase "should he have treated" comes from the Hebrew "עָשָׂה" (asah), meaning to do or to act. This implies an action that was taken against their sister, Dinah. The use of this verb highlights the perceived injustice and violation of social norms. In the historical context, the treatment of women and the protection of family honor were critical issues, and any affront was taken seriously.

our sister
The term "our sister" emphasizes the familial bond and the personal nature of the offense. The Hebrew word for sister is "אָחוֹת" (achot), which not only denotes a biological relationship but also a deep sense of kinship and responsibility. In the patriarchal society of the time, brothers were seen as protectors of their sisters, and any harm to a sister was a direct affront to the family.

like a prostitute
The comparison to a "prostitute" uses the Hebrew word "זֹנָה" (zonah), which refers to a woman who engages in sexual relations for money. This term is loaded with cultural and moral implications, as prostitution was often associated with shame and dishonor. By using this term, Simeon and Levi express their outrage at the degradation of their sister's honor. In the scriptural context, this reflects the broader biblical theme of purity and the sanctity of family relationships.

Verse 31. - And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot? But Shechem offered Dinah honorable marriage.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But [Simeon and Levi] answered,
וַיֹּאמְר֑וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Should he have treated
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה (ya·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

our sister
אֲחוֹתֵֽנוּ׃ (’ă·ḥō·w·ṯê·nū)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 269: Sister -- a sister

like a prostitute?”
הַכְזוֹנָ֕ה (haḵ·zō·w·nāh)
Article, Preposition-k | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2181: To commit adultery, to commit idolatry


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OT Law: Genesis 34:31 They said Should he deal with our (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 34:30
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