Genesis 34:7
New International Version
Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the fields as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious, because Shechem had done an outrageous thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, Jacob’s sons had come in from the field as soon as they heard what had happened. They were shocked and furious that their sister had been raped. Shechem had done a disgraceful thing against Jacob’s family, something that should never be done.

English Standard Version
The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done.

Berean Standard Bible
When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter—a thing that should not be done.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved and very angry, because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing which ought not to be done.

New American Standard Bible
Now the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard about it; and the men were grieved, and they were very angry because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by sleeping with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.

NASB 1995
Now the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved, and they were very angry because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.

NASB 1977
Now the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved, and they were very angry because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved, and they were very angry because he had done a disgraceful thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.

Amplified Bible
Now when Jacob’s sons heard of it they came in from the field; they were deeply grieved, and they were very angry, for Shechem had done a disgraceful thing to Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing is not to be done.

Christian Standard Bible
Jacob’s sons returned from the field when they heard about the incident. They were deeply grieved and very angry, for Shechem had committed an outrage against Israel by raping Jacob’s daughter, and such a thing should not be done.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Jacob’s sons returned from the field when they heard about the incident and were deeply grieved and angry. For Shechem had committed an outrage against Israel by raping Jacob’s daughter, and such a thing should not be done.

American Standard Version
And the sons of Jacob came in from 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.

Contemporary English Version
just as Jacob's sons were coming in from work. When they learned that their sister had been raped, they became furiously angry, because nothing is more disgraceful than rape, and it must not be tolerated.

English Revised Version
And the sons of Jacob came in from 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
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.

Good News Translation
just as Jacob's sons were coming in from the fields. When they heard about it, they were shocked and furious that Shechem had done such a thing and had insulted the people of Israel by raping Jacob's daughter.

International Standard Version
Just then Jacob's sons arrived from the field. When they heard what had happened, they were distraught with grief and livid with anger toward Shechem, because he had committed a disgraceful deed in Israel by forcing Jacob's daughter to have sex, an act that never should have happened.

Majority Standard Bible
When Jacob?s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob?s daughter?a thing that should not be done.

NET Bible
Now Jacob's sons had come in from the field when they heard the news. They were offended and very angry because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sexually assaulting Jacob's daughter, a crime that should not be committed.

New Heart English Bible
The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it. The men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had disgraced Israel by sexually assaulting Jacob?s daughter; a thing that should not be done.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the sons of Jacob came from 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.

World English Bible
The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it. The men were grieved, and they were very angry, because he had done folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter, a thing that ought not to be done.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard, and the men grieve themselves, and it [is] very displeasing to them, for folly he has done against Israel, to lie with the daughter of Jacob—and so it is not done.

Young's Literal Translation
and the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard, and the men grieve themselves, and it is very displeasing to them, for folly he hath done against Israel, to lie with the daughter of Jacob -- and so it is not done.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the sons of Jacob came from the field when they having heard: and the men will be grieved, and it will be kindled to them exceedingly because he did folly in Israel, to lie with Jacob's daughter; and thus it shall not be done.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Behold his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed, they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel, and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob's daughter,

Catholic Public Domain Version
behold, his sons arrived from the field. And hearing what had happened, they were very angry, because he had done a filthy thing in Israel and, in violating a daughter of Jacob, had perpetrated an unlawful act.

New American Bible
just as Jacob’s sons were coming in from the field. When they heard the news, the men were indignant and extremely angry. Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter; such a thing is not done.

New Revised Standard Version
just as the sons of Jacob came in from the field. When they heard of it, the men were indignant and very angry, because he had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing ought not to be done.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the sons of Jacob came from the field, and when they heard the news, they were grieved; and they were very indignant, because they had wrought folly in Israel in the disgracing of Jacob's daughter, which thing ought not to be done.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the sons of Yaquuv came from the field and when they heard, it grieved them to a man, and it was very evil to them because they had done an abomination in Israel and abused the daughter of Yaquuv, and such is not done.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought a vile deed in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the sons of Jacob came from the plain; and when they heard, the men were deeply pained, and it was very grievous to them, because the man wrought folly in Israel, having lain with the daughter of Jacob, and so it must not be.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Defiling of Dinah
6Meanwhile, Shechem’s father Hamor came to speak with Jacob. 7When Jacob’s sons heard what had happened, they returned from the field. They were filled with grief and fury, because Shechem had committed an outrage in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter— a thing that should not be done. 8But Hamor said to them, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 22:21
she shall be brought to the door of her father’s house, and there the men of her city will stone her to death. For she has committed an outrage in Israel by being promiscuous in her father’s house. So you must purge the evil from among you.

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.

Leviticus 18:29
Therefore anyone who commits any of these abominations must be cut off from among his people.

Deuteronomy 22:24
you must take both of them out to the gate of that city and stone them to death—the young woman because she did not cry out in the city, and the man because he has violated his neighbor’s wife. So you must purge the evil from among you.

Judges 19:23-24
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.”

2 Samuel 13:22
And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.

Leviticus 20:10
If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must surely be put to death.

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 13:32
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.

Exodus 22:16-17
If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. / If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.

1 Corinthians 5:1
It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is intolerable even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-7
For it is God’s will that you should be holy: You must abstain from sexual immorality; / each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, / not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God; ...

Ephesians 5:3
But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a man can commit is outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. / Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; / you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Romans 13:13
Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.


Treasury of Scripture

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 worked folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done.

were.

Genesis 46:7
His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.

2 Samuel 13:21
But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth.

wrought.

Exodus 19:5,6
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: …

Deuteronomy 22:21
Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die: because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.

Joshua 7:15
And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

thing.

Genesis 20:9
Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.

Leviticus 4:2,13,27
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: …

Deuteronomy 23:17
There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.

Jump to Previous
Angry Daughter Deed Disgraceful Field Fields Filled Folly Fury Grief Grieved Heard Indignant Israel Jacob Jacob's Lying Ought Shechem Soon Vile Wroth Wrought
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Angry Daughter Deed Disgraceful Field Fields Filled Folly Fury Grief Grieved Heard Indignant Israel Jacob Jacob's Lying Ought Shechem Soon Vile Wroth Wrought
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.














Jacob’s sons
The phrase "Jacob’s sons" refers to the twelve sons of Jacob, who would later become the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the Hebrew context, the sons represent not just a family unit but the foundation of a nation. Their actions and reactions are pivotal in the unfolding narrative of Israel's history. The sons' response to the situation reflects the collective honor and responsibility they feel towards their family and future nation.

had come in from the field
This phrase indicates that Jacob’s sons were engaged in agricultural work, a common occupation in ancient times. The field represents their livelihood and daily life, which is abruptly interrupted by the grievous news. This setting underscores the normalcy of their lives before the disruption, highlighting the gravity of the situation they are about to confront.

heard about it
The act of hearing in the Hebrew tradition often implies more than just receiving information; it suggests a call to action. The sons' hearing of the incident is not passive; it demands a response. This reflects the cultural importance of family honor and the expectation of defending it.

deeply grieved
The Hebrew root for "grieved" conveys a profound emotional pain, akin to mourning. This grief is not just personal but communal, reflecting the collective sorrow of the family and the affront to their honor. It emphasizes the depth of the violation against Dinah and the family.

very angry
The anger of Jacob’s sons is intense and righteous, stemming from a sense of justice and protection for their sister. In the Hebrew context, anger is often associated with a zeal for righteousness and a desire to correct wrongs. This anger propels the narrative forward, leading to the subsequent actions of the sons.

Shechem had committed an outrage
The term "outrage" in Hebrew is a strong word denoting a disgraceful act that violates social and moral boundaries. Shechem’s act is not just a personal offense but a societal one, challenging the very fabric of the community’s values and laws.

against Israel
This phrase is significant as it marks one of the early uses of "Israel" to denote the family of Jacob. The outrage is not just against Dinah but against the entire family, symbolizing an affront to the emerging nation of Israel. It highlights the collective identity and the shared responsibility of the family members.

by lying with Jacob’s daughter
The act of lying with Dinah is described in terms that emphasize the violation and lack of consent. In the cultural and scriptural context, this act is a severe breach of moral and social conduct, underscoring the gravity of Shechem’s sin.

a thing that should not be done
This phrase reflects the moral and ethical standards of the time, which are rooted in the divine law and cultural norms. It underscores the universality of the moral outrage, suggesting that such acts are inherently wrong and unacceptable in any society. The phrase serves as a moral indictment of Shechem’s actions, reinforcing the narrative’s emphasis on justice and righteousness.

(7) He had wrought folly in Israel.--The great anger of Jacob's sons agrees as completely with the general harshness of their characters as the silence of the father with his habitual thoughtfulness; but it was aroused by a great wrong. The use, however, of the term Israel to signify the family of Jacob as distinguished from his person belongs to the age of Moses, and is one of the proofs of the arrangement of these records having been his work. In selecting them, and weaving them together into one history, he would add whatever was necessary, and in the latter half of this verse we apparently have one such addition.

Verse 7. - And the sons of Jacob (i.e. Leah's children, Dinah's full brothers, for certain, though perhaps also her half brothers) came out of the field when they heard it (Jacob having probably sent them word): and the men were grieved, - literally, grieved themselves, or became pained with anger, the verb being the hithpael of צָעַב, to toil or labor with pain. The LXX. connect this with the preceding clause, ὡς δὲ ἤκουσαν, κατενύγησαν οἱ ἅνδρες, implying that they did not learn of their sister's seduction till they came home - and they were very wroth, - literally, it burned to them greatly (cf. Genesis 31:36; 1 Samuel 15:11; 2 Samuel 19:4:3). Michaelis mentions an opinion still entertained in the East which explains the excessive indignation kindled in the breasts of Dinah's brothers, vie., that "in those countries it is thought that a brother is more dishonored by the seduction of his sister than a man by the infidelity of his wife; for, say the Arabs, a man may divorce his wife, and then she is no longer his; while a sister and daughter remain always sister and daughter" (vide Kurtz, 'Hist. of Old Covenant,' (82) - because he (i.e. Shechem) - had wrought folly. - the term folly easily passes into the idea of wickedness of a shameful character (1 Samuel 25:25; 2 Samuel 13:12), since from the standpoint of Scripture sin is the height of unreason (Psalm 74:22; Jeremiah 17:11), and holiness the sublimest act of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:4) - in (or against) Israel - the word, here applied for the first time to Jacob's household, afterwards became the usual national designation of Jacob's descendants; and the phrase here employed for the first time afterwards passed into a standing expression for acts done against the sacred character which belonged to Israel as a separated and covenanted community, especially for sins of the flesh (Deuteronomy 22:21; Judges 20:10; Jeremiah 29:23), but also for other crimes (Joshua 7:15) - in lying with Jacob's daughter. The special wickedness of Shechem consisted in dishonoring a daughter of one who was the head of the theocratic line, and therefore under peculiar obligations to lead s holy life. Which thing ought not to be done - literally, and so is it not done (cf. Genesis 29:26). Assigned to the historian ('Speaker's Commentary'), or to the hand of a late redactor (Davidson, Colenso, Alford), there is no reason why these words should not have been spoken by Jacob's sons (Keil, Murphy, and others)' to indicate their sense of the new and higher morality that had come in with the name of Israel (Lange).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Jacob’s
יַעֲקֹ֜ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

sons
וּבְנֵ֨י (ū·ḇə·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

heard what had happened,
כְּשָׁמְעָ֔ם (kə·šā·mə·‘ām)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

they returned
בָּ֤אוּ (bā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

from
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the field.
הַשָּׂדֶה֙ (haś·śā·ḏeh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

They were filled with
מְאֹ֑ד (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily

grief
וַיִּֽתְעַצְּבוּ֙ (way·yiṯ·‘aṣ·ṣə·ḇū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6087: To carve, fabricate, fashion, to worry, pain, anger

and fury,
וַיִּ֥חַר (way·yi·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Shechem had committed
עָשָׂ֣ה (‘ā·śāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

an outrage
נְבָלָ֞ה (nə·ḇā·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5039: Foolishness, wickedness, a crime, punishment

in Israel
בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (ḇə·yiś·rā·’êl)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

by lying
לִשְׁכַּב֙ (liš·kaḇ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7901: To lie down

with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Jacob’s
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

daughter—
בַּֽת־ (baṯ-)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1323: A daughter

a thing
וְכֵ֖ן (wə·ḵên)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

that should not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

be done.
יֵעָשֶֽׂה׃ (yê·‘ā·śeh)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT Law: Genesis 34:7 The sons of Jacob came (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 34:6
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