Genesis 34:14 kjv

And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

Genesis 34:14 nkjv

And they said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a reproach to us.

Genesis 34:14 niv

They said to them, "We can't do such a thing; we can't give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us.

Genesis 34:14 esv

They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.

Genesis 34:14 nlt

They said to them, "We couldn't possibly allow this, because you're not circumcised. It would be a disgrace for our sister to marry a man like you!

Genesis 34 verses

Genesis 34 14 Meaning

Genesis 34:14 reveals the deceitful pretense of Jacob's sons, particularly Simeon and Levi, who, out of vengeful motives, present a religious and moral objection to their sister Dinah being given in marriage to an uncircumcised man. They claim such a union would bring an unacceptable reproach and disgrace upon their family and community, feigning concern for their covenant identity to manipulate the Shechemites into a condition (circumcision) that would facilitate their planned act of violence.

Genesis 34 14 Context

Genesis chapter 34 describes the aftermath of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite chieftain. Shechem desired Dinah and offered to marry her. Hamor, his father, sought to establish a kinship bond between their people, suggesting intermarriage and trade. This verse, Gen 34:14, comes as the manipulative reply from Jacob's sons. They leverage the covenant sign of circumcision as a precondition, not out of genuine religious adherence, but as a deceitful tactic to render the men of Shechem vulnerable to attack, thereby enacting their bloody revenge. This period is situated in the patriarchal era, where distinct tribal identities, honor codes, and the Abrahamic covenant were foundational to Israel's nascent identity. The incident highlights the dangerous interplay of personal honor, tribal vengeance, and the misunderstanding or manipulation of sacred practices.

Genesis 34 14 Word analysis

• We: וַנֹּאמֶר (va-nnomer – "and we said"). This suggests a collective voice from Jacob's sons, though Gen 34:25 later indicates Simeon and Levi were the primary instigators and actors in the subsequent massacre. It presents a unified front in their deceptive negotiations.
• cannot: לֹא נוּכַל (lo nukhal – "not we are able"). This phrase indicates an absolute impossibility from their perspective, rooted in moral or religious principle. It sets up their deceptive argument, implying a high regard for covenant law that their actions contradict.
• do this thing: לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַזֶּה (la'asot et-ha-davar ha-zeh – "to do this matter/word/deed"). דָּבָר (davar) means "word," "thing," "matter," or "affair." Here, it specifically refers to the act of giving their sister in marriage to an uncircumcised man.
• to give: לָתֵת (latet – infinitive construct of נָתַן, natan, "to give, to put"). This denotes the act of formally offering their sister in marriage.
• our sister: אֶת־אֲחוֹתֵנוּ (et-achotenu – "our sister"). This emphasizes Dinah's familial connection and her status as a part of their honor. Her violation invoked a deep sense of perceived shame and was used as justification for extreme measures.
• to one who has a foreskin: לְאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ עָרְלָה (le'ish asher-lo orlah – "to a man that to him a foreskin").
  • אִישׁ (ish): "man."
  • עָרְלָה (orlah): "foreskin." Beyond the physical meaning, in the broader biblical context, orlah comes to symbolize that which is uncircumcised, impure, or alien to the covenant people (e.g., "uncircumcised heart" - Deut 10:16; Jer 4:4). This term highlights their objection as rooted in a distinction based on the Abrahamic covenant sign.
• for that would be a reproach to us: כִּי־חֶרְפָּה הִוא לָנוּ (ki-cherpah hi lanu – "for disgrace/shame it is to us").
  • חֶרְפָּה (cherpah): "reproach," "disgrace," "shame," "insult." This word carries significant weight in ancient Israelite honor-shame culture. A cherpah was not just personal embarrassment but a deep, public disgrace or dishonor that could affect an entire family or community's standing. The brothers invoked this deeply felt sense of cherpah as their publicly stated reason for refusal, contrasting sharply with their hidden intent for revenge.

Genesis 34 14 Bonus section

The Hebrew word חֶרְפָּה (cherpah - reproach/disgrace) in this verse is not merely an expression of personal feeling but taps into a deep societal concept within ancient Near Eastern cultures, where honor and shame were public currencies. For a woman, a serious cherpah could result from public dishonor, especially involving sexual transgression or undesirable unions (as Dinah's case could be interpreted without a proper covenant marriage). For men, particularly brothers, cherpah from such an event would directly challenge their role as protectors of family honor, often necessitating violent restoration of that honor, even if by deceit, as seen here. This narrative also functions as a cautionary tale within Israelite history about the fine line between defending covenant integrity and succumbing to human vengeance and deceit. It subtly challenges the notion that outward ritualistic purity is sufficient without inward righteousness, foreshadowing later prophetic condemnations of hypocrisy (e.g., Isa 1:11-17; Amos 5:21-24).

Genesis 34 14 Commentary

Genesis 34:14 unveils a pivotal moment of deception. The sons of Jacob do not express their true outrage or vengeful intentions but craft a religious pretext for their refusal. They shrewdly leverage the sanctity of the Abrahamic covenant's sign—circumcision—as a seemingly principled objection to marrying their sister to an "uncircumcised" man. The cherpah, or reproach, they cite is profound in a cultural context where communal honor and covenant purity were paramount. Yet, their use of this concept is fundamentally twisted. They profess loyalty to covenant distinctives ("not give our sister to an uncircumcised man") but demonstrate a lack of genuine adherence by planning and executing treacherous violence (Gen 34:25-29), violating the very covenant spirit of righteousness and peace (cf. Gen 49:5-7). This verse starkly highlights the danger of manipulating religious and moral principles for selfish or destructive ends, contrasting external religious adherence with inner depravity.