Genesis 34:19 kjv

And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter: and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.

Genesis 34:19 nkjv

So the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob's daughter. He was more honorable than all the household of his father.

Genesis 34:19 niv

The young man, who was the most honored of all his father's family, lost no time in doing what they said, because he was delighted with Jacob's daughter.

Genesis 34:19 esv

And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob's daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father's house.

Genesis 34:19 nlt

Shechem wasted no time in acting on this request, for he wanted Jacob's daughter desperately. Shechem was a highly respected member of his family,

Genesis 34 verses

Genesis 34 19 Meaning

Genesis 34:19 portrays Shechem's swift and eager compliance with the demand for circumcision, driven by his intense desire and affection for Dinah, Jacob's daughter. This immediate action is significantly enabled by his eminent social standing and influence, as he was the most esteemed and respected member of his father's household. His urgency to secure Dinah's hand, despite the grave demand, underscores his deep personal commitment and his powerful position within his community, allowing him to rally his people to consent.

Genesis 34 19 Context

Genesis chapter 34 describes the aftermath of Dinah, Jacob's only known daughter, being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, a Hivite prince. After the act, Shechem develops a strong affection for Dinah and his father Hamor proposes a marriage alliance to Jacob and his sons. They suggest an intermarriage pact and free trade between their peoples, envisioning prosperity and integration. Jacob's sons, however, are secretly enraged by the defilement of their sister and conceive a plan of cunning revenge. As part of their deceptive strategy, they feign acceptance of the marriage only on the condition that all males in Shechem's city be circumcised, claiming it is required for their family to intermarry with any uncircumcised people. Verse 19 shows Shechem's profound eagerness to meet this unusual condition. His alacrity and significant social influence are crucial, as they enable him to convince the men of his city to undergo circumcision, ultimately setting them up for the massacre by Simeon and Levi, which unfolds in the subsequent verses. The entire narrative showcases the destructive interplay of sexual sin, tribal honor, deceit, and brutal retribution.

Genesis 34 19 Word analysis

• So the young man (וְאִ֣ישׁ): "And the man," here 'ish refers to Shechem. While na'ar (youth, boy, servant) is used later in the verse (as "the young man"), the opening 'ish emphasizes him as a fully acting and responsible agent. The immediate connective "So" (often simply "and" or "now" in English translations, though context implies consequence) points to a direct causal link from the proposal.
• did not delay (לֹ֣א אֵחַ֔ר - lo ekhar): A strong negative statement using the Piel form of the verb "to be late/delay." It indicates Shechem's decisive, immediate, and utterly prompt action. He acted with alacrity and no hesitation whatsoever, driven by his powerful desire. This quickness is pivotal, as any delay might have allowed for deeper consideration or discovery of the trap.
• to do the thing (לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת אֶת־הַדָּבָ֑ר - la'asot et-ha'davar): "To do the word/matter/thing." The "thing" refers directly to the requirement of circumcision for all the city's males as presented by Jacob's sons. The term davar is broad, meaning "word," "matter," "thing," or "affair," underscoring the serious and consequential nature of what he committed to doing.
• because (כִּ֣י - ki): A causal conjunction, directly linking his non-delay to his motivation. It clearly states the reason for his urgent compliance.
• he delighted (חָפֵ֗ץ - chafetz): A strong Hebrew verb denoting pleasure, delight, desire, or favor. It's more than simple liking; it suggests a deep satisfaction or determination to achieve something. This word was used earlier in Gen 34:3, highlighting that "his soul clung to Dinah, and he loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her." This reinforces his emotional commitment to her as the driving force behind his actions.
• in Jacob’s daughter (בְּבַ֤ת יַעֲקֹב֙ - b'vat Ya'akov): Specifically names Dinah as "the daughter of Jacob," identifying her lineage and implying her importance within Jacob's powerful and covenantal family. His delight was singularly fixed on her.
• Now he was (וְה֤וּא - v'hu): A shift or additional piece of information being introduced, further explaining why he was able to act so quickly and effectively.
• more honored (נִכְבָּד֙ - nikhbad): From the root kabad, meaning "to be heavy, weighty." In the Nifal conjugation, it means "to be honored, respected, prestigious." This signifies his high social standing, influence, and the esteem in which he was held within his community. It's not just a personal quality but a public perception of his importance.
• than all the household of his father (מִכֹּ֖ל בֵּית אָבִֽיו - mikol beit aviv): Emphasizes his preeminent position and authority within his extended family unit and, by extension, among the Hivite community of Shechem. This status meant his advocacy carried significant weight, making it possible for him to persuade all the city's males to accept the painful and peculiar condition of circumcision.

Genesis 34 19 Bonus section

• The irony of Shechem's high honor leading to his own and his city's ruin underscores a theme found elsewhere in scripture: worldly power or esteemed status can blind one to peril or lead to unrighteous decisions if not anchored by divine wisdom.
• This verse provides context for how easily a leader's singular focus or personal passion, even when it might appear as dedication, can be exploited, particularly in a system where honor and loyalty dictate compliance from the populace.
• The incident concerning Shechem and Dinah, starting with a violation and escalating through a misguided proposal and vengeful deceit, prefigures the ongoing tension between Israel and the surrounding nations, and the challenges of maintaining a distinct identity while interacting with foreign cultures. The 'honorable' position of Shechem made him a willing, but tragic, pawn in this conflict.

Genesis 34 19 Commentary

Genesis 34:19 is a crucial turning point, highlighting Shechem's character and influence, which inadvertently facilitate his people's tragic fate. His "no delay" action, driven by an intense personal desire ("he delighted in Jacob's daughter"), reveals a impulsiveness and perhaps a lack of prudent consideration. His preeminent "honored" status meant that his fervent advocacy for the marriage, including the demand for circumcision, would be heeded by his community, despite the strangeness and severity of the request. This combination of powerful desire and social authority makes him an effective, yet unwitting, instrument in the brothers' devastating revenge plan. The verse thus sets the stage for a massacre, demonstrating how intense personal desires, coupled with high social standing and unchecked by wisdom or moral restraint, can lead an individual and their entire community into severe and irreversible harm.