Genesis 34:23 kjv

Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

Genesis 34:23 nkjv

Will not their livestock, their property, and every animal of theirs be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us."

Genesis 34:23 niv

Won't their livestock, their property and all their other animals become ours? So let us agree to their terms, and they will settle among us."

Genesis 34:23 esv

Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us."

Genesis 34:23 nlt

But if we do this, all their livestock and possessions will eventually be ours. Come, let's agree to their terms and let them settle here among us."

Genesis 34 verses

Genesis 34 23 Meaning

Genesis 34:23 reveals the primary motivation behind the Shechemites' willingness to accept the Israelites' demand for circumcision: their material possessions. Hamor and Shechem present the economic benefit to their fellow townsmen, arguing that if they agree to Jacob's sons' terms, the considerable wealth of Jacob's household – their herds, property, and all their animals – will ultimately become part of their own community's assets. The verse exposes the cunning calculation of the Shechemites, who saw the covenant sign not as a sacred rite but as a pathway to lucrative acquisition and tribal absorption.

Genesis 34 23 Context

Genesis 34 describes the aftermath of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite prince of the land. Shechem immediately falls in love with Dinah and wishes to marry her. His father, Hamor, approaches Jacob to formalize the union and propose a broader intermarriage and economic integration between their peoples.

Jacob's sons, deeply dishonored and angered by their sister's defilement, plot deceitfully. They feign agreement but propose a condition: all males in Shechem must be circumcised, claiming that it is the only way for their families to intermarry and blend. This verse (Gen 34:23) captures Hamor and Shechem's persuasion of the men of their city to undergo circumcision. They appeal directly to the Shechemites' materialistic interests, portraying Jacob's clan as immensely wealthy and arguing that their combined livestock and possessions would greatly enrich the city of Shechem, effectively making them wealthier. Their proposition entirely dismisses the sacred, covenantal nature of circumcision, reducing it to a mere pragmatic step for economic gain. This narrative ultimately highlights the deep moral corruption on both sides: the Shechemites' predatory economic motives and the deceptive and violent retribution exacted by Simeon and Levi.

Genesis 34 23 Word analysis

• "Shall not" (הֲלוֹא - hălôʾ): This is a rhetorical question in Hebrew, strongly implying an affirmative answer. Hamor and Shechem are not genuinely asking for confirmation but rather making a confident assertion disguised as a question to persuade their audience. It aims to manipulate their citizens into thinking of the inevitable, positive outcome.
• "their livestock" (מִקְנֵהֶם - miqnehēm): Refers to acquired property, specifically herds, flocks, and other beasts, which represented significant wealth and assets in the ancient agrarian society. The Hivites' focus immediately shifts to the most valuable, liquid assets.
• "and their possessions" (וְקִנְיָנָם - vəqinyānām): This term is broader than "livestock," encompassing all acquired goods, wealth, or property. It points to a general acquisition of their entire estate. The repetition highlights the comprehensive nature of the coveted wealth.
• "and all their animals" (וְכָל-בְּהֶמְתָּם - vəḵol-behēmṯām): "Animals" (behemah) refers to domestic, often larger, animals. While overlapping with "livestock," its inclusion emphasizes totality and the complete transfer of animal wealth. The phrase highlights a complete and greedy coveting of all that Jacob's family owned. The threefold description of their assets underscores the Shechemites' intense desire for their material possessions.
• "be ours?" (לָנוּ תִּהְיֶה - lānû tihyeh): The emphasis is on ownership and absorption. The underlying motive is assimilation for economic benefit, seeing Jacob's prosperous household as an opportunity to expand their own wealth rather than seeing them as a people to integrate with culturally or honorably.
• "Let us only agree with them" (רַק נֹאבֶה לָהֶם - raq nōʾḇe lāhem): This phrase presents a simple condition for the perceived economic gain. "Agreeing" refers to the covenant of circumcision proposed by Jacob's sons, which the Shechemites understood only as a pragmatic step, not a sacred ritual with divine implications. Their lack of understanding or respect for the spiritual aspect is profound.
• "and they will live among us" (וְיֵשְׁבוּ אִתָּנוּ - vəyēšəḇū ʾittānû): This implies complete settlement, assimilation, and absorption into the Shechemite community. This absorption, from Hamor and Shechem's perspective, would solidify the economic merger. For Israel, future warnings would emphasize not dwelling among the peoples of the land, to maintain distinct identity.

Genesis 34 23 Bonus section

The casual, almost flippant way Hamor and Shechem dismiss the gravity of circumcision as a covenant sign (Gen 17) highlights the stark contrast between the secular, self-serving worldview of the Hivites and the covenantal theology God was establishing with Abraham's descendants. This verse indirectly sets the stage for the dramatic and violent retribution that follows, driven by the sons' perception of a profaned covenant. It underscores the profound clash of cultures and moral standards in ancient Canaan, demonstrating how easily sacred institutions can be commodified or abused for personal profit when divorced from their true spiritual meaning.

Genesis 34 23 Commentary

Genesis 34:23 starkly unveils the ungodly motivations driving Hamor and Shechem. Their persuasive rhetoric to their own city exposes a core value system centered on materialistic gain. For them, Dinah's defilement, a grave moral offense, became an economic opportunity to absorb a prosperous neighboring tribe. The demand for circumcision, a sacred sign of the Abrahamic covenant signifying purity and dedication to Yahweh, was reduced to a transactional detail for securing wealth. This utilitarian view of a spiritual symbol reflects a complete lack of understanding and reverence for God's covenant purposes.

This verse serves as a profound biblical warning against covetousness and the dangers of compromising divine principles for worldly gain. The Shechemites were willing to undergo a significant physical change, and risk for a community, not out of spiritual conviction, but for the "love of money" (1 Tim 6:10). The passage foreshadows Israel's continuous struggle in the promised land: the temptation to assimilate with Canaanite cultures, driven by the desire for land, prosperity, and perceived security, often at the expense of their unique covenantal identity and fidelity to God. It shows that even seemingly positive propositions can hide deeply corrupt intentions, reminding believers to discern spirits and prioritize spiritual integrity over material enticement.