Genesis 34 24

Genesis 34:24 kjv

And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.

Genesis 34:24 nkjv

And all who went out of the gate of his city heeded Hamor and Shechem his son; every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

Genesis 34:24 niv

All the men who went out of the city gate agreed with Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male in the city was circumcised.

Genesis 34:24 esv

And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

Genesis 34:24 nlt

So all the men in the town council agreed with Hamor and Shechem, and every male in the town was circumcised.

Genesis 34 verses

Genesis 34 24 meaning

Genesis 34:24 describes the full agreement and subsequent action of the men of Shechem. Motivated by the proposed alliance with Jacob's wealthy family and the personal desire of their prince, Shechem, to marry Dinah, the Shechemite male populace publicly heeded their leaders, Hamor and Shechem, and underwent circumcision. The phrase "all that went out of the gate of his city" emphasizes that this was a public, unanimous, and city-wide act by the adult male citizens.

Genesis 34 24 Context

Genesis chapter 34 recounts a deeply disturbing event where Dinah, Jacob's only daughter, is defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite prince of the city. While Shechem truly desires to marry Dinah and Hamor proposes intermarriage between their peoples for economic and social benefit, Jacob's sons are enraged by the dishonor. Concealing their murderous intent, they deceitfully propose a condition for intermarriage: all male inhabitants of Shechem must be circumcised. This verse details the Shechemites' fatal compliance. Historically and culturally, the "city gate" was the crucial public space in ancient Near Eastern cities, where legal decisions, commercial transactions, and public proclamations were made. For all the males "that went out of the gate" to undergo circumcision signified a binding, public, communal agreement by the responsible men of the city. This collective act of painful ritual, undertaken for perceived economic and marital gain, ultimately rendered them vulnerable and led to their horrific slaughter by Simeon and Levi, who leveraged their incapacitation for revenge.

Genesis 34 24 Word analysis

• And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened:
  • Hamor (חֲמוֹר, Chamowr): Meaning "donkey" or "ass." He is the prince and patriarch of the city of Shechem, acting as the primary negotiator with Jacob's sons.
  • Shechem (שְׁכֶם, Shekem): Meaning "shoulder" or "back." The individual who defiled Dinah and whose name is also that of the city. His passionate desire for Dinah, along with Hamor's astute observation of the wealth of Jacob's family, drove their decision.
  • hearkened (וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ, vayishme'u): From the verb שָׁמַע (shama') meaning "to hear, listen, obey, understand." It denotes more than mere hearing; it signifies heeding advice, assenting, and actively complying with the proposition. This implies that the people accepted the proposal presented by Hamor and Shechem.
• all that went out of the gate of his city:
  • all that went out of the gate: This phrase is a common ancient Near Eastern idiom referring to the adult male citizens of a city. The city gate was the central place for legal assembly, economic transactions, and public discourse. It specifically includes all males old enough to participate in civic life, capable of fighting, and making decisions. This phrase highlights the full and public assent of the entire responsible male population.
  • his city: Refers to the city of Shechem, governed by Hamor and Shechem.
• and every male was circumcised:
  • every male (וַיִּמֹּלוּ, vayimōlū, "they circumcised themselves" or "were circumcised"): This emphasizes the absolute scope of the circumcision, including all eligible males. The passive form or reflexive Hithpael construction (interpreted by some) points to the act being performed upon them, or their willingness to undergo it, indicating widespread participation and submission to the demand.
  • was circumcised (מוּל, mul): To "cut off" or "circumcise." The act itself, a physical and painful ritual, signifying their adoption of the proposed condition.
• all that went out of the gate of his city:
  • This repetition serves to strongly emphasize the totality and universality of the circumcision. It reiterates that every single adult male citizen, those who had gathered publicly and heard the proposal, indeed underwent the ritual, ensuring no one was missed for the subsequent, tragic act. It underscores their complete adherence to the terms and their resulting widespread vulnerability.

Genesis 34 24 Bonus section

• Symbolic Reversal: The act of circumcision, which signified covenant blessing and the establishment of God's people (Gen 17), is tragically subverted in this chapter. Here, it is not an act of faith or devotion, but a prerequisite for what was hoped to be an advantageous social and economic integration. Its acceptance by the Shechemites for carnal benefit ironically leads to their utter destruction, demonstrating a stark contrast between God's intended purpose for the sign and its perverse misuse by men.
• A Lesson on Leadership and Public Consent: This verse offers a stark example of how public consent, when based on deception or shortsighted ambition, can lead a community to devastating outcomes. The collective decision by the entire male populace, prompted by their leaders Hamor and Shechem, rendered them defenseless. This highlights the crucial responsibility of leadership in ensuring the true welfare of their people and the danger of groupthink when critical decisions are involved.

Genesis 34 24 Commentary

Genesis 34:24 forms the climax of the Shechemites' willing, though ill-informed, submission to the terms laid out by Jacob's sons. It portrays a unified, communal decision led by Hamor and Shechem, motivated by the desire for material prosperity through intermarriage and the city's strategic integration with Jacob's burgeoning household. The willingness of "all that went out of the gate"—representing the city's entire public, adult, and martial male population—to undergo the painful rite of circumcision is testament to their earnest desire for the alliance. However, this action, seemingly a cultural adaptation or covenant entry, was born out of Jacob's sons' deceptive and violent intent. Their swift compliance ironically sealed their doom, transforming what was intended by God as a holy covenant sign into a mere physical state of incapacitation that Simeon and Levi mercilessly exploited. This verse highlights the profound consequences of acting without true spiritual discernment and falling prey to concealed malicious intent, emphasizing the tragic irony where a sacred practice becomes an instrument of unparalleled vengeance.