Genesis 34:29 kjv

And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house.

Genesis 34:29 nkjv

and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that was in the houses.

Genesis 34:29 niv

They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children, taking as plunder everything in the houses.

Genesis 34:29 esv

All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered.

Genesis 34:29 nlt

They looted all their wealth and plundered their houses. They also took all their little children and wives and led them away as captives.

Genesis 34 verses

Genesis 34 29 Meaning

Gen 34:29 describes the extent of the plunder and captivity taken by Simeon and Levi from the city of Shechem after their violent retribution. It signifies a complete devastation and subjugation of the inhabitants and their possessions, emphasizing that "all" aspects of their lives—economic stability (wealth), future generations (little ones), social fabric (wives), and material comfort (things in houses)—were mercilessly seized and carried off by the two brothers and their men.

Genesis 34 29 Context

Genesis 34 tells the sordid account of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite prince of the land. Following this, Shechem desired Dinah as his wife, and Hamor proposed intermarriage and trade between their peoples. Simeon and Levi, Dinah's full brothers, responded with treacherous cunning, proposing that all the males of Shechem must be circumcised in order to legitimize the union. The Shechemites, swayed by the promise of their wealth and the integration with Jacob's prosperous family, agreed and underwent circumcision. Three days later, while the men were incapacitated by pain, Simeon and Levi led their households in a surprise attack. They slaughtered every male, including Hamor and Shechem. Verse 29 explicitly details the final stage of their vengeful act: the looting of the city, completing the destruction and subjugation of the Shechemites by seizing their most valuable assets—their people and their possessions. This event causes great distress to Jacob, who feared reprisal from surrounding communities and later, on his deathbed, curses Simeon and Levi for their cruel and violent act.

Genesis 34 29 Word analysis

• And all their wealth (וְאֶת־כָּל־חֵילָם – wə’et-kāl-cheilām):
  • וְאֶת־ (wə’et-): "and all" or "even all." The prefix "וְ" (waw) means "and." "אֶת" (et) is a direct object marker, emphasizing that what follows is the direct object of the verb. "כָּל־" (kol) means "all" or "every," indicating totality.
  • חֵילָם (cheilām): From root chayil. Refers to military strength, wealth, or power. Here, it denotes their possessions, riches, and resources. It includes movable goods, livestock, and any other form of economic assets. Its inclusion signifies that the plunder was comprehensive, targeting not just individuals but the economic base of the community.
• and all their little ones (וְאֶת־כָּל־טַפָּם – wə’et-kāl-ṭappām):
  • וְאֶת־כָּל־ (wə’et-kāl-): "and all" or "even all," as above, emphasizing totality.
  • טַפָּם (ṭappām): From root ṭaph. Refers to young children, usually those who are still carried or are too young to walk far independently. The taking of children highlights the brutality and utter lack of mercy in Simeon and Levi's actions, demonstrating the complete annihilation of the community's future and lineage. It implies their subjugation into slavery or integration into the household of the conquerors.
• and their wives (וְאֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶם – wə’et-nəšêhem):
  • וְאֶת־ (wə’et-): "and."
  • נְשֵׁיהֶם (nəšêhem): "their wives," from the root ʾiššah (woman/wife). The seizure of wives was a common practice in ancient warfare, often leading to slavery, forced marriage, or further abuse. This act underscored the complete domination and degradation of the conquered population, stripping them of family integrity and personal dignity.
• all that was in the houses (וְאֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר בַּבָּתִּים – wə’êt kāl-ʾăšer ba-bātîm):
  • וְאֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר (wə’êt kāl-ʾăšer): "and all that which." A broader phrase to include everything else not covered by "wealth."
  • בַּבָּתִּים (ba-bātîm): "in the houses." "בְּ" (bə) means "in" or "within." "בָּתִּים" (bātîm) is the plural of "בַּיִת" (bayit), meaning "house" or "household." This phrase captures all personal belongings, household goods, tools, and non-economic valuables, reinforcing the exhaustive nature of the plunder. It indicates the complete emptying and devastation of the city.
• they took captive (שָׁבוּ – shavu):
  • From the root šavah, meaning "to take captive," "to make prisoner." This verb primarily refers to the capturing of people for purposes of slavery, forced resettlement, or as a spoil of war. It distinguishes the act of taking people from merely taking possessions.
• and plundered (וַיָּבֹזוּ – vayyavozu):
  • From the root bazaz, meaning "to plunder," "to spoil," "to pillage." This refers specifically to the seizure of goods, possessions, and movable property, distinct from taking people. Its pairing with "took captive" signifies a comprehensive military action where both persons and property are subjected to the conqueror's will.

Words-group analysis:

• "All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives": This initial trio covers the essential components of ancient societal value – economic stability (wealth), the continuation of the family line (little ones), and the foundation of the social unit (wives). The repetition of "all" (כָּל־) stresses the total nature of the taking, leaving nothing behind for the Shechemites. This emphasizes that Simeon and Levi's vengeance extended beyond retribution for Dinah to a full-scale annihilation of a competing clan.
• "all that was in the houses—they captured and plundered": This phrase functions as a comprehensive summary clause. "All that was in the houses" acts as a catch-all, indicating the thoroughness of the looting, including objects of value that may not have been strictly considered "wealth." The concluding verbs "captured" (primarily for people) and "plundered" (primarily for goods) neatly categorize the dual nature of their spoils, confirming that the entire human and material existence of the Shechemites was usurped. This phrase reveals the calculated and exhaustive nature of their destruction, reflecting not just rage but a desire for complete domination and acquisition.

Genesis 34 29 Bonus section

The collective taking of "wealth," "little ones," "wives," and "all that was in the houses" by Simeon and Levi signifies not merely punishment, but a predatory act of complete acquisition and dissolution of the Shechemite community. In ancient Near Eastern tribal societies, the seizure of these four categories was indicative of total victory and eradication of a rival group's identity. The children ("little ones") represented the continuity and future of the community, while the women ("wives") often became part of the conquering group, thereby extinguishing the previous lineage and fostering assimilation. The "wealth" and "houses" were the material means of life and prosperity. By seizing "all" of these, Simeon and Levi effectively erased the Shechemite community's ability to exist independently, illustrating the severity of their actions beyond mere personal vengeance, making it an act of profound social, economic, and demographic destruction. This foreshadows some of the warnings given to Israel in Deuteronomy concerning their own behavior with other nations, highlighting that even those chosen by God could fall into barbaric practices if they do not uphold His standards of justice and mercy.

Genesis 34 29 Commentary

Genesis 34:29 climactically summarizes the devastating consequence of Simeon and Levi's brutal deceit against the Shechemites. It explicitly details the total appropriation of life and livelihood: all economic resources ("wealth"), all future generations ("little ones"), all family integrity ("wives"), and all material comforts ("all that was in the houses"). This verse underscores the extreme and merciless nature of their retribution, which far exceeded a proportional response to Dinah's defilement. The complete destruction of the city and its inhabitants—not just the perpetrator Shechem and his father, but the entire population, including the innocent—reveals a dark facet of human vengeance untempered by divine principles. Jacob's later condemnation in Gen 49:5-7 highlights that this act was a sin of "cruel wrath," setting it apart from divine justice. It demonstrates how unchecked rage, cloaked in the guise of family honor, can lead to widespread and unjust violence, violating the sanctity of life and the ethical standards God reveals through the Law and the Prophets, where mercy is emphasized even in warfare (Deut 20:10-14, contrast with divine command for specific nations' destruction like Amalek in 1 Sam 15:3). This serves as a grim example of human depravity even among the patriarch's household.