Genesis 34:14

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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:

Complete Jewish Bible:

They said to them, "We can't do it, because it would be a disgrace to give our sister to someone who hasn't been circumcised.

Berean Standard Bible:

“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us.

American Standard Version:

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

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And they said^{H559} unto them, We cannot^{{H3808}{H3201}} do^{H6213} this thing^{H1697}, to give^{H5414} our sister^{H269} to one^{H376} that is uncircumcised^{H6190}; for that were a reproach^{H2781} unto us:

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 34:14

Genesis 34:14 is part of the narrative known as "The Dinah Incident," which occurs in the town of Shechem within the land of Canaan. The verse reflects the tension between the family of Jacob, who are Hebrews, and the Canaanites, who are the native inhabitants of the land.

Themes:
1. **Cultural and Religious Identity**: The verse highlights the importance of circumcision as a cultural and religious practice that distinguishes the Hebrews from the surrounding peoples. Circumcision is a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants (Genesis 17).
2. **Purity and Morality**: The insistence on circumcision before marriage also underscores the importance of religious and moral purity within the Hebrew community.
3. **Family Honor and Protection**: The brothers of Dinah are concerned with protecting the honor of their sister and their family, which they perceive as being compromised by the prospect of a marriage with an uncircumcised man.
4. **Conflict and Resolution**: This verse sets the stage for a larger narrative of conflict and resolution, as the brothers use the requirement of circumcision as a ruse to exact revenge for the perceived wrong against their sister.

Historical Context:
The events in Genesis 34 occur during the period when the Hebrew patriarchs were living in Canaan, a land that would later become central to the identity of the Israelite nation. At this time, the Hebrews were a semi-nomadic people living among various Canaanite city-states. The interaction between Dinah, Jacob's daughter, and Shechem, the prince of the city, brings to light the cultural differences and the potential for both integration and conflict between these groups.

In the broader historical context, this story reflects the ancient Near Eastern practice of using marriage as a means of establishing peaceful relations between different groups. However, the narrative takes a turn as the Hebrew brothers' demand for circumcision leads to violence, illustrating the complexities of cultural integration and the lengths to which people might go to maintain their distinct identity amidst a diverse cultural landscape.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3808
   There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֹא
   Transliteration: lôʼ
   Pronunciation: lo
   Description: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3201
   There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָכֹל
   Transliteration: yâkôl
   Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
   Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
7. Strong's Number: H269
   There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָחוֹת
   Transliteration: ʼâchôwth
   Pronunciation: aw-khoth'
   Description: irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together.
   
8. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
9. Strong's Number: H6190
   There are 16 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עׇרְלָה
   Transliteration: ʻorlâh
   Pronunciation: or-law'
   Description: feminine of עָרֵל; the prepuce; foreskin, [phrase] uncircumcised.
   
10. Strong's Number: H2781
    There are 72 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חֶרְפָּה
    Transliteration: cherpâh
    Pronunciation: kher-paw'
    Description: from חָרַף; contumely, disgrace, the pudenda; rebuke, reproach(-fully), shame.