Genesis 34:11

KJV

And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Shechem {H7927} said {H559} unto her father {H1} and unto her brethren {H251}, Let me find {H4672} grace {H2580} in your eyes {H5869}, and what ye shall say {H559} unto me I will give {H5414}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Sh'khem said to her father and brothers, "Only accept me, and I will give whatever you tell me.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Grant me this favor, and I will give you whatever you ask.

American Standard Version

And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find favor in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 34:11 captures Shechem's desperate plea to Jacob and his sons following his defilement of Dinah. He seeks their favor and offers to pay any price to legitimize his desire to marry her, attempting to resolve a profound moral and familial offense through material compensation. This act underscores the worldly approach to sin and sets the immediate stage for the deceptive and violent retribution exacted by Dinah's brothers.

### CONTEXT
This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the narrative of Jacob's family, immediately following the defilement of Dinah, Jacob's daughter, by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite ([Genesis 34:1-2](/genesis/34-1 "Dinah's Defilement")). Despite his egregious act, Shechem has fallen in love with Dinah and expresses a fervent desire to marry her. His father, Hamor, has already initiated formal negotiations with Jacob and his sons. Here, Shechem bypasses his father and directly addresses Dinah's father, Jacob, and her brothers, acknowledging the gravity of his actions by seeking their "grace" or favor, and offering to pay any requested sum. This desperate attempt to buy acceptance and secure his wish for Dinah, however, profoundly underestimates the depth of the dishonor brought upon Jacob's household, setting the stage for the cunning deception and brutal vengeance that Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, will unleash upon Shechem and his people ([Genesis 34:25-29](/genesis/34-25 "Simeon and Levi's Revenge")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Genesis 34:11 records Shechem's direct address to Jacob and his sons, revealing his immediate strategy to navigate the crisis he created.

* **"And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren"**: This direct address is significant. While his father, Hamor, had already begun formal negotiations with Jacob, Shechem's personal intervention demonstrates his urgent desire to secure Dinah and perhaps to personally atone for his actions. By addressing both Jacob and Dinah's brothers, he acknowledges the collective offense and the family's authority over Dinah's future.
* **"Let me find grace in your eyes"**: The Hebrew word for *grace* here is *chen* (חֵן), which denotes favor, acceptance, or compassion. It is a plea for human kindness and leniency, distinct from divine grace. Shechem is not seeking spiritual cleansing or genuine forgiveness in a moral sense, but rather social and familial acceptance. He desires their approval and willingness to overlook his egregious act to facilitate his marriage to Dinah. This phrase reveals his understanding that he has committed a serious offense that requires the family's favor to proceed.
* **"and what ye shall say unto me I will give"**: This phrase underscores Shechem's willingness to pay any price—whether a substantial dowry (*mohar*), gifts, or other forms of compensation for the wrong done—to secure Dinah as his wife. In ancient Near Eastern culture, defilement of a virgin required significant compensation and and often, marriage to the victim (e.g., [Exodus 22:16-17](/exodus/22-16 "Law on Seduction") and [Deuteronomy 22:28-29](/deuteronomy/22-28 "Law on Rape")). The Hebrew verb for *give* is *nathan* (נָתַן), a common and strong verb indicating a sincere promise to provide whatever material compensation is requested. This highlights a worldly and transactional approach to resolving a profound moral and spiritual offense. Shechem believes that material wealth can rectify the deep dishonor and violation, failing to grasp the true depth of the family's wounded honor and the spiritual implications of his sin.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
* **The Insufficiency of Material Compensation for Sin:** Shechem's offer to pay "what ye shall say" demonstrates a common human tendency to believe that wrongs can be rectified through financial or material means, highlighting the inadequacy of such efforts to atone for deep moral and spiritual offenses.
* **The Gravity of Sexual Sin and Dishonor:** The narrative underscores that sexual sin is not merely a private act but a profound offense against the individual, their family, and the community, bringing immense dishonor that cannot be easily erased.
* **Consequences of Unrighteous Actions:** Shechem's initial act of defilement sets in motion a tragic chain of events, demonstrating how sin begets further sin (deception, violence) and has devastating, far-reaching consequences for all involved.
* **Human Attempts at Justice vs. Divine Standard:** The chapter contrasts Shechem's attempt at human negotiation and appeasement with the brothers' vengeful and deceptive "justice," illustrating the complexities and failures of human-driven retribution apart from God's righteous standards.
* **The Value of Family Honor and Covenant Identity:** For Jacob's family, their honor was intrinsically linked to their covenant identity. Dinah's defilement was a direct assault on this identity, which Shechem's material offer could not truly restore.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 34:11 serves as a stark reminder that attempts to rectify deep wrongs with mere material compensation or superficial pleas for favor often fall profoundly short. True reconciliation requires genuine repentance, a full acknowledgment of the harm caused, and often, more than just monetary offerings. The narrative demonstrates the lasting and devastating impact of sin, not only on the immediate victims but also on the perpetrator and their community. It highlights the complexities of justice, vengeance, and the profound importance of honor within family and community structures, even in our modern context of relationships and conflict resolution. We are called to seek genuine restoration that addresses the root of the offense, rather than merely attempting to mitigate its immediate consequences with superficial gestures.

### FAQ
**Why did Shechem offer to pay "what ye shall say"?**

Answer: Shechem's offer reflects the ancient Near Eastern customs regarding bride-price (*mohar*) and compensation for damages. In this culture, the defilement of a virgin required significant compensation to her family, and often, the perpetrator was obligated to marry her (e.g., [Exodus 22:16-17](/exodus/22-16 "Law on Seduction")). Shechem was attempting to legitimize the union and compensate for the dishonor he inflicted, treating the situation as a financial transaction to secure his desired outcome.

**Does "Let me find grace in your eyes" imply genuine remorse?**

Answer: While the phrase indicates Shechem's desire for acceptance and his recognition that he had offended the family, the context suggests it was primarily a plea for leniency and a means to achieve his goal of marrying Dinah. It appears to be more about securing a favorable outcome for himself than a deep, contrite repentance for the moral wrong of defilement itself. His focus was on the practical resolution, not necessarily a transformation of heart regarding his sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Shechem's attempt to "buy" grace and rectify his sin through material compensation in Genesis 34:11 powerfully foreshadows humanity's inherent inability to atone for sin through any human effort or offering. Just as Shechem's offer, however generous, could not truly cleanse Dinah's defilement or restore the honor of Jacob's family, no amount of human "giving" or self-righteous seeking of favor can reconcile humanity with a holy God. This narrative points to the profound need for a different kind of "grace" and "payment"—one that only Christ can provide. Through His perfect life, atoning death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for sin, offering true grace and reconciliation that transcends any material offering. He alone restores honor to God and provides genuine cleansing and forgiveness, fulfilling what human efforts, like Shechem's, could never achieve.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.