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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And all their wealth {H2428}, and all their little ones {H2945}, and their wives {H802} took they captive {H7617}, and spoiled {H962} even all that was in the house {H1004}.

Complete Jewish Bible

everything they owned. Their children and wives they took captive, and they looted whatever was in the houses.

Berean Standard Bible

They carried off all their possessions and women and children, and they plundered everything in their houses.

American Standard Version

and all their wealth, and all their little ones and their wives, took they captive and made a prey, even all that was in the house.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 34:29 vividly recounts the extensive and brutal plunder of Shechem by Jacob's sons following their treacherous massacre of the city's male inhabitants. This verse details the comprehensive seizure of all their wealth, the capture of their little ones and wives, and the complete despoiling of every possession found within their homes, underscoring the total devastation and material gain that resulted from this act of vengeance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 34:29 concludes the immediate narrative of the Shechem incident, following a series of escalating events. The chapter begins with Dinah, Jacob's daughter, being defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite prince of the land ([Genesis 34:1-2](/genesis/34-1-2 "Dinah's Defilement")). Hamor and Shechem then approach Jacob and his sons with a proposal for intermarriage and integration, offering land and trade ([Genesis 34:8-12](/genesis/34-8-12 "Hamor's Proposal")). Jacob's sons, particularly Simeon and Levi, respond with cunning deceit, demanding that all Shechemite males be circumcised as a condition for alliance ([Genesis 34:13-17](/genesis/34-13-17 "The Deceptive Condition")). The Shechemites agree and undergo the painful rite ([Genesis 34:20-24](/genesis/34-20-24 "Shechemites Agree to Circumcision")). While the men are incapacitated by their recovery, Simeon and Levi launch a surprise attack, slaughtering every male in the city, including Hamor and Shechem ([Genesis 34:25-26](/genesis/34-25-26 "The Massacre of Shechem")). Following this horrific act, the other sons of Jacob arrive to plunder the city, taking advantage of the chaos and death. Verse 29 specifically details the comprehensive nature of this plunder, serving as the culmination of their violent retribution and material gain.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of Genesis 34 reflect the harsh realities of tribal societies in the ancient Near East. Concepts of family honor, vengeance, and the treatment of conquered peoples were vastly different from modern norms. Defilement of a daughter was a grave offense against the family's honor, often demanding retribution. However, the deceitful use of circumcision, a sacred covenant sign for Abraham's descendants, was an egregious violation of trust and an act of extreme treachery. Taking women and children captive and plundering wealth were common practices in warfare, serving to weaken the defeated enemy, enrich the victors, and expand their labor force or population. The Hivites, as inhabitants of Canaan, would have been familiar with such tribal dynamics, but the scale and treachery of this attack would have been shocking, even by the standards of the day, as evidenced by Jacob's fear of retaliation from surrounding peoples ([Genesis 34:30](/genesis/34-30 "Jacob's Fear of Retaliation")).
* **Key Themes:** This chapter, culminating in the plunder described in [Genesis 34:29](/genesis/34-29 "The Plunder of Shechem"), highlights several significant themes. **Vengeance and its Destructive Consequences** is paramount; the sons' excessive and deceitful retaliation for Dinah's defilement leads to mass murder and plunder, bringing shame and danger upon Jacob's household. The theme of **Human Depravity and Moral Failure** is starkly evident, as Jacob's sons, part of God's chosen lineage, commit heinous acts of violence and greed, demonstrating a profound lack of reliance on God's justice. The **Abuse of a Sacred Covenant Sign** (circumcision) for deceptive purposes underscores the moral bankruptcy of their actions. Furthermore, the narrative implicitly raises questions about **God's Sovereignty Amidst Human Sin**, as these events occur within the unfolding story of God's covenant people, yet without divine sanction for their actions. It serves as a dark illustration of the challenges faced by the nascent nation of Israel in embodying the righteousness expected of God's people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Wealth (Hebrew, _chayil'_):** From H2428, this word refers to a force, whether of men, means, or other resources. It encompasses an army, wealth, virtue, valor, or strength. In this context, "wealth" signifies the material possessions, goods, and resources of the Shechemites, indicating a comprehensive taking of their economic power and substance. The use of `chayil` emphasizes not just a few items, but the entire accumulated assets of the community.
* **Little ones (Hebrew, _ṭaph'_):** From H2945, this term refers to a family, mostly used collectively in the singular, specifically denoting children or little ones. The inclusion of `ṭaph` highlights the brutal reality of ancient conquest, where even the most vulnerable members of a society were taken captive, either for enslavement, integration into the conquering group, or as a means of increasing the victors' population and labor force. It underscores the total subjugation of the Shechemite community.
* **Spoiled (Hebrew, _bâzaz'_):** From H962, this is a primitive root meaning "to plunder." It implies catching, gathering, or taking for a prey, robbing, or utterly spoiling. The use of `bâzaz` here emphasizes the thorough and complete nature of the taking of goods and people by Jacob's sons. It signifies not merely taking a few items, but systematically seizing everything of value, leaving nothing behind for the defeated.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And all their wealth":** This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the plunder. It refers to every valuable possession, including livestock, precious metals, household goods, and any other accumulated resources belonging to the Shechemites. The repetition of "all" underscores the totality of the seizure.
* **"and all their little ones":** This clause highlights the capture of the children, signifying the complete disruption and destruction of the Shechemite community's future and lineage. Taking children captive was a common practice in ancient warfare, often leading to their assimilation into the conquering group or their lives as slaves.
* **"and their wives took they captive":** This part indicates the enslavement or forcible appropriation of the women. In ancient societies, women were often considered property and were taken as spoils of war, serving various roles from domestic servants to concubines, further demonstrating the utter subjugation of the defeated population.
* **"and spoiled even all that [was] in the house":** This final clause reinforces the absolute and exhaustive nature of the plunder. "Spoiled" (from `bâzaz`) means to plunder or loot completely. "All that was in the house" signifies that not a single item of value, from household furnishings to personal effects, was left untouched or unclaimed, leaving the city utterly desolate and stripped bare.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey the brutality and totality of the plunder. The most prominent is **Repetition**, specifically the use of "all" ("all their wealth," "all their little ones," "all that was in the house"). This repeated emphasis serves as a form of **Hyperbole**, underscoring the comprehensive and exhaustive nature of the despoiling, leaving no doubt that nothing was spared. The vivid, almost clinical, **Graphic Description** of the spoils taken—wealth, children, wives, and household items—paints a stark picture of the victors' merciless efficiency. The entire account in Genesis 34, culminating in this verse, also serves as a **Foreshadowing** of the moral struggles and challenges that would plague the nascent nation of Israel, demonstrating humanity's capacity for extreme violence and greed, even within a chosen lineage. The actions described are a stark **Contrast** to the covenantal ideals of justice and mercy that God intended for His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 34:29, within its broader context, serves as a grim illustration of the destructive power of unchecked human vengeance and the profound moral compromise that can occur even within the family chosen by God. The sons' actions, driven by a distorted sense of honor and a desire for retribution, led to a massacre and plunder that brought shame and danger upon Jacob's entire household. This episode starkly contrasts with God's character of justice and mercy, highlighting humanity's fallen nature and the desperate need for divine intervention and guidance in matters of grievance. It underscores that human attempts at retribution, especially when fueled by anger and deceit, often lead to far greater injustices and suffering than the original offense, reminding us that true justice and vengeance ultimately belong to the Lord.

* [Deuteronomy 32:35](/deuteronomy/32-35 "Vengeance Belongs to God")
* [Proverbs 1:19](/proverbs/1-19 "Greed Leads to Destruction")
* [Romans 12:19](/romans/12-19 "Do Not Take Revenge")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 34:29 stands as a powerful cautionary tale, reminding believers of the profound dangers of unchecked rage, deceit, and the pursuit of personal vengeance. It vividly illustrates how human attempts to rectify wrongs, when driven by carnal desires rather than divine wisdom, can escalate into greater sin, suffering, and moral degradation. For us today, this passage calls for deep introspection on how we respond to perceived injustices or personal offenses. It highlights the critical importance of relying on God's perfect justice, seeking His guidance through prayer and His Word, and exercising self-control in the face of provocation. Instead of succumbing to the temptation of retaliation or seeking material gain from others' misfortune, we are called to embody the principles of forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation, trusting that God's ways are always superior to our own flawed sense of justice. This narrative challenges us to consider whether our actions truly reflect the character of Christ or merely perpetuate cycles of sin.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when I or someone I love is deeply wronged?**
* **In what ways might I be tempted to seek "justice" outside of God's prescribed means?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a heart of forgiveness and reliance on God's justice, even when it feels difficult?**
* **How does this passage challenge my understanding of vengeance and its place in the Christian life?**

### FAQ
**Why were women and children taken captive in this incident?**

Answer: In ancient warfare and tribal conflicts, it was a common and brutal practice for victors to take women and children captive. This served multiple purposes: they could be enslaved, integrated into the conquering tribe to increase its population and labor force, or used as a means of further humiliating and weakening the defeated group. It was a stark demonstration of total conquest and the complete subjugation of the defeated, reflecting the harsh realities of life and conflict in the ancient Near East.

**Why didn't Jacob prevent this massacre and plunder?**

Answer: Jacob was initially unaware of his sons' deceitful and violent plan. While he was deeply distressed by Dinah's defilement, he had not sanctioned such a treacherous and extreme response. Simeon and Levi acted independently, devising and executing their plan without their father's knowledge or consent. Once the deed was done, Jacob expressed his dismay and fear of retaliation from the surrounding inhabitants, recognizing the grave danger their actions had brought upon his entire household ([Genesis 34:30](/genesis/34-30 "Jacob's Fear of Retaliation")). His sons, however, remained unrepentant, asserting their "right" to defend their sister's honor, demonstrating a significant moral disconnect from their father's more cautious and covenant-aware perspective.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The brutal actions of Jacob's sons in [Genesis 34:29](/genesis/34-29 "The Plunder of Shechem"), driven by vengeance and culminating in plunder, stand in stark contrast to the character and redemptive mission of Christ. While human vengeance perpetuates cycles of violence, injustice, and material gain at the expense of others, Christ embodies perfect justice tempered with boundless mercy. He did not come to plunder or destroy, but to give His life as a ransom for many ([Mark 10:45](/mark/10-45 "Christ Came to Serve")), establishing a kingdom not through violence and deceit, but through sacrificial love and the atoning power of His blood. The failure of Jacob's sons to uphold righteousness and their resort to carnal means highlights humanity's desperate need for a perfect King and High Priest who would truly establish peace and justice. Christ's ultimate victory over sin and death provides the true and lasting peace that human vengeance can never achieve, offering forgiveness and redemption to those who were once enslaved by sin ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13-14 "Redemption Through Christ's Blood")), instead of perpetuating cycles of retribution. He calls His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them ([Matthew 5:44](/matthew/5-44 "Love Your Enemies")), demonstrating a radical departure from the Shechemite incident's brutal ethos.

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.