The Meaning of Genesis 34:3 Explained

Genesis 34:3

KJV: And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

YLT: and his soul cleaveth to Dinah, daughter of Jacob, and he loveth the young person, and speaketh unto the heart of the young person.

Darby: And his soul fastened on Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the maiden, and spoke consolingly to the maiden.

ASV: And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And his soul  clave  unto Dinah  the daughter  of Jacob,  and he loved  the damsel,  and spake  kindly  unto the damsel. 

What does Genesis 34:3 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 34:1-17 - Jacob With The Shechemites
Jacob was tempted by the fat pastures of Shechem, without thought or care of the character of its people, and he lived to bitterly rue his choice. How many religious parents have made the same mistake! They first encamp near the world, pitching their tent doors in that direction; then they buy a parcel of land, and finally their children contract alliances that end in shame and disaster. He who came of a pilgrim race, and to whom the whole land had been given by promise, bought real estate right against Shechem, one of the worst cities in the country. Like Lot, Jacob bid high for wealth and worldly advancement, risked the highest for the lowest, and was saved as by fire. Poor Dinah! Yet she was more sinned against than sinning. Jacob had put her in jeopardy by his selfish policy; and Leah was not blameless, for she had let her go unwarned and unaccompanied into the middle of that furnace of trial. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 34

1  Dinah is ravished by Shechem
4  He requests to marry her
13  The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites
20  Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it
25  The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, and spoil their city
30  Jacob reproves Simeon and Levi

What do the individual words in Genesis 34:3 mean?

And was strongly attracted his soul to Dinah the daughter of Jacob and he loved - the young woman and spoke to kindly the young woman
וַתִּדְבַּ֣ק נַפְשׁ֔וֹ בְּדִינָ֖ה בַּֽת־ יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֶּֽאֱהַב֙ אֶת־ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר עַל־ לֵ֥ב הַֽנַּעֲרָֽ

וַתִּדְבַּ֣ק  And  was  strongly  attracted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: דָּבַק  
Sense: to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch.
נַפְשׁ֔וֹ  his  soul 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
בְּדִינָ֖ה  to  Dinah 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: דִּינָה  
Sense: daughter of Jacob by Leah, full sister of Simeon and Levi.
בַּֽת־  the  daughter 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: בַּת  
Sense: daughter.
יַעֲקֹ֑ב  of  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
וַיֶּֽאֱהַב֙  and  he  loved 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔  the  young  woman 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַעֲרָה  
Sense: girl, damsel, female servant.
וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר  and  spoke 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
לֵ֥ב  kindly 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
הַֽנַּעֲרָֽ  the  young  woman 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַעֲרָה  
Sense: girl, damsel, female servant.