The Meaning of Genesis 34:23 Explained

Genesis 34:23

KJV: Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

YLT: their cattle, and their substance, and all their beasts -- are they not ours? only let us consent to them, and they dwell with us.'

Darby: Their cattle, and their possessions, and every beast of theirs, shall they not be ours? only let us consent to them, and they will dwell with us.

ASV: Shall not their cattle and their substance and all their beasts be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Shall] not their cattle  and their substance  and every beast  of theirs [be] ours? only let us consent  unto them, and they will dwell  with us. 

What does Genesis 34:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 34:18-31 - Jacob's Sons Spoil The Shechemites
It is not easy to steer our family life amid the rocks and quicksands of present-day worldliness; but we shall not prosper by using the world's weapons of duplicity and craft. The true way is to make our homes so attractive that our children will not be tempted to court the alliances that are offered by those whose only portion is in this life. Our Ruths would not leave our fields if we dropped more handfuls on purpose for them. The treachery of these two brethren was absolutely inexcusable. On his dying-bed Jacob reverted to it, and pronounced their scattering in Israel. Though Levi undid that curse by his obedience and devotion, Simeon seems to have made no effort in that direction, and soon became as water absorbed by the desert-sands. But see Revelation 7:7. What an awful thing it is when our conduct is such as to make religion offensive to those who observe our behavior, Genesis 34:30. [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 34:23 mean?

Their livestock and their property and every animal of theirs will not ours they [be] only let us consent to them and they will dwell with us
מִקְנֵהֶ֤ם וְקִנְיָנָם֙ וְכָל־ בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם הֲל֥וֹא לָ֖נוּ ؟ הֵ֑ם אַ֚ךְ נֵא֣וֹתָה לָהֶ֔ם וְיֵשְׁב֖וּ אִתָּֽנוּ

מִקְנֵהֶ֤ם  Their  livestock 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מִקְנֶה  
Sense: cattle, livestock.
וְקִנְיָנָם֙  and  their  property 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קִנְיָן  
Sense: thing acquired, acquisition, possession, purchased property, wealth.
וְכָל־  and  every 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם  animal  of  theirs 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: בְּהֵמָה  
Sense: beast, cattle, animal.
הֲל֥וֹא  will  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לָ֖נוּ  ours 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
؟ הֵ֑ם  they  [be] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
אַ֚ךְ  only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
נֵא֣וֹתָה  let  us  consent 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: אוּת  
Sense: (Niphal) to consent, agree.
לָהֶ֔ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
וְיֵשְׁב֖וּ  and  they  will  dwell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
אִתָּֽנוּ  with  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.