The Meaning of Genesis 34:31 Explained

Genesis 34:31

KJV: And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?

YLT: And they say, 'As a harlot doth he make our sister?'

Darby: And they said, Should people deal with our sister as with a harlot?

ASV: And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with a harlot?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they said,  Should he deal  with our sister  as with an harlot? 

What does Genesis 34:31 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 34:31 mean?

But they said Should like a harlot he treat - our sister -
וַיֹּאמְר֑וּ הַכְזוֹנָ֕ה יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־ ؟ אֲחוֹתֵֽנוּ פ

וַיֹּאמְר֑וּ  But  they  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַכְזוֹנָ֕ה  Should  like  a  harlot 
Parse: Article, Preposition-k, Noun, feminine singular
Root: זָנָה 
Sense: to commit fornication, be a harlot, play the harlot.
יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה  he  treat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
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.
؟ אֲחוֹתֵֽנוּ  our  sister 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: אָחֹות  
Sense: sister.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 34:31?

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