Genesis 34:10

You may settle among us, and the land will be open to you. Live here, move about freely, and acquire your own property.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Hamor, father of Shechem, addresses Dinah’s father and brothers immediately after Shechem takes Dinah. He proposes permanent residence and economic integration to secure a covenant of intermarriage.

The words — תֵּשֵׁ֑בוּ (te.She.vu) means “you will dwell,” and וְ/הֵֽאָחֲז֖וּ (ve./he.'a.cha.Zu) translates as “and have possessions.” These verbs structure the offer as a grant of stable habitation and recognized land tenure.

The thread — The motif of land being “before you” or open for settlement appears in Genesis 13:9 and Genesis 20:15, where hosts offer territory to outsiders. Genesis 42:34 diverges by promising commercial access rather than open land settlement.

Why it lands — The text demands a clear assessment of foreign integration: acceptance of settlement rights, economic mobility, and property acquisition within another community’s borders. It requires the reader to weigh the practical benefits of such an arrangement against its covenantal implications.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְאִתָּ֖נוּve./'i.Ta./nuand/ with/ us תֵּשֵׁ֑בוּte.She.vuyou will dwell וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ve./ha./'A.retzand/ the/ land תִּהְיֶ֣הtih.Yehit will be לִפְנֵיכֶ֔םli/f.nei./Khem<to>/ before/ you שְׁבוּ֙she.Vudwell וּסְחָר֔וּהָu./se.cha.Ru./haand/ go about in/ it וְהֵֽאָחֲז֖וּve./he.'a.cha.Zuand/ have possessionsבָּֽהּ׃Ba/hin <the>/ it

King James Version

And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.

Cross-references

Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before you? Now separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”
Genesis 20:15 And Abimelech said, “Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever you please.”
Genesis 42:34 But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’”
Genesis 47:27 Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.
Genesis 34:21 “These men are at peace with us. Let them live and trade in our land; indeed, it is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage and give our daughters to them.