Bible Strands
Genesis 34:24
All the men who went out of the city gate listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male of the city was circumcised.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative reports the response of the men of Shechem to the proposal made by Hamor and his son Shechem regarding intermarriage and shared property. This occurs three days after the brothers' agreement, immediately before Simeon and Levi's retaliatory slaughter.
The words — וַ/יִּשְמְע֤וּ (va/i.yish.me.'U) translates as "and they listened," indicating the men's compliance with the city leaders' counsel. כָּל (kol) means "all," emphasizing the universal application of the circumcision requirement to every male in the city.
The thread — The gathering at the city gate echoes the legal proceedings in Genesis 23:10, while the universal circumcision command parallels the Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 17:23. The practice itself is later addressed in 1 Corinthians 7:19 as spiritually neutral compared to obedience to God's commands.
Why it lands — The text records a mass compliance driven by material incentive rather than spiritual conviction. It demands recognition of how collective agreement can be mobilized by immediate gain, leaving the community vulnerable to subsequent violence.
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
King James Version
And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.
Cross-references
- Genesis 23:10 Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth. So in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city, Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham,
- 1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
- Genesis 17:23 On that very day Abraham took his son Ishmael and all those born in his household or purchased with his money—every male among the members of Abraham’s household—and he circumcised them, just as God had told him.
- Genesis 23:18 to Abraham’s possession in the presence of all the Hittites who had come to the gate of his city.
- Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah!
- Matthew 7:6 Do not give dogs what is holy; do not throw your pearls before swine. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
- Romans 2:28 A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical.