Bible Strands
Genesis 34:5
Jacob heard that Shechem had defiled his daughter Dinah, but since his sons were with his livestock in the field, he remained silent about it until they returned.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jacob learns that Shechem violated his daughter Dinah while his sons remain absent with the livestock in the field. The narrative positions this moment between Shechem’s marriage proposal to Hamor and Hamor’s subsequent approach to Jacob.
The words — The Hebrew verb שָׁמַע (sha.ma) literally means “he heard,” recording Jacob’s awareness of the defilement (טִמֵּא, ti.me) of Dinah. This auditory notice establishes the factual baseline before any speech or action follows.
The thread — The text parallels this delayed response in 2 Samuel 13:22, where Absalom speaks no word after his sister Tamar is defiled. It also anticipates the location in Genesis 37:13, where Jacob later directs his sons to the flocks at Shechem.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to observe how silence functions as a procedural pause rather than emotional suppression. It frames the delay as a structural necessity awaiting the return of those equipped to address the offense.
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 Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
Cross-references
- 2 Samuel 13:22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.
- Genesis 30:35 That very day Laban removed all the streaked or spotted male goats and every speckled or spotted female goat—every one that had any white on it—and every dark-colored lamb, and he placed them under the care of his sons.
- Genesis 37:13 Israel said to him, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flocks at Shechem? Get ready; I am sending you to them.” “I am ready,” Joseph replied.
- Leviticus 10:3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said: ‘To those who come near Me I will show My holiness, and in the sight of all the people I will reveal My glory.’” But Aaron remained silent.
- 1 Samuel 10:27 But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.
- 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
- 1 Samuel 17:15 but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.
- Luke 15:25 Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
- Luke 15:29 But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
- Psalms 39:9 I have become mute; I do not open my mouth because of what You have done.