Genesis 34:6

Study note

Setting — Hamor, Shechem’s father, approaches Jacob to initiate dialogue. This occurs while Jacob remains silent about his daughter Dinah’s defilement, waiting for his sons to return from the field.

The words — The Hebrew verb יֵּצֵא (ye.tze') means "he went out," marking Hamor’s physical departure from his own household toward Jacob’s camp. The infinitive construct דַבֵּר (da.ber) translates to "to speak," defining the encounter’s purpose as direct negotiation.

The thread — The immediate narrative thread resumes in Genesis 34:7 when Jacob’s sons return and confront the situation Hamor initiated. The dialogue between these two patriarchal figures establishes the political framework for the subsequent covenant proposal in Genesis 34:8–9.

Why it lands — The text records a diplomatic advance occurring precisely when the aggrieved party withholds judgment. It requires a reader to note how political mediation is introduced during a period of enforced silence, setting the stage for the sons’ retaliatory response.

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.