And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

GENESIS 34:13KJV
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Genesis 34:13 (KJV)

What does Genesis 34:13 mean?

Genesis 34:13 describes how Jacob’s sons responded to Shechem and his father Hamor with deceit, because Shechem had violated their sister Dinah. The verse highlights that their answer was not honest, but was shaped by anger over what had happened to Dinah.

In this scene, the sons of Jacob are speaking directly to Shechem and Hamor, who have come to negotiate after Shechem’s actions against Dinah. The verse makes it clear that the brothers are planning to deceive Shechem and Hamor, setting the stage for the events that follow in the chapter. The mention of Dinah’s defilement explains the motive behind their response.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 34:13

  • The word “deceitfully” is מִרְמָה (mirmah), which means trickery or deception. This word emphasizes that Jacob’s sons are intentionally misleading Shechem and Hamor, not just being evasive or cautious.
  • The word “defiled” is טָמֵא (tame), which means to make unclean or impure, often used in ritual or moral contexts. Here, it underlines the seriousness of what Shechem did to Dinah in the eyes of her family.

Why Genesis 34:13 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the brothers’ later actions were premeditated and rooted in a desire for revenge, not justice or negotiation.
  • The use of the word for “deceit” connects this story to earlier themes in Genesis, where deception plays a major role in family dynamics.
  • Understanding the emotional weight behind the brothers’ response helps explain the escalation of conflict in the rest of the chapter.

Where else these words appear

“Dinah” Hebrew H1783 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 30:21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
  • Genesis 34:3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
  • Genesis 34:25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

“Hamor” Hebrew H2544 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 33:19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money.
  • Genesis 34:6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.
  • Genesis 34:24 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.

“deceitfully” Hebrew H4820 · used in 38 verses

  • Genesis 27:35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy blessing.
  • Psalms 43:1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.
  • Proverbs 20:23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

“Shechem” Hebrew H7927 · used in 54 verses

  • Genesis 12:6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.
  • Joshua 20:7 And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
  • Judges 9:31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.