Genesis 34:2 - Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her.
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What does "Genesis 34:2" mean?
Genesis 34:2, "Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her," describes a violent and dishonorable act. Let's break it down:
"Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her." This introduces Shechem, a man of high status in the local Hivite community. He saw Dinah, Jacob's daughter.
"He took her..." This indicates a non-consensual abduction or seizure of Dinah against her will.
"...lay with her..." This means Shechem had sexual intercourse with Dinah. The context strongly implies it was rape, given that he took her.
"...and humbled her." This is the crucial and often interpreted part. "Humbled" in this context goes beyond simply having sex. It suggests:
Dishonoring her: Shechem's actions robbed Dinah of her honor and status as a virgin, especially in the cultural context of the time.
Degrading her: The act was intended to demean and reduce her worth in the eyes of others.
Violating her: It speaks to the deep personal violation Dinah experienced, both physically and emotionally.
In Summary:
The verse paints a picture of a powerful man, Shechem, who saw Dinah and, without her consent, seized her, raped her, and in doing so, profoundly dishonored and degraded her. It's a description of a brutal act of sexual violence. It also sets the stage for the subsequent events of revenge and violence perpetrated by Dinah's brothers.
Genesis 34:2 - Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her.
What does "Genesis 34:2" mean?
Genesis 34:2, "Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her, lay with her, and humbled her," describes a violent and dishonorable act. Let's break it down:
"Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her." This introduces Shechem, a man of high status in the local Hivite community. He saw Dinah, Jacob's daughter.
"He took her..." This indicates a non-consensual abduction or seizure of Dinah against her will.
"...lay with her..." This means Shechem had sexual intercourse with Dinah. The context strongly implies it was rape, given that he took her.
"...and humbled her." This is the crucial and often interpreted part. "Humbled" in this context goes beyond simply having sex. It suggests:
Dishonoring her: Shechem's actions robbed Dinah of her honor and status as a virgin, especially in the cultural context of the time.
Degrading her: The act was intended to demean and reduce her worth in the eyes of others.
Violating her: It speaks to the deep personal violation Dinah experienced, both physically and emotionally.
In Summary:
The verse paints a picture of a powerful man, Shechem, who saw Dinah and, without her consent, seized her, raped her, and in doing so, profoundly dishonored and degraded her. It's a description of a brutal act of sexual violence. It also sets the stage for the subsequent events of revenge and violence perpetrated by Dinah's brothers.