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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 34

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Now Dina, the daughter whom Leah had borne to Yaakov, went out to visit the daughters of the land.

va-TE-tze D'-na bat LAY-a a-SHER ya-l'-DAH l'-ya-a-KOV, lir-OT bi-v'-NOT ha-A-retz

אוַתֵּצֵ֤א דִינָה֙ בַּת־לֵאָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָלְדָ֖ה לְיַעֲקֹ֑ב לִרְא֖וֹת בִּבְנ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃

2Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, chief of the country, saw her, and took her and lay with her by force.

vai-YAR o-TAH SHE-khem ben-kha-MOR ha-KHI-vee ne-SEE ha-A-retz, vai-YI-kakh o-TAH vai-YISH-kav o-TAH vai-ya-a-NE-ha

בוַיַּ֨רְא אֹתָ֜הּ שְׁכֶ֧ם בֶּן־חֲמ֛וֹר הַֽחִוִּ֖י נְשִׂ֣יא הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיִּקַּ֥ח אֹתָ֛הּ וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב אֹתָ֖הּ וַיְעַנֶּֽהָ׃

3Being strongly drawn to Dina daughter of Yaakov, and in love with the maiden, he spoke to the maiden tenderly.

va-tid-BAK naf-SHO b'-di-NAH bat ya-a-KOV, va-ye-a-HAV et ha-na-a-RA, va-ye-da-BER al-LEV ha-na-a-RA.

גוַתִּדְבַּ֣ק נַפְשׁ֔וֹ בְּדִינָ֖ה בַּֽת־יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֶּֽאֱהַב֙ אֶת־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר עַל־לֵ֥ב הַֽנַּעֲרָֽ׃

4So Shechem said to his father Hamor, “Get me this girl as a wife.”

vai-YO-mer SHE-khem el cha-MOR a-VEE-v lay-MOR: kakh-LEE et ha-yal-DA ha-ZOT l'-i-SHAH

דוַיֹּ֣אמֶר שְׁכֶ֔ם אֶל־חֲמ֥וֹר אָבִ֖יו לֵאמֹ֑ר קַֽח־לִ֛י אֶת־הַיַּלְדָּ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

5Yaakov heard that he had defiled his daughter Dina; but since his sons were in the field with his cattle, Yaakov kept silent until they came home.

v'-ya-a-KOV sha-MA k'-TEE t'-m'-AYT et di-NAH bi-TO, u-va-NAV ha-YU et mik-NE-hu ba-SA-deh, v'-he-k'-RISH ya-a-KOV ad bo-AM

הוְיַעֲקֹ֣ב שָׁמַ֗ע כִּ֤י טִמֵּא֙ אֶת־דִּינָ֣ה בִתּ֔וֹ וּבָנָ֛יו הָי֥וּ אֶת־מִקְנֵ֖הוּ בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וְהֶחֱרִ֥שׁ יַעֲקֹ֖ב עַד־בֹּאָֽם׃

6Then Shechem's father Hamor came out to Yaakov to speak to him.

vai-YAY-tzay kha-MOR a-vee-SHE-khem el ya-a-KOV l'-da-BAYR i-TO

ווַיֵּצֵ֛א חֲמ֥וֹר אֲבִֽי־שְׁכֶ֖ם אֶֽל־יַעֲקֹ֑ב לְדַבֵּ֖ר אִתּֽוֹ׃

7Meanwhile Yaakov's sons, having heard the news, came in from the field. The men were distressed and very angry, because he had committed an outrage in Yisrael by lying with Yaakov's daughter—a thing not to be done.

u-v'-nay ya-a-KOV ba-U min ha-sa-DEH k'-sho-MAM va-yi-ta-tz'-VU ha-a-na-SHEEM va-yi-KHAR la-HEM m'-OD, ki-NE-va-LAH a-SA b'-yis-ra-AYL lish-KAV et bat ya-a-KOV, v'-khen lo ye-a-SEH.

זוּבְנֵ֨י יַעֲקֹ֜ב בָּ֤אוּ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶה֙ כְּשׇׁמְעָ֔ם וַיִּֽתְעַצְּבוּ֙ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים וַיִּ֥חַר לָהֶ֖ם מְאֹ֑ד כִּֽי־נְבָלָ֞ה עָשָׂ֣ה בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל לִשְׁכַּב֙ אֶת־בַּֽת־יַעֲקֹ֔ב וְכֵ֖ן לֹ֥א יֵעָשֶֽׂה׃

8And Hamor spoke with them, saying, “My son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him in marriage.

vai-da-BAYR kha-MOR i-TAM lay-MOR: SHE-khem b'-NEE kha-SHO-kah naf-SHO b'-bi-t'-KHEM, TE-nu NA o-TAH LO l'-i-SHAH

חוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר חֲמ֖וֹר אִתָּ֣ם לֵאמֹ֑ר שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנִ֗י חָֽשְׁקָ֤ה נַפְשׁוֹ֙ בְּבִתְּכֶ֔ם תְּנ֨וּ נָ֥א אֹתָ֛הּ ל֖וֹ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

9Intermarry with us: give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves:

v'-hi-t'-kha-t'-NU o-TA-nu b'-no-TE-khem ti-t'-NU-la-NU v'-et b'-no-TE-nu ti-k'-KHU la-KHEM

טוְהִֽתְחַתְּנ֖וּ אֹתָ֑נוּ בְּנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ תִּתְּנוּ־לָ֔נוּ וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֖ינוּ תִּקְח֥וּ לָכֶֽם׃

10You will dwell among us, and the land will be open before you; settle, move about, and acquire holdings in it.”

v'-i-ta-NU tay-SHE-vu v'-ha-A-retz ti-HE-yeh lif-NE-khem, sh'-VU u-s'-kha-ru-HA, v'-he-a-KHA-zu BA

יוְאִתָּ֖נוּ תֵּשֵׁ֑בוּ וְהָאָ֙רֶץ֙ תִּהְיֶ֣ה לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם שְׁבוּ֙ וּסְחָר֔וּהָ וְהֵֽאָחֲז֖וּ בָּֽהּ׃

11Then Shechem said to her father and brothers, “Do me this favor, and I will pay whatever you tell me.

vai-YO-mer SHE-khem el a-VE-ha v'-el a-KHE-ha em-tza-KHEM b'-ay-NAY-khem va-a-SHER to-M'-RU e-LAI e-TEN

יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר שְׁכֶם֙ אֶל־אָבִ֣יהָ וְאֶל־אַחֶ֔יהָ אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן בְּעֵינֵיכֶ֑ם וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֛וּ אֵלַ֖י אֶתֵּֽן׃

12Ask of me a bride-price ever so high, as well as gifts, and I will pay what you tell me; only give me the maiden for a wife.”

har-BU a-LAI me-OD, MO-har u-ma-TAN, v'-e-TA-na ka-a-SHER to-M'-RU e-LAI, u-t'-NU-li et ha-na-a-RA l'-i-SHAH

יבהַרְבּ֨וּ עָלַ֤י מְאֹד֙ מֹ֣הַר וּמַתָּ֔ן וְאֶ֨תְּנָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑י וּתְנוּ־לִ֥י אֶת־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה׃

13Yaakov's sons answered Shechem and his father Hamor—speaking with guile because he had defiled their sister Dina

vai-ya-a-NU v'-nay ya-a-KOV et SHE-khem v'-et-kha-MOR a-VEEV b'-mir-MAH va-y'-da-BAY-ru a-SHER ti-MAY et di-NAH a-KHO-tam

יגוַיַּעֲנ֨וּ בְנֵֽי־יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶת־שְׁכֶ֨ם וְאֶת־חֲמ֥וֹר אָבִ֛יו בְּמִרְמָ֖ה וַיְדַבֵּ֑רוּ אֲשֶׁ֣ר טִמֵּ֔א אֵ֖ת דִּינָ֥ה אֲחֹתָֽם׃

14and said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to a man who is uncircumcised, for that is a disgrace among us.

va-yo-M'RU a-LE-hem lo NOO-khal la-a-SOT ha-DA-var ha-ZEH la-TET et a-cho-TAY-nu l'-ISH a-SHER-lo o-r'-LAH, kee-kher-PAH hee la-NU.

ידוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם לֹ֤א נוּכַל֙ לַעֲשׂוֹת֙ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֔ה לָתֵת֙ אֶת־אֲחֹתֵ֔נוּ לְאִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ל֣וֹ עׇרְלָ֑ה כִּֽי־חֶרְפָּ֥ה הִ֖וא לָֽנוּ׃

15Only on this condition will we agree with you; that you will become like us in that every male among you is circumcised.

akh b'-ZOT NE-ot la-KHEM, im tih-YU kha-MO-nu l'-hi-MOL la-KHEM kol za-KHAR

טואַךְ־בְּזֹ֖את נֵא֣וֹת לָכֶ֑ם אִ֚ם תִּהְי֣וּ כָמֹ֔נוּ לְהִמֹּ֥ל לָכֶ֖ם כׇּל־זָכָֽר׃

16Then we will give our daughters to you and take your daughters to ourselves; and we will dwell among you and become as one kindred.

v'-na-ta-NU et b'-no-TAY-nu la-KHEM v'-et b'-no-TAY-khem ni-KAkh-la-NU, v'-ya-SHAV-nu it-KHEM v'-ha-YI-nu l'-AM e-KHAD

טזוְנָתַ֤נּוּ אֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵיכֶ֖ם נִֽקַּֽח־לָ֑נוּ וְיָשַׁ֣בְנוּ אִתְּכֶ֔ם וְהָיִ֖ינוּ לְעַ֥ם אֶחָֽד׃

17But if you will not listen to us and become circumcised, we will take our daughter and go.”

v'-im lo tish-m'-U e-LE-nu l'-hi-MOL, v'-la-KAKH-nu et bi-TE-nu v'-ha-la-KH'-nu

יזוְאִם־לֹ֧א תִשְׁמְע֛וּ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ לְהִמּ֑וֹל וְלָקַ֥חְנוּ אֶת־בִּתֵּ֖נוּ וְהָלָֽכְנוּ׃

18Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem.

vai-YIT-vu div-RE-hem b'-ay-NAY kha-MOR u-v'-ay-NAY sh'-KHEM ben-kha-MOR

יחוַיִּֽיטְב֥וּ דִבְרֵיהֶ֖ם בְּעֵינֵ֣י חֲמ֑וֹר וּבְעֵינֵ֖י שְׁכֶ֥ם בֶּן־חֲמֽוֹר׃

19And the youth lost no time in doing the thing, for he wanted Yaakov's daughter. Now he was the most respected in his father's house.

v'-lo-a-KHAR ha-na-AR la-a-SOT ha-DA-var, KEE kha-FAYTS b'-vat-ya-a-KOV, v'-HU nikh-BAD mi-KOL bayt a-VEEV

יטוְלֹֽא־אֵחַ֤ר הַנַּ֙עַר֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת הַדָּבָ֔ר כִּ֥י חָפֵ֖ץ בְּבַֽת־יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְה֣וּא נִכְבָּ֔ד מִכֹּ֖ל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיו׃

20So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the public place of their town and spoke to their fellow townsmen, saying,

vai-YA-voh kha-MOR u-SHE-khem b'-NO el sha-AR i-RAM va-y'-da-B'-RU el an-SHAY i-RAM lay-MOR

כוַיָּבֹ֥א חֲמ֛וֹר וּשְׁכֶ֥ם בְּנ֖וֹ אֶל־שַׁ֣עַר עִירָ֑ם וַֽיְדַבְּר֛וּ אֶל־אַנְשֵׁ֥י עִירָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

21“These people are our friends; let them settle in the land and move about in it, for the land is large enough for them; we will take their daughters to ourselves as wives and give our daughters to them.

ha-a-na-SHEEM ha-E-leh sh'-LE-mim HEM it-TA-nu v'-ye-sh'-VU va-A-retz v'-yis-cha-ru o-TAH v'-ha-A-retz hi-NEH ra-cha-VAT ya-DA-yim lif-NE-hem et b'-no-TAM ni-KACH-la-NU le-na-SHEEM v'-et b'-no-TE-nu ni-TEN la-HEM

כאהָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה שְֽׁלֵמִ֧ים הֵ֣ם אִתָּ֗נוּ וְיֵשְׁב֤וּ בָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וְיִסְחֲר֣וּ אֹתָ֔הּ וְהָאָ֛רֶץ הִנֵּ֥ה רַֽחֲבַת־יָדַ֖יִם לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם אֶת־בְּנֹתָם֙ נִקַּֽח־לָ֣נוּ לְנָשִׁ֔ים וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֖ינוּ נִתֵּ֥ן לָהֶֽם׃

22But only on this condition will the men agree with us to dwell among us and be as one kindred: that all our males become circumcised as they are circumcised.

akh b'-ZO-at ye-o-TU LA-nu ha-a-na-SHEEM la-SHE-vet i-TA-nu li-HYOT l'-AM e-KHAD b'-hi-MOL LA-nu kol-za-KHAR ka-a-SHER HEM ni-MO-leem

כבאַךְ־בְּ֠זֹ֠את יֵאֹ֨תוּ לָ֤נוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים֙ לָשֶׁ֣בֶת אִתָּ֔נוּ לִהְי֖וֹת לְעַ֣ם אֶחָ֑ד בְּהִמּ֥וֹל לָ֙נוּ֙ כׇּל־זָכָ֔ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר הֵ֥ם נִמֹּלִֽים׃

23Their cattle and substance and all their beasts will be ours, if we only agree to their terms, so that they will settle among us.”

mik-NE-hem v'-kin-ya-NAM v'-kol b'-HEM-tam ha-LO la-NU HEM akh ne-o-TA la-HEM v'-ye-sh'-VU i-TA-nu

כגמִקְנֵהֶ֤ם וְקִנְיָנָם֙ וְכׇל־בְּהֶמְתָּ֔ם הֲל֥וֹא לָ֖נוּ הֵ֑ם אַ֚ךְ נֵא֣וֹתָה לָהֶ֔ם וְיֵשְׁב֖וּ אִתָּֽנוּ׃

24All who went out of the gate of his town heeded Hamor and his son Shechem, and all males, all those who went out of the gate of his town,were circumcised.

vai-yish-M'U el-kha-MOR v'-el-SHE-khem b'-NO kol-yo-tz'-AY sha-AR i-RO va-yi-MO-lu kol-za-KHAR kol-yo-tz'-AY sha-AR i-RO

כדוַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּ אֶל־חֲמוֹר֙ וְאֶל־שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנ֔וֹ כׇּל־יֹצְאֵ֖י שַׁ֣עַר עִיר֑וֹ וַיִּמֹּ֙לוּ֙ כׇּל־זָכָ֔ר כׇּל־יֹצְאֵ֖י שַׁ֥עַר עִירֽוֹ׃

25On the third day, when they were in pain, Shimon and Levi, two of Yaakov's sons, brothers of Dina, took each his sword, came upon the city unmolested, and slew all the males.

vai-HI va-YOM ha-sh'-li-SHI bi-h'-yo-TAM ko-a-VIM va-yik-KHU sh'-NAY v'-NAY ya-a-KOV, shi-MON v'-LE-vi a-KHEI di-NAH, eesh khar-BO, va-ya-VO-u al ha-IYR b'-TAKH, va-ya-HAR-gu kol za-KHAR

כהוַיְהִי֩ בַיּ֨וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֜י בִּֽהְיוֹתָ֣ם כֹּֽאֲבִ֗ים וַיִּקְח֣וּ שְׁנֵֽי־בְנֵי־יַ֠עֲקֹ֠ב שִׁמְע֨וֹן וְלֵוִ֜י אֲחֵ֤י דִינָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ חַרְבּ֔וֹ וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ עַל־הָעִ֖יר בֶּ֑טַח וַיַּֽהַרְג֖וּ כׇּל־זָכָֽר׃

26They put Hamor and his son Shechem to the sword, took Dina out of Shechem's house, and went away.

v'-ET-kha-MOR v'-ET-she-KHEM b'-NO ha-RE-gu l'-fi-KHA-rayv va-yi-k'-HU et-DEE-na mi-BAYT she-KHEM va-ye-TSE-u

כווְאֶת־חֲמוֹר֙ וְאֶת־שְׁכֶ֣ם בְּנ֔וֹ הָרְג֖וּ לְפִי־חָ֑רֶב וַיִּקְח֧וּ אֶת־דִּינָ֛ה מִבֵּ֥ית שְׁכֶ֖ם וַיֵּצֵֽאוּ׃

27The other sons of Yaakov came upon the slain and plundered the town, because their sister had been defiled.

b'-NAY ya-a-KOV ba-U al ha-kha-la-LEEM va-ya-BO-zu ha-IR a-SHER ti-m'-U a-KHO-tam

כזבְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֗ב בָּ֚אוּ עַל־הַ֣חֲלָלִ֔ים וַיָּבֹ֖זּוּ הָעִ֑יר אֲשֶׁ֥ר טִמְּא֖וּ אֲחוֹתָֽם׃

28They seized their flocks and herds and asses, all that was inside the town and outside;

et-tzo-NAM v'-et-b'-ka-RAM v'-et-kha-MO-rei-HEM v'-AYT a-SHER-ba-IR v'-et-a-SHER ba-SA-deh la-KA-khu

כחאֶת־צֹאנָ֥ם וְאֶת־בְּקָרָ֖ם וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֧ת אֲשֶׁר־בָּעִ֛יר וְאֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֖ה לָקָֽחוּ׃

29all their wealth, all their children, and their wives, all that was in the houses, they took as captives and booty.

v'-et-KOL-khay-LAM v'-et-KOL-ta-PAM v'-et-n'-SHE-hem sha-VU va-ya-VO-zu v'-AYT kol-a-SHER ba-BA-yit

כטוְאֶת־כׇּל־חֵילָ֤ם וְאֶת־כׇּל־טַפָּם֙ וְאֶת־נְשֵׁיהֶ֔ם שָׁב֖וּ וַיָּבֹ֑זּוּ וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּבָּֽיִת׃

30Yaakov said to Shimon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me, making me odious among the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites; my men are few in number, so that if they unite against me and attack me, I and my house will be destroyed.”

vai-YO-mer ya-a-KOV el shi-MO-on v'-el le-VEE a-khar-TEM o-TEE l'-hav-i-SHE-nee b'-yo-SHEV ha-A-retz ba-k'-na-a-NEE u-va-p'-ri-ZEE va-a-NEE m'-TEY mis-PAHR v'-ne-e-S'-FU a-LAI v'-hi-KU-NEE v'-nish-ma-D'-TEE a-NEE u-VEY-tee

לוַיֹּ֨אמֶר יַעֲקֹ֜ב אֶל־שִׁמְע֣וֹן וְאֶל־לֵוִי֮ עֲכַרְתֶּ֣ם אֹתִי֒ לְהַבְאִישֵׁ֙נִי֙ בְּיֹשֵׁ֣ב הָאָ֔רֶץ בַּֽכְּנַעֲנִ֖י וּבַפְּרִזִּ֑י וַאֲנִי֙ מְתֵ֣י מִסְפָּ֔ר וְנֶאֶסְפ֤וּ עָלַי֙ וְהִכּ֔וּנִי וְנִשְׁמַדְתִּ֖י אֲנִ֥י וּבֵיתִֽי׃

31But they answered, “Should our sister be treated like a whore?”

va-yo-m'-RU hakh-zo-NAH ya-a-SEH et a-kho-TAY-nu

לאוַיֹּאמְר֑וּ הַכְזוֹנָ֕ה יַעֲשֶׂ֖ה אֶת־אֲחוֹתֵֽנוּ׃

 34:31   Should our sister be treated like a whore

Yaakov’s sons argue with their father, who personifies peace and mercy, maintaining that in order to protect the family’s honor, there are times when use of the sword is necessary. It is through the Torah’s education, says Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, that the Jewish people have learned gentleness and humanity. But, this has not made the Jews a weak or cowardly nation. With Hashem’s help, the tiny State of Israel has time and again stood up successfully to her numerous enemies, through the courageous men and women of the Israel Defense Forces.