Genesis 34:30
Genesis 34:30 in Multiple Translations
Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and, I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and smite me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have made trouble for me and given me a bad name among the people of this country, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and because we are small in number they will come together against me and make war on me; and it will be the end of me and all my people.
But Jacob criticized Simeon and Levi, telling them, “You've just caused me a lot of trouble! You've made me like a bad smell among the people in this country, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I only have a few men, and if these people gather to attack me, I and my whole family will be wiped out.”
Then Iaakob said to Simeon and Leui, Ye haue troubled me, and made me stinke among the inhabitats of the land, aswell the Canaanites, as the Perizzites, and and I being few in nomber, they shall gather theselues together against me, and slay me, and so shall I, and my house be destroied.
And Jacob saith unto Simeon and unto Levi, 'Ye have troubled me, by causing me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanite, and among the Perizzite: and I [am] few in number, and they have been gathered against me, and have smitten me, and I have been destroyed, I and my house.'
Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me, to make me odious to the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number. They will gather themselves together against me and strike me, and I will be destroyed, I and my house.”
And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me odious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites, and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they will assemble themselves against me, and slay me, and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.
And when they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the Chanaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land: we are few: they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my house, shall be destroyed.
Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have caused a lot of trouble for me! Now the Canaan people-group and the Perizzi people-group and everyone else who lives in this land will ◄hate me/say my name stinks►! I do not have many men to fight for us, so if they all gather together and come to me and attack us, they will destroy us and all our household!”
Then Jacob talked strongly to his sons Simeon and Levi. He said, “You made big trouble for me. You know about the other tribes that live in this land, the Canaan tribe and the Periz tribe. Well, now those tribes will hate us, because you finished up Shekem’s mob. And maybe those tribes will join together and attack us. My mob is small, so we will not be able to fight those big tribes, and then they will finish us up, me and my family.”
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 34:30
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Genesis 34:30 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 34:30
Study Notes — Genesis 34:30
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 34:30 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 34:30
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 34:30
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 34:30
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
- Sermons on Genesis 34:30
Context — The Revenge of Dinah’s Brothers
30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”
31But they replied, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psalms 105:12 | When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land, |
| 2 | Joshua 7:25 | “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies. |
| 3 | Exodus 5:21 | “May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!” |
| 4 | 1 Samuel 13:4 | And all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked an outpost of the Philistines, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines!” Then the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal. |
| 5 | Genesis 13:7 | And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land. |
| 6 | Genesis 49:5–7 | Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence. May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim. Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. |
| 7 | 1 Chronicles 16:19 | When they were few in number, few indeed, and strangers in the land, |
| 8 | 1 Samuel 27:12 | So Achish trusted David, thinking, “Since he has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel, he will be my servant forever.” |
| 9 | Genesis 28:13–14 | And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. |
| 10 | 1 Chronicles 19:6 | When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Aram-naharaim, Aram-maacah, and Zobah. |
Genesis 34:30 Summary
[In this verse, Jacob is worried that the actions of his sons Simeon and Levi will get them into trouble with the people who live in the land, as seen in Genesis 34:30. He knows that they are outnumbered and that if the Canaanites and Perizzites decide to attack, they will not be able to defend themselves, similar to the situation in Deuteronomy 32:30. This verse reminds us to think about how our actions might affect those around us, and to try to be at peace with others, as taught in Romans 12:18. By considering the potential consequences of our decisions, we can seek to be a blessing to those around us, rather than a source of trouble.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Jacob's concern in this verse?
Jacob is worried that the actions of Simeon and Levi will provoke the Canaanites and Perizzites to attack him and his household, as seen in Genesis 34:30, because they are few in number and cannot withstand an attack, similar to the concerns expressed in Deuteronomy 32:30.
Why does Jacob say they have become a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites?
Jacob says they have become a stench because the actions of Simeon and Levi in Genesis 34:30 have likely made the other nations in the area view them as a threat or a nuisance, much like the Israelites were viewed by the Egyptians in Exodus 8:24.
Is Jacob's concern about the safety of his household justified?
Yes, Jacob's concern is justified because the Bible teaches that the actions of a few can affect the entire community, as seen in Joshua 7:1-26, where one man's sin led to defeat in battle.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the story in Genesis 34?
This verse is a turning point in the story, as Jacob's reaction to the actions of Simeon and Levi shows that he is aware of the potential consequences of their behavior, and it sets the stage for the rest of the chapter, where the brothers justify their actions in Genesis 34:31.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that my actions, like those of Simeon and Levi, might be affecting my family or community?
- How can I, like Jacob, be mindful of the potential consequences of my actions on those around me?
- In what ways can I seek to be a peacemaker, rather than a source of trouble, as Jacob desires in Genesis 34:30?
- What can I learn from Jacob's example about the importance of considering the potential outcomes of my decisions?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 34:30
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 34:30
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 34:30
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 34:30
Sermons on Genesis 34:30
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Genesis) Genesis 35 Introduction by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Jacob and the tragic events that took place in his life. Jacob, despite being a spiritual giant, was not prepared for the challe |
|
Going Back to the Altar by John Hames | John Hames preaches on the importance of returning to our spiritual 'Bethel' when we find ourselves straying away from God's path. Using Jacob's experience as an example, he highli |
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Who Are the Meek and What Do They Inherit by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the challenges faced by Moses when he was sent by God to deliver the Israelites from the grip of Pharaoh. Despite coming with a message of fre |
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(Genesis) Genesis 13:5-13 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher talks about the importance of love and unity among believers. He shares a personal story about his uncle who never came to the Lord because of the figh |
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(The Works of Faith) Wait for God to Act by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the story of Abraham and Lot in Genesis 13. He highlights the strife between their servants and emphasizes the significance of the last sent |
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Through the Bible - Genesis - Part 2 by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Abraham and highlights the importance of obedience and trust in God. He emphasizes that God watches every transaction and attitu |
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Imperatives - Authority by Devern Fromke | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the significance of the 300 soldiers who fought alongside Gideon. He emphasizes that their discipline and way of life revealed their true char |





