27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.

Other Translations of Genesis 34:27

New International Version

27 The sons of Jacob came upon the dead bodies and looted the city whereOr "because" their sister had been defiled.

English Standard Version

27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister.

The Message

27 When the rest of Jacob's sons came on the scene of slaughter, they looted the entire city in retaliation for Dinah's rape.

New King James Version

27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.

New Living Translation

27 Meanwhile, the rest of Jacob's sons arrived. Finding the men slaughtered, they plundered the town because their sister had been defiled there.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 34:27

Commentary on Genesis 34:20-31

(Read Genesis 34:20-31)

The Shechemites submitted to the sacred rite, only to serve a turn, to please their prince, and to enrich themselves, and it was just with God to bring punishment upon them. As nothing secures us better than true religion, so nothing exposes us more than religion only pretended to. But Simeon and Levi were most unrighteous. Those who act wickedly, under the pretext of religion, are the worst enemies of the truth, and harden the hearts of many to destruction. The crimes of others form no excuse for us. Alas! how one sin leads on to another, and, like flames of fire, spread desolation in every direction! Foolish pleasures lead to seduction; seduction produces wrath; wrath thirsts for revenge; the thirst of revenge has recourse to treachery; treachery issues in murder; and murder is followed by other lawless actions. Were we to trace the history of unlawful commerce between the sexes, we should find it, more than any other sin, ending in blood.