Dinah
Daughter of Jacob and Leah
Only named daughter of Jacob, defiled at Shechem — her brothers' vengeance shaped the family.
Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 30:21), is the only daughter of Jacob named in Scripture. Genesis 34 records her tragic encounter at Shechem and the violent response of her brothers Simeon and Levi.
Her Story
When Jacob's family camped near Shechem, Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land. Shechem the Hivite prince saw her, took her, and defiled her — afterward loving her and seeking her in marriage. His father Hamor proposed alliance, but Simeon and Levi answered with deceit, requiring circumcision of every male of the city. On the third day, while the men were sore, the two brothers slew them all and spoiled the city. Jacob rebuked them — 'Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land' (Genesis 34:30) — and on his deathbed cursed their anger (Genesis 49:5-7).
What Scripture Teaches
- 1Only named daughter of Jacob (Genesis 30:21)
- 2Defiled by Shechem the Hivite (Genesis 34:2)
- 3Avenged by Simeon and Levi with the sword (34:25-26)
- 4Jacob rebuked his sons' violence (34:30)
- 5The act cursed in Jacob's final blessing (49:5-7)
Key KJV Scriptures
"And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah."
"And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her."
"Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel."
Why It Matters
Dinah's story warns against careless contact with a corrupting world and against vengeance that exceeds justice. Both her wandering and her brothers' wrath bear bitter fruit.
Application for Today
Guard the heart and the company you keep — and let judgment belong to the Lord, not to the sword of personal vengeance (Romans 12:19).
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Dinah at the time?
Scripture does not say, but the chronology of Jacob's stay near Shechem suggests she was young — likely a teenager. The Hebrew narrative treats her as a maiden of marriageable age.
Were Simeon and Levi justified?
No. Their zeal was real but their means were treacherous and disproportionate. Jacob condemned the deed and the scattering of their tribes in Israel fulfilled his prophetic curse.
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