In brief
Dinah is the daughter of Jacob and Leah, born after six sons. She is the only daughter of Jacob whose name is given in the account. Genesis 34 tells of the tragedy at Shechem, where she is violated. Her brothers Simeon and Levi respond with deceit and violence: they kill all the males of the city and plunder it. This painful account shows the gravity of the injustice done to a woman and the ravages of a vengeance that goes beyond all measure.
What does the name Dinah mean?
The name Dinah is generally linked to a Hebrew word that evokes judgment or justice. Here the Bible gives no explanation of this name, though it does for her brothers. We simply read that Leah afterward bore a daughter and called her name Dinah (Genesis 30:21).
The story of Dinah
The birth of Dinah
Genesis 30:19-21Leah conceives again and bears Jacob a sixth son, Zebulun. Afterward she bears a daughter and calls her Dinah. Dinah, daughter of Jacob and Leah, is the sister of Simeon, Levi, Judah and their brothers, and the only daughter named among the children born to Jacob in Laban's household.
The tragedy at Shechem
Genesis 34:1-7Shechem, son of Hamor, violates Dinah. Jacob keeps silent until his sons come in from the field. When they hear of it, they are indignant and very angry, because Shechem has done an outrageous thing in Israel, a thing that ought not to be done.
The proposal of Hamor and Shechem
Genesis 34:8-17Hamor and Shechem ask for Dinah as a wife, propose an alliance between the two peoples and offer a large bride price. Jacob's sons answer deceitfully: they demand that all the males of the city be circumcised before they agree.
The vengeance of Simeon and Levi
Genesis 34:24-27On the third day, while the men are in pain, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, take their swords and kill all the males of the city. They also kill Hamor and Shechem, take Dinah out of Shechem's house, and then Jacob's sons plunder the city.
What Dinah teaches us
- God sees the injustice done to the most vulnerable, and the Bible does not look away from it.
- The silence and passivity of a father can let anger take root.
- Vengeance through deceit and violence adds evil to evil.
- When a biblical account is told without comment, it calls us to prudence and true justice.
Key verses
Leah bears a daughter and calls her Dinah. This is the only verse that tells of her birth and gives her name, in the long list of the children born to Jacob in Laban's household.
Jacob's sons are indignant and very angry, because Shechem has done an outrageous thing in Israel. The text recognizes the gravity of the wrong Dinah suffered.
Simeon and Levi kill Hamor and Shechem and bring Dinah out of Shechem's house. Her brothers' response goes beyond all measure and prepares a later judgment from Jacob.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Dinah in the Bible?
Dinah is the daughter of Jacob and Leah, born after six sons (Genesis 30:21). She is known through the account of Genesis 34: she is violated by Shechem, which provokes her brothers' anger and the vengeance of Simeon and Levi against the city.
What does the name Dinah mean?
Her name is generally linked to a Hebrew word that evokes judgment or justice. The Bible does not explain this name itself, unlike those of several of her brothers in Genesis 29 and 30. It is therefore wise not to make it a rule for reading her story.
Where can I find the story of Dinah in the Bible?
Her birth is mentioned in Genesis 30:21. Her main story is found in Genesis 34, which tells what happens to her at Shechem, the deceit of Jacob's sons and the vengeance of Simeon and Levi.