Genesis 34:3

34:3 Then he became very attached ¹  to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. ² 

Genesis 34:12

34:12 You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, ³  and I’ll give ⁴  whatever you ask ⁵  of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!”

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¹ tn Heb “his soul stuck to [or “joined with”],” meaning Shechem became very attached to Dinah emotionally.

² tn Heb “and he spoke to the heart of the young woman,” which apparently refers in this context to tender, romantic speech (Hos 2:14). Another option is to translate the expression “he reassured the young woman” (see Judg 19:3, 2 Sam 19:7; cf. NEB “comforted her”).

³ tn Heb “Make very great upon me the bride price and gift.” The imperatives are used in a rhetorical manner. Shechem’s point is that he will pay the price, no matter how expensive it might be.

⁴ tn The cohortative expresses Shechem’s resolve to have Dinah as his wife.

⁵ tn Heb “say.”