Genesis 34:3 (BSB)
And his soul was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young girl and spoke to her tenderly.
From Genesis 34. Also in the ESV.
Commentary on Genesis 34:3
- John Calvin (Reformed), Calvin's Commentaries on Genesis 34:3: 3. And his soul clave unto Dinah. Moses intimates that she was not so forcibly violated, that Shechem having once abused her, treated her with contempt, as is usual with harlots; for he loved her as a wife; and did not even object to be circumcised that he might have her; but the fervor of lust had so prevailed, that he first subjected her to disgrace.
- Matthew Henry (Presbyterian), Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on Genesis 34:1-5: Dinah was, for aught that appears, Jacob's only daughter, and we may suppose her therefore the mother's fondling and the darling of the family, and yet she proves neither a joy nor a credit to them; for those children seldom prove either the best or the happiest that are most indulged. She is reckoned now but fifteen or sixteen years of age when she here occasioned so much mischief.
- John Gill (Reformed Baptist), Exposition of the Old and New Testaments on Genesis 34:3: And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob,.... His inclination was to her, she was always in his thoughts; it was not a mere lustful desire that was suddenly raised, and soon over, but a constant and continued affection he bore to her, as follows: and he loved the damsel; sincerely and heartily: and spake kindly unto the damsel; or "to the heart"...
- Adam Clarke (Methodist), Clarke's Commentary on the Bible on Genesis 34:3: Spake kindly unto the damsel - Literally, he spake to the heart of the damsel - endeavored to gain her affections, and to reconcile her to her disgrace. It appears sufficiently evident from this and the preceding verse that there had been no consent on the part of Dinah, that the whole was an act of violence, and that she was now detained by force in the house of Shechem.