Genesis 34:25 Meaning and Explanation
“And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →On the third day, while the city's men are weakened from circumcision, Simeon and Levi attack and kill all the males.
The Context of Genesis 34:25
The brothers' true plan is executed: massacre of the city.
What Does Genesis 34:25 Mean?
The timing of the attack—the third day when pain and weakness from circumcision would be severe—reveals calculated ruthlessness. Simeon and Levi use the covenant act itself as the occasion for slaughter. Their selection of the moment shows they anticipated this opportunity from the beginning.
This massacre transforms the arrangement entirely. What had been negotiation becomes deception and slaughter. The brothers' stated motive (Dinah's defilement) justifies their action in their minds, but their method (using a covenant sign to create vulnerability for massacre) reveals a moral complexity that troubles the narrative.
Genesis 34:25 in the Original Language
kahabodh (כַּאִשְׁ־כָּאָבִים), 'sore' — severe pain, weakness from bodily harm or illness; here, the pain of circumcision wounds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 34:25
What does Genesis 34:25 mean?
On the third day, while the city's men are weakened from circumcision, Simeon and Levi attack and kill all the males.
What is the context of Genesis 34:25?
The brothers' true plan is executed: massacre of the city.