THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Upon arriving at the city gate with his father, they engaged in conversation with the local residents, advising them to undergo circumcision as proposed by the sons of Jacob, and to welcome them into their community.
Genesis 34:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
These men are peaceable, and are willing to dwell with us: let them trade in the land, and till it, which being large and wide wanteth men to till it: we shall take their daughters for wives, and we will give them ours.
הָאֲנָשִׁ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה שְֽׁלֵמִ֧ים הֵ֣ם אִתָּ֗נוּ וְיֵשְׁב֤וּ בָאָ֙רֶץ֙ וְיִסְחֲר֣וּ אֹתָ֔הּ וְהָאָ֛רֶץ הִנֵּ֥ה רַֽחֲבַת־יָדַ֖יִם לִפְנֵיהֶ֑ם אֶת־בְּנֹתָם֙ נִקַּֽח־לָ֣נוּ לְנָשִׁ֔ים וְאֶת־בְּנֹתֵ֖ינוּ נִתֵּ֥ן לָהֶֽם׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Jerome of Stridon
In this instance, the Seventy Interpreters rendered the term as ‘peaceable,’ while Aquila chose the Greek word ἀπηρτισμένοι, meaning ‘perfect’ or ‘completed.’ This aligns with the Hebrew term salamin (שְֽׁלֵמִ֧ים). Thus, we can affirm that the previous statement regarding Salim is accurate.
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
The earth is indeed expansive in all directions. In the Hebrew, it conveys the idea of being wide open, as indicated in Psalm 103:25.