THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
"And he spoke according to the heart of the maiden." What is the significance of this? Given her youth, he expressed to her words that would inspire and captivate her. He then said to his father, "Take this maiden for my wife."
Genesis 34:3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And his soul was fast knit unto her; and whereas she was sad, he comforted her with sweet words.
וַתִּדְבַּ֣ק נַפְשׁ֔וֹ בְּדִינָ֖ה בַּֽת־יַעֲקֹ֑ב וַיֶּֽאֱהַב֙ אֶת־הַֽנַּעֲרָ֔ וַיְדַבֵּ֖ר עַל־לֵ֥ב הַֽנַּעֲרָֽ׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Cyrill of Alexandria
The young woman departed, and Shechem, the son of Hamor, committed a grave offense against her. He stripped her of her purity, and consumed by intense desire, sought to take her as his companion.
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
And addressed the spirit of the young woman, likely offering her solace with the assurance of a proper union.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Hos 2:14Therefore, behold I will allure her, and will lead her into the wilderness: and I will speak to her heart.
- Isa 40:2Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the Lord double for all her sins.
- 2 Sam 19:7Now therefore arise, and go out, and speak to the satisfaction of thy servants: for I swear to thee by the Lord, that if thou wilt not go forth, there will not tarry with thee so much as one this night: and that will be worse to thee, than all the evils that have befallen thee from thy youth until now.
- Ruth 1:14And they lifted up their voice, and began to weep again: Orpha kissed her mother in law, and returned: Ruth stuck close to her mother in law.
- 1 Sam 18:1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking to Saul, the son of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
- 2 Chr 30:22And Ezechias spoke to the heart of all the Levites, that had good understanding concerning the Lord: and they ate during the seven days of the solemnity, immolating victims of peace offerings, and praising the Lord the God of their fathers.