Girl Old Testament Known
Dinah
judgment; who judges
דִּינָה di.nah
Dinah (Hebrew: דִּינָה, di.nah) means “judgment; who judges”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 8 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 34 children in the United States. Use is falling away. Around 10,509 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears in the same passages as Bilhah.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
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Dinah
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 8 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Patriarchal
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 34 | Falling |
| All-time total | 10,509 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 346 in 1955 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | TX | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Genesis 30:21 |
| Last appears | Genesis 46:15 |
| Cross-references | 110 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Hamor co-occurrence Appears with Hamor in Genesis 34.
- Shechem co-occurrence Appears with Shechem in Genesis 34.
- Israel co-occurrence Appears with Israel in Genesis 34.
- Leah co-occurrence Appears with Leah in Genesis 34.
- Simeon co-occurrence Appears with Simeon in Genesis 34.
- Zilpah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Zilpah.
- Bilhah co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Bilhah.
- Levi co-occurrence Appears with Levi in Genesis 34.
Origin & meaning
A woman living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.30.21;
daughter of: Israel (H3478) and Leah (H3812);
sister of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Issachar (H3485) and Zebulun (H2074);
half-sister of: Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144)
§ Dinah = "judgment"
daughter of Jacob by Leah, full sister of Simeon and Levi
Dinah, the daughter of Jacob and Leah, was raped by Shechem, leading to a violent confrontation between her brothers and the Shechemites.
The biblical story
Dinah was the daughter of Israel (or 'Jacob') and Leah, born after six sons (Gen.30.21). She is most prominently featured in Genesis 34, which recounts a tragic event that had far-reaching consequences for her family and the inhabitants of Shechem.
When Dinah went out to visit the women of the land, Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, saw her and raped her (Gen.34.1-2). Despite this violation, Shechem became deeply attracted to Dinah and sought to marry her (Gen.34.3-4).
Jacob learned of the incident but remained silent until his sons returned from tending the livestock (Gen.34.5). Hamor, Shechem's father, approached Jacob to arrange a marriage between Shechem and Dinah, proposing intermarriage and trade between their peoples (Gen.34.6-10).
Dinah's brothers, however, were filled with grief and fury over the defilement of their sister (Gen.34.7). They deceitfully agreed to the marriage on the condition that all the men of Shechem be circumcised (Gen.34.13-17). The Shechemites agreed, and all the men of the city were circumcised (Gen.34.18-24).
Three days later, while the men of Shechem were still in pain, Simeon and Levi, two of Dinah's brothers, attacked the city, killed all the males, plundered the city, and took Dinah back (Gen.34.25-29). This action troubled Jacob, who feared retaliation from the surrounding peoples (Gen.34.30).
Dinah is later mentioned in the listing of Jacob's descendants who went to Egypt during the famine (Gen.46.15). Her story serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of sexual violence and the dangers of deceit and revenge.
Key verses
Dinah appears in 8 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.
Genesis 30:21 -
And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.
Genesis 34:1 -
And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.
Genesis 34:3 -
And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.
Genesis 34:5 -
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:
Genesis 34:13
Show all 8 references
Genesis (8)
- Genesis 30:21
- Genesis 34:1
- Genesis 34:3
- Genesis 34:5
- Genesis 34:13
- Genesis 34:25
- Genesis 34:26
- Genesis 46:15