# Now Jacob

"Now" is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Jacob. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/writing-background]])

# Jacob heard that he

The word "he" refers to Shechem.

# he had defiled

This means that Shechem had greatly dishonored and disgraced Dinah by forcing her to sleep with him.

# held his peace

This is a way of saying that Jacob did not say or do anything about the matter. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom]])