And the young man did not delay to do the thing: the young man refers to Shechem. Did not delay may need to be restated in a positive way; for example, “hurried,” “went quickly,” “… straight away.” The thing translates the same Hebrew root used for “words” in verse 18 and refers back to verse 14, where Shechem was told he must become circumcised to marry Dinah. To do the thing is an indirect way of saying “to become circumcised.”

Because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: had delight renders a verb meaning to “take pleasure in,” to “want” or “desire.” See Good News Translation.

Now he was the most honored of all his family: Now translates the common Hebrew connective, but a transitional such as “Now” is not necessarily required in English here. See Good News Translation. This sentence may be understood as a parenthetical statement: it provides additional information or comment about Shechem that has little to do with the story line. Honored means he was the most respected or the most influential. Of all his family is literally “of his father’s house” and refers to his clan or to the extended family related to Hamor. In one translation this is expressed as “he was the second boss after his father.”

Some translations restructure verse 19. For example, Revised English Bible says “And the young man, who was held in respect above anyone in his father’s house, did not hesitate to do what they [Jacob’s sons] had said, because his heart had been captured by Jacob’s daughter.” Another model is Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “Without losing any time, the young man was circumcised, because the daughter of Jacob had pleased him so. Since Shechem was the most respected in his father’s family, they went….” Note that in this model “he was respected … family” becomes the reason clause for verse 20. Verse 20 may then begin “He and his father went to the entrance of the city….”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .