Genesis 34:8

8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your^[a] daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.

Genesis 34:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 34:8

And Hamor communed with them
With Jacob and his sons, who came in just at that time:

saying, the soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter:
the daughter of the family, and the only daughter in it; for her Shechem had a vehement affection, a strong desire to marry her, and could not be satisfied without her:

I pray you, give her him to wife;
he not only requests the consent of the parents of the damsel, but of her brothers also, which in those times and countries seems to have been usual to ask and have, see ( Genesis 24:50 Genesis 24:51 Genesis 24:55 Genesis 24:59 ) .

Genesis 34:8 In-Context

6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him.

7 The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing must not be done.

8 But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.

9 Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.

10 You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it."

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew for your is plural here