Genesis 34:9

9 and intermarry with us. Give us your daughters, and take our daughters for your sons.

Genesis 34:9 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 34:9

And make ye marriages with us
There was no objection on their side, it lay on the other; Abraham's servant was charged by him not to take a wife of the Canaanites to his son Isaac; and the same charge was given Jacob by Isaac, ( Genesis 24:3 ) ( 28:1 ) ; and therefore Jacob would never agree that his children should marry any of that nation; and marriages with them were afterwards forbidden by the law of Moses, ( Deuteronomy 7:3 ) ;

[and] give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you;
for though at present there were no other daughters in Jacob's family, yet there might be hereafter; and the request is, that for the future there might be intermarriages between them, as would be practicable in a course of time.

Genesis 34:9 In-Context

7 And the sons of Jacob came from the plain; and when they heard, the men were deeply pained, and it was very grievous to them, because wrought folly in Israel, having lain with the daughter of Jacob, and so it must not be.

8 And Emmor spoke to them, saying, Sychem my son has chosen in his heart your daughter; give her therefore to him for a wife,

9 and intermarry with us. Give us your daughters, and take our daughters for your sons.

10 And dwell in the midst of us; and, behold, the land is spacious before you, dwell in it, and trade, and get possessions in it.

11 And Sychem said to her father and to her brothers, I would find grace before you, and we will give whatever ye shall name.