Genesis 34:16

16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will live with you and become one people.

Genesis 34:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 34:16

Then will we give our daughters unto you
Meaning Dinah, whom they call their daughter, ( Genesis 34:17 ) ; because she was the daughter of their family, and because they were entreating in the name of their father, and in conformity to the language used by those they were treating with, ( Genesis 34:9 ) ; and we will take your daughters to us;
in marriage for wives: and we will dwell with you;
not as sojourners but as fellow citizens: and we will become one people;
being so nearly related by marriage, and professing one religion, alike submitting to circumcision, which was the distinguished badge of Abraham's seed.

Genesis 34:16 In-Context

14 They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.

15 "Only on this condition will we consent to you: if you will become like us, in that every male of you be circumcised,

16 then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves, and we will live with you and become one people.

17 "But if you will not listen to us to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and go."

18 Now their words seemed reasonable to Hamor and Shechem, Hamor's son.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "dwell"