Genesis 34:16

16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves. We will live with you and be 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 can't do this, allowing our sisters to marry uncircumcised men, because it's disgraceful to us.

15 We can only agree to do this if you circumcise every male as we do.

16 Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters for ourselves. We will live with you and be one people.

17 But if you don't listen to us and become circumcised, we will take our daughter and leave."

18 Their idea seemed like a good one to Hamor and Hamor's son Shechem.