Genesis 34:9

9 Arrange marriages with us: give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves.

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 Just then, Jacob's sons got back from the countryside. When they heard what had happened, they were outraged and very angry, because Shechem had disgraced Israel by sleeping with Jacob's daughter. Such things are simply not done.

8 Hamor said to them, "My son Shechem's heart is set on your daughter. Please let him marry her.

9 Arrange marriages with us: give us your daughters and take our daughters for yourselves.

10 Live with us. The land is available to you: settle down, travel through it, and buy property in it."

11 Shechem said to Dinah's father and brothers, "If you approve of me, tell me what you want, and I will give it to you.