Genesis 34:16

16 Then we will give you our daughters, take your daughters for ourselves, 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 "We cannot do this thing," they said to them. "Giving our sister to an uncircumcised man is a disgrace to us.

15 We will agree with you only on this condition: if all your males are circumcised as we are.

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

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

18 Their words seemed good in the eyes of Hamor and his son Shechem.