Genesis 34:16

16 Then we will freely exchange daughters in marriage and make ourselves at home among you and become one big, happy family.

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, "This is impossible. We could never give our sister to a man who was uncircumcised. Why, we'd be disgraced.

15 The only condition on which we can talk business is if all your men become circumcised like us.

16 Then we will freely exchange daughters in marriage and make ourselves at home among you and become one big, happy family.

17 But if this is not an acceptable condition, we will take our sister and leave."

18 That seemed fair enough to Hamor and his son Shechem.