Genesis 34:22

22 "Only on this condition will the men consent to us to live with us, to become one people: that every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised.

Genesis 34:22 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 34:22

Only herein will the men consent unto us
The only term or condition insisted upon, to come into an alliance and affinity with us, and for to dwell with us, to be one people,
to become one body politic, is the following one: if every male among us be circumcised, as they [are] circumcised;
submitting to this rite, they agree to take up their residence with us, and be incorporated among us, and become one people.

Genesis 34:22 In-Context

20 So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying,

21 "These men are friendly with us; therefore let them live in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters in marriage, and give our daughters to them.

22 "Only on this condition will the men consent to us to live with us, to become one people: that every male among us be circumcised as they are circumcised.

23 "Will not their livestock and their property and all their animals be ours? Only let us consent to them, and they will live with us."

24 All who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and to his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "dwell"