Genesis 34:16

16 Then your men can marry our women, and our men can marry your women, and we will live in your land 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 The brothers said to them, "We cannot allow you to marry our sister, because you are not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us.

15 But we will allow you to marry her if you do this one thing: Every man in your town must be circumcised like us.

16 Then your men can marry our women, and our men can marry your women, and we will live in your land and become one people.

17 If you refuse to be circumcised, we will take Dinah and leave."

18 What they asked seemed fair to Hamor and Shechem.