‏ Genesis 34:15-22

15We will give you our consent on this one condition: You must become
tn Heb “if you are like us.”
like us by circumcising
tn The infinitive here explains how they would become like them.
all your males.
16Then we will give
tn The perfect verbal form with the vav (ו) consecutive introduces the apodosis of the conditional sentence.
you our daughters to marry,
tn The words “to marry” (and the words “as wives” in the following clause) are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
and we will take your daughters as wives for ourselves, and we will live among you and become one people.
17But if you do not agree to our terms
tn Heb “listen to us.”
by being circumcised, then we will take
tn The perfect verbal form with the vav (ו) consecutive introduces the apodosis of the conditional sentence.
our sister
tn Heb “daughter.” Jacob’s sons call Dinah their daughter, even though she was their sister (see v. 8). This has been translated as “sister” for clarity.
and depart.”

18 Their offer pleased Hamor and his son Shechem.
tn Heb “and their words were good in the eyes of Hamor and in the eyes of Shechem son of Hamor.”
19The young man did not delay in doing what they asked
tn Heb “doing the thing.”
because he wanted Jacob’s daughter Dinah
tn Heb “Jacob’s daughter.” The proper name “Dinah” is supplied in the translation for clarity.
badly. (Now he was more important
tn The Hebrew verb כָּבֵד (kaved), translated “was…important,” has the primary meaning “to be heavy,” but here carries a secondary sense of “to be important” (that is, “heavy” in honor or respect).
than anyone in his father’s household.)
tn The parenthetical disjunctive clause explains why the community would respond to him (see vv. 20-24).
20So Hamor and his son Shechem went to the gate
sn The gate. In an ancient Near Eastern city the gate complex was the location for conducting important public business.
of their city and spoke to the men of their city,
21These men are at peace with us. So let them live in the land and travel freely in it, for the land is wide enough
tn Heb “wide on both hands,” that is, in both directions.
for them. We will take their daughters for wives, and we will give them our daughters to marry.
tn The words “to marry” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for clarity.
22Only on this one condition will these men consent to live with us and become one people: They demand
tn Heb “when every one of our males is circumcised.”
that every male among us be circumcised just as they are circumcised.
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