Genesis 34:9

KJV

And make ye marriages with us, [and] give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.

KJV (with Strong's)

And make ye marriages {H2859} with us, and give {H5414} your daughters {H1323} unto us, and take {H3947} our daughters {H1323} unto you.

Complete Jewish Bible

and intermarry with us: give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves.

Berean Standard Bible

Intermarry with us; give us your daughters, and take our daughters for yourselves.

American Standard Version

And make ye marriages with us; give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 34:9 records Hamor, prince of the Hivites, presenting a formal proposal to Jacob's family for widespread intermarriage between their two peoples. This offer, made in the immediate aftermath of Shechem's defilement of Dinah, aims to forge a deep, lasting social and economic alliance, driven by Hamor's desire for integration and mutual benefit, yet it tragically serves as a deceptive prelude to the violent retribution planned by Jacob's sons.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a crucial part of the unfolding drama in Genesis 34, immediately following the defilement of Dinah by Shechem, Hamor's son, as recounted in [Genesis 34:2](/genesis/34-2 "The Defilement of Dinah"). Hamor's proposal in [Genesis 34:9](/genesis/34-9 "Hamor's Marriage Proposal") represents the Hivite attempt to resolve the crisis and secure a future alliance. It sets the stage for the deceptive response of Jacob's sons in [Genesis 34:13-17](/genesis/34-13-17 "The Deceitful Reply of Jacob's Sons"), where they feign agreement to the terms, ultimately leading to the massacre of the Shechemites in [Genesis 34:25-29](/genesis/34-25-29 "The Massacre of the Shechemites"). The entire chapter highlights the profound consequences of sin and the complex, often violent, dynamics of intergroup relations in the ancient world.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, intermarriage was a common and powerful tool for forging political, economic, and social alliances between different tribes or city-states. Hamor's proposal reflects this practice, aiming to integrate the Hivites of Shechem with Jacob's prosperous and growing family. Such unions were not merely personal but involved entire communities, often leading to shared resources, defense pacts, and cultural exchange. The Hivites, a Canaanite people, would have viewed Jacob's family as a significant, albeit nomadic, entity with considerable wealth in livestock and possessions, making an alliance highly desirable for their own advancement and security.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 34:9 contributes significantly to several key themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the theme of **covenantal distinctiveness** and the challenge of maintaining purity for God's chosen people, even before the formal giving of the Mosaic Law, which would later explicitly forbid intermarriage with pagan nations (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3](/deuteronomy/7-3 "God's Command Against Intermarriage")). The passage also highlights the devastating **consequences of sin**, demonstrating how one act of violence (Dinah's defilement) can trigger a chain reaction of further sin, including deceit and mass murder. Furthermore, it touches upon the theme of **human schemes versus divine providence**, showing how human attempts to resolve conflict or secure advantage through manipulation and violence often lead to tragic outcomes, contrasting with God's sovereign plan for His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **marriages (Hebrew, _châthan'_):** From the primitive root H2859, meaning "to give (a daughter) away in marriage; hence (generally) to contract affinity by marriage." This word signifies more than just individual unions; it implies a deep, comprehensive familial integration, aiming for a merging of entire households and communities, creating a lasting bond of affinity.
* **give (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** From the primitive root H5414, a versatile verb meaning "to give" in the widest variety of applications, including to put, make, bestow, or grant. In this context, it refers to the act of formally handing over daughters for marriage, a significant transaction in ancient society that solidified alliances and transferred social status.
* **take (Hebrew, _lâqach'_):** From the primitive root H3947, meaning "to take" in a wide variety of applications, including to accept, receive, or acquire. Here, it refers to the reciprocal act of receiving daughters in marriage, completing the proposed exchange and symbolizing the mutual integration of the two groups.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And make ye marriages with us":** This opening clause is Hamor's primary proposition, directly inviting Jacob's family into a comprehensive marital alliance. The use of the plural "ye" indicates an offer for the entire household, not just Shechem and Dinah. It signifies a desire for deep social and economic integration, aiming to merge the two communities into one.
* **"and give your daughters unto us":** This specifies the first part of the reciprocal arrangement. Hamor proposes that Jacob's family provide their daughters to the Hivite men as wives. This act would signify the transfer of Jacob's family's women into Hivite households, strengthening the Hivite lineage and potentially their social standing.
* **"and take our daughters unto you":** This completes the reciprocal proposal, indicating that Jacob's sons and men should, in turn, take Hivite daughters as their wives. This mutual exchange of women would cement the alliance, creating intertwined family trees and fostering a sense of shared community and mutual obligation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs **Reciprocity** and **Repetition** to emphasize the comprehensive nature of Hamor's proposal. The phrases "give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you" clearly outline a mutual exchange, highlighting the balanced, albeit self-serving, nature of the proposed alliance. This reciprocal structure underscores Hamor's vision of complete integration. Furthermore, the verse functions as a powerful piece of **Dramatic Irony**. Hamor's seemingly benevolent and straightforward diplomatic overture, intended to resolve conflict and secure advantage, is met with a cunning and deceptive response from Jacob's sons, who are already plotting violent retribution. The reader is aware of the sons' true intentions, making Hamor's earnest proposal tragically ironic and a prelude to the devastating events that follow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The proposal in Genesis 34:9, though seemingly a practical solution to a social crisis, exposes deeper theological tensions. It highlights the recurring biblical theme of the **purity and distinctiveness of God's people**. While the explicit Mosaic Law forbidding intermarriage with pagan nations was yet to be given, the patriarchal narratives already demonstrate an underlying concern for maintaining a separate identity for Abraham's descendants, who carried the promise of the covenant. Hamor's offer, therefore, represents a potential compromise of this nascent covenantal identity, challenging Jacob's family to consider their unique calling. This narrative also powerfully illustrates the **pervasive consequences of sin**, showing how one act of defilement (Dinah's rape) can spiral into a complex web of deceit, violence, and moral compromise, demonstrating humanity's brokenness and desperate need for divine intervention.

* [Exodus 34:15-16](/exodus/34-15-16 "Warning Against Intermarriage with Canaanites")
* [Deuteronomy 7:3-4](/deuteronomy/7-3-4 "Prohibition of Intermarriage")
* [Nehemiah 13:23-27](/nehemiah/13-23-27 "Nehemiah's Rebuke Against Intermarriage")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 34:9, set within its ancient context, provides profound insights into the complexities of human relationships, negotiations, and the far-reaching consequences of both sin and compromise. For believers today, it serves as a cautionary tale, urging profound discernment when forming deep relationships, especially marriage. The narrative implicitly warns against the dangers of being [unequally yoked](/2_corinthians/6-14 "Warning Against Unequal Yoking") with those who do not share a foundational commitment to God's truth and ways. Such unions, though seemingly advantageous or expedient, can lead to spiritual compromise, moral dilemmas, and unforeseen complications that undermine one's walk with God. Furthermore, the passage underscores the perilous ripple effects of sin, demonstrating how a single transgression can initiate a tragic chain of events, highlighting the critical importance of integrity, righteousness, and reliance on divine wisdom over human schemes in all our dealings.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the narrative of Genesis 34 challenge our understanding of "reconciliation" and "alliance" in light of God's standards?**
* **In what ways might believers today be tempted to compromise their spiritual distinctiveness for social or economic advantage?**
* **What lessons can we draw from the tragic chain of events in Genesis 34 about the long-term consequences of sin and deceit?**

### FAQ
**Why did Hamor propose intermarriage with Jacob's family?**

Answer: Hamor's proposal was primarily strategic and opportunistic. He sought to integrate his people with Jacob's prosperous family for significant economic and social gain, as he explicitly states in [Genesis 34:10](/genesis/34-10 "Hamor's Economic Proposal"). He viewed Jacob's household as wealthy in flocks and goods, believing that widespread intermarriage would create a lasting, mutually beneficial alliance, allowing the Hivites to share in Jacob's prosperity and consolidate their position in the land.

**Was intermarriage always forbidden for God's people in the Bible?**

Answer: While explicit, comprehensive prohibitions against intermarriage with specific pagan nations were later codified in the Mosaic Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 7:3](/deuteronomy/7-3 "God's Command Against Intermarriage")), the underlying principle of maintaining spiritual distinctiveness and covenantal purity was present from early on. The narrative in Genesis 34 highlights the inherent tension and potential for spiritual compromise when God's people intermarry with those outside the covenant, even before formal laws were given. The concern was not merely ethnic, but primarily theological—to prevent the adoption of idolatrous practices and to preserve the unique identity of the people through whom God's promises would be fulfilled.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic events surrounding Genesis 34:9, marked by human sin, deceit, and violence, powerfully underscore humanity's desperate need for a true and righteous mediator and a perfect covenant. Hamor's failed attempt at human-orchestrated unity through intermarriage and the sons' subsequent sinful retribution reveal the brokenness of a world apart from God's perfect plan and the futility of human efforts to achieve lasting peace or true reconciliation on their own terms. Christ, however, fulfills the longing for genuine unity and reconciliation, not through strategic alliances or violent conquest, but through His atoning sacrifice on the cross. He is the ultimate "marriage" maker, uniting disparate peoples—Jew and Gentile—into one new humanity, His Church, by breaking down the dividing wall of hostility ([Ephesians 2:14](/ephesians/2-14 "Christ Breaks Down the Dividing Wall")). Unlike the compromised unions proposed by Hamor, Christ establishes a pure and holy bride, the Church ([Ephesians 5:25-27](/ephesians/5-25-27 "Christ's Love for the Church")), called to be distinct and set apart for Him, free from the defilement of the world, united in a covenant of grace that transcends all human schemes and failures. Through Him, we are truly "one" ([John 17:20-23](/john/17-20-23 "Jesus' Prayer for Unity")), not by human arrangement, but by divine redemption.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 7:3

Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.

Genesis 24:3

And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Genesis 19:14

And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

Genesis 26:34

¶ And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:

Genesis 26:35

Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Genesis 27:46

And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these [which are] of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?

Genesis 6:2

That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.