Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”
Parallel translations
- WEB Ask me a great amount for a dowry, and I will give whatever you ask of me, but give me the young lady as a wife.”
- KJV Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.
- ESV Ask me for as great a bride-price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.”
- NKJV Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”
- NASB Demand of me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give whatever you tell me; but give me the girl in marriage.”
- NLT No matter what dowry or gift you demand, I will gladly pay it—just give me the girl as my wife.”
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Shechem offers any bride-price the family names, so long as he may have Dinah as his wife.
Overview
The bride-price (dowry) was customary, but Shechem's lavish offer cannot atone for his crime against Dinah. His readiness to pay any sum sets up the brothers' demand for circumcision instead of money. The verse heightens the irony that what the brothers ask will become the means of slaughter.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Exod 22:16–17If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife.
- Gen 24:53Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.
- 2 Sam 3:14Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.”
- Gen 31:41Thus for twenty years I have served in your household—fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks—and you have changed my wages ten times!
- Deut 22:28–29If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered,
- Gen 29:18Since Jacob loved Rachel, he answered, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
- 1 Sam 18:25–27Saul replied, “Say to David, ‘The king desires no other dowry but a hundred Philistine foreskins as revenge on his enemies.’” But Saul intended to cause David’s death at the hands of the Philistines.
- Matt 14:17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
- Hos 3:2So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 34:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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