Genesis 34:15
New International Version
We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males.

New Living Translation
But here is a solution. If every man among you will be circumcised like we are,

English Standard Version
Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised.

Berean Standard Bible
We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males.

King James Bible
But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

New King James Version
But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised,

New American Standard Bible
Only on this condition will we consent to you: if you will become like us, in that every male of you will be circumcised,

NASB 1995
“Only on this condition will we consent to you: if you will become like us, in that every male of you be circumcised,

NASB 1977
“Only on this condition will we consent to you: if you will become like us, in that every male of you be circumcised,

Legacy Standard Bible
Only on this condition will we consent to you: if you will become like us, in that every male among you be circumcised,

Amplified Bible
But we will consent to you only on this condition: if you will become like us, in that every male among you consents to be circumcised,

Christian Standard Bible
We will agree with you only on this condition: if all your males are circumcised as we are.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We will agree with you only on this condition: if all your males are circumcised as we are.

American Standard Version
Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised;

Contemporary English Version
But we will let you marry her, if you and the other men in your tribe agree to be circumcised.

English Revised Version
Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We will give our consent to you only on one condition: Every male must be circumcised as we are.

Good News Translation
We can agree only on the condition that you become like us by circumcising all your males.

International Standard Version
But we'll agree to your request, only if you will become like us by circumcising every male among you.

Majority Standard Bible
We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us—every one of your males.

NET Bible
We will give you our consent on this one condition: You must become like us by circumcising all your males.

New Heart English Bible
Only on this condition will we agree with you; that you become like us by circumcising all your males;

Webster's Bible Translation
But in this will we consent to you: If ye will be as we are, that every male of you shall be circumcised;

World English Bible
Only on this condition will we consent to you. If you will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Only for this we consent to you: if you are as we, to have every male of you circumcised,

Young's Literal Translation
'Only for this we consent to you; if ye be as we, to have every male of you circumcised,

Smith's Literal Translation
But in this will we consent to you, if ye will be as we to circumcise to you every male;
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But in this way may we be allied with you, if you will be like us, and all the male sex among you be circumcised:

Catholic Public Domain Version
But we may succeed in this, so as to be allied with you, if you are willing to become like us, and if all the male sex among you will be circumcised.

New American Bible
Only on this condition will we agree to that: that you become like us by having every male among you circumcised.

New Revised Standard Version
Only on this condition will we consent to you: that you will become as we are and every male among you be circumcised.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But on this condition will we consent to you: that you will become like us, and circumcise every male as we are circumcised;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
However in this we will consent to you, if it is that you would be like us and you will circumcise every male just as we are circumcised
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Only on these terms will we conform to you, and dwell among you, if ye also will be as we are, in that every male of you be circumcised.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Revenge of Dinah's Brothers
14“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us. 15We will consent to this on one condition, that you become circumcised like us— every one of your males. 16Then we will give you our daughters and take your daughters for ourselves. We will dwell among you and become one people.…

Cross References
Exodus 12:48
If a foreigner resides with you and wants to celebrate the LORD’s Passover, all the males in the household must be circumcised; then he may come near to celebrate it, and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised man may eat of it.

Joshua 5:2-9
At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.” / So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth. / Now this is why Joshua circumcised them: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of war—had died on the journey in the wilderness after they had left Egypt. ...

1 Samuel 18:25
Saul 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.

2 Samuel 3:14
Then 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.”

1 Kings 11:1-2
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love.

Deuteronomy 7:3-4
Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, / because they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods. Then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and He will swiftly destroy you.

Leviticus 12:3
And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.

Acts 15:1
Then some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Acts 15:5
But some believers from the party of the Pharisees stood up and declared, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”

Acts 15:24
It has come to our attention that some went out from us without our authorization and unsettled you, troubling your minds by what they said.

Galatians 5:2-3
Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. / Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.

Romans 2:25-29
Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. / If a man who is not circumcised keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? / The one who is physically uncircumcised yet keeps the law will condemn you who, even though you have the written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker. ...

1 Corinthians 7:18-19
Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised. / Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

Philippians 3:2-3
Watch out for those dogs, those workers of evil, those mutilators of the flesh! / For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

Colossians 2:11
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of your sinful nature, with the circumcision performed by Christ and not by human hands.


Treasury of Scripture

But in this will we consent to you: If you will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;

Galatians 4:12
Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

Jump to Previous
Agreement Circumcised Circumcising Condition Consent Male Males Undergoes
Jump to Next
Agreement Circumcised Circumcising Condition Consent Male Males Undergoes
Genesis 34
1. Dinah is ravished by Shechem.
4. He requests to marry her.
13. The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites.
20. Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it.
25. The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, and spoil their city.
30. Jacob reproves Simeon and Levi.














If you will be circumcised
The phrase "If you will be circumcised" is pivotal in understanding the cultural and religious significance of circumcision in the ancient Near East. The Hebrew word for circumcise is "מול" (mul), which carries the connotation of a covenantal act. In the context of Genesis, circumcision was instituted by God as a sign of the covenant between Him and Abraham's descendants (Genesis 17:10-14). This act was not merely a physical procedure but a profound spiritual symbol of belonging to God's chosen people. The demand for circumcision here by Jacob's sons reflects their understanding of this rite as a boundary marker of identity and faithfulness to God's covenant. It also underscores the seriousness with which they viewed the integration of Shechem and his people into their family and community.

all of you males
The phrase "all of you males" emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the demand. In the patriarchal society of ancient Israel, males were often seen as the representatives of their families and communities. The requirement for all males to undergo circumcision indicates a collective commitment and transformation. It was not enough for just Shechem, who desired to marry Dinah, to be circumcised; his entire community had to partake in this covenantal sign. This highlights the communal aspect of faith and obedience in the biblical narrative, where individual actions often have corporate implications. It also reflects the seriousness with which the sons of Jacob approached the idea of covenantal inclusion, ensuring that it was not taken lightly or superficially.

as we are
The phrase "as we are" signifies the identity and distinctiveness of Jacob's family. By stating "as we are," the sons of Jacob are asserting their identity as the people of God, set apart by the covenant of circumcision. This phrase underscores the importance of maintaining the distinctiveness of God's people amidst surrounding cultures. It reflects a desire for those who wish to join them to fully embrace their faith and practices. Historically, this insistence on maintaining a distinct identity has been a recurring theme for the Israelites, as they navigated relationships with surrounding nations. The phrase also serves as a reminder of the call to holiness and separation that God places on His people, urging them to live in a way that reflects their unique relationship with Him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
We will consent
נֵא֣וֹת (nê·’ō·wṯ)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 225: To come, to assent

to this
לָכֶ֑ם (lā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrew

on one
אַךְ־ (’aḵ-)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

condition,
אִ֚ם (’im)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

that you become
תִּהְי֣וּ (tih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

circumcised
לְהִמֹּ֥ל (lə·him·mōl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 4135: To cut short, curtail, to blunt, to destroy

like us—
כָמֹ֔נוּ (ḵā·mō·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 3644: Like, as, when

every one of
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your males.
זָכָֽר׃ (zā·ḵār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2145: Remembered, a male


Links
Genesis 34:15 NIV
Genesis 34:15 NLT
Genesis 34:15 ESV
Genesis 34:15 NASB
Genesis 34:15 KJV

Genesis 34:15 BibleApps.com
Genesis 34:15 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 34:15 Chinese Bible
Genesis 34:15 French Bible
Genesis 34:15 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 34:15 Only on this condition will we consent (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 34:14
Top of Page
Top of Page