Genesis 34:14

“We cannot do such a thing,” they said. “To give our sister to an uncircumcised man would be a disgrace to us.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jacob’s sons address Hamor and Shechem immediately after Shechem defiled Dinah, responding deceitfully to their marriage proposal. They refuse the union at this moment to establish a non-negotiable precondition for any agreement.

The words — The Hebrew לֹא נוּכַל (lo nu.khal) translates literally as "we are not able," while לָתֵת (la.tet) means "to give." These terms frame the refusal as a matter of capability and honor rather than mere preference.

The thread — The circumcision requirement echoes Genesis 17:11 and Genesis 17:14, where the practice functions as the covenant sign and a boundary for remaining within the people. Joshua 5:2 later commands Israel to circumcise themselves again, reaffirming the rite as a communal marker.

Why it lands — The text establishes that covenant identity requires physical separation from surrounding nations. It places the maintenance of religious boundaries above immediate political or familial alliances.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּva/i.yo.me.Ruand/ they said אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם'a.lei./Hemto/ them לֹ֤אlo'not נוּכַל֙nu.Khalwe are able לַעֲשׂוֹת֙la./'a.soTto/ do הַדָּבָ֣רha./da.Varthe/ thing הַזֶּ֔הha./Zeh<the>/ this לָתֵת֙la./Tetto/ give אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲחֹתֵ֔נוּ'a.cho.Te./nusister/ our לְאִ֖ישׁle./'Ishto/ a man אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whomל֣וֹl/o[belongs] to <the>/ himעָרְלָ֑ה'a.re.Laha foreskin כִּֽי־ki-for חֶרְפָּ֥הcher.Pah[is] a reproach הִ֖ואhi'itלָֽנוּ׃La./nuto <the>/ us

King James Version

And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

Cross-references

Genesis 17:11 You are to circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
Genesis 17:14 But if any male is not circumcised, he will be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant.”
Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the sons of Israel once again.”
1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
1 Samuel 17:26 David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:36 Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
2 Samuel 1:20 Tell it not in Gath; proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.
2 Samuel 15:7 After four years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD.
1 Kings 21:9 In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
Matthew 2:8 And sending them to Bethlehem, he said: “Go and search carefully for the Child, and when you find Him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship Him.”