Genesis 34:15 kjv
But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
Genesis 34:15 nkjv
But on this condition we will consent to you: If you will become as we are, if every male of you is circumcised,
Genesis 34:15 niv
We will enter into an agreement with you on one condition only: that you become like us by circumcising all your males.
Genesis 34:15 esv
Only on this condition will we agree with you ? that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised.
Genesis 34:15 nlt
But here is a solution. If every man among you will be circumcised like we are,
Genesis 34 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 17:10-12 | "This is My covenant which you shall keep... Every male among you shall be circumcised... He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised..." | God's divine command instituting circumcision as an eternal covenant sign for Abraham's descendants. |
| Gen 24:3-4 | "I will make you swear by the Lord... that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites... but you shall go to my country and to my kindred and take a wife for my son Isaac." | Abraham's strict instruction to avoid intermarriage with Canaanites, highlighting separation. |
| Gen 49:5-7 | "Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwellings... For in their anger they slew a man... I will divide them in Jacob..." | Jacob's later curse upon Simeon and Levi, linking their violent character to the Shechem incident. |
| Ex 12:48 | "If a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised..." | Requirement for foreigners to be circumcised before partaking in sacred Israelite rites, indicating inclusion through covenant sign. |
| Ex 34:15-16 | "lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they play the harlot with their gods... and you take of their daughters for your sons..." | Divine warning against covenantal agreements and intermarriage with surrounding peoples to prevent idolatry. |
| Lev 12:3 | "And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised." | Reinforces the precise timing and mandatory nature of circumcision in the Mosaic Law. |
| Deut 7:3-4 | "Nor shall you make marriages with them... For they will turn your sons away from following Me..." | Explicit divine command against intermarriage with surrounding nations to protect Israel's fidelity to God. |
| Josh 5:2-9 | "At that time the Lord said to Joshua, 'Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.' ... and called the name of the place Gilgal..." | The generation born in the wilderness undergoes mass circumcision upon entering the Promised Land, renewing their covenant. |
| Judg 14:3 | "But his father and mother said to him, 'Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren... that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?'" | Parental disapproval and tribal aversion to marriage with "uncircumcised" foreigners, viewed as unclean or outside God's people. |
| 1 Sam 17:26 | "For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" | The term "uncircumcised" used to denote foreigners who are considered pagan and defiant toward God, contrasting with His covenant people. |
| Jer 4:4 | "Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, And take away the foreskins of your hearts..." | Prophetic call for an internal, spiritual circumcision of the heart, emphasizing genuine repentance over outward ritual. |
| Ezek 44:7 | "In that you have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in My sanctuary..." | Highlights defilement of the temple by those who lack both physical and spiritual separation from unholiness. |
| Acts 15:1 | "And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, 'Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.'" | The early church controversy regarding whether Gentile converts must be circumcised to be saved. |
| Acts 15:28-29 | "For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things..." | The Jerusalem Council's decision to exempt Gentile converts from the requirement of ritual circumcision for salvation. |
| Rom 2:28-29 | "For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly... but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart..." | Paul clarifies that true spiritual identity and "circumcision" are inward, matters of the heart, not just external rituals. |
| Rom 3:1-2 | "What advantage then has the Jew... Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God." | Acknowledges the distinct privilege and initial advantage of the Jewish people, which included the sign of circumcision. |
| Gal 5:2-6 | "Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing... For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything..." | Paul vehemently warns against relying on physical circumcision for justification, asserting that it is irrelevant for salvation in Christ. |
| 1 Cor 7:18-19 | "Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters." | States that one's state of circumcision (or lack thereof) does not impact their standing before God; true faith and obedience are key. |
| Col 2:11 | "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ," | Introduces the concept of a spiritual circumcision for believers in Christ, signifying the internal cleansing from sin. |
| Phil 3:2-3 | "Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh..." | Strong warning against those who prioritize or mandate physical circumcision, emphasizing genuine worship in the Spirit as the mark of true spiritual "circumcision." |
| Ps 73:6 | "Therefore pride serves as their necklace; violence covers them like a garment." | Reflects the outward show of their intentions masking inward violence, as seen in Jacob's sons. |
| Prov 12:22 | "Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight." | Directly contrasts the deceitful words of Jacob's sons with God's preference for truthfulness. |
Genesis 34 verses
Genesis 34 15 Meaning
Genesis 34:15 records the treacherous condition laid forth by Jacob's sons to Hamor and Shechem: for any familial or community alliance to proceed, every male among the Hivites must undergo circumcision. This demand was presented as the sole prerequisite for mutual agreement and integration, seemingly indicating a path toward shared identity, yet it concealed a manipulative and violent scheme intended to incapacitate the Hivite men for future retribution.
Genesis 34 15 Context
Genesis chapter 34 details a harrowing incident involving Dinah, Jacob's daughter. She was defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, the Hivite chieftain of the land. This act of violence deeply shamed Jacob's family and enraged his sons, especially Simeon and Levi, Dinah's full brothers. Seeking reconciliation and integration, Hamor and Shechem proposed a marriage alliance between their people and Jacob's family, suggesting intermarriage and trade. Verse 15 captures the deceptive counter-proposal made by Jacob's sons. They exploited the highly significant ritual of circumcision, presenting it as a religious and social prerequisite for the union and greater assimilation. However, their true intent was to use the physical vulnerability caused by circumcision as an opportunity for vengeance, leading to the brutal massacre of all Shechemite males. Historically, this event occurs within the early tribal development of Israel, highlighting the complex issues of honor, kinship, divine covenant, and relations with surrounding Canaanite populations, underscoring both their distinct identity and the dangers of unrighteous vengeance.
Genesis 34 15 Word analysis
Only (רַק - raq): This strong restrictive adverb means "only," "nothing but," or "except." Its use here makes the circumcision demand appear non-negotiable and singularly binding, lending credibility to the sons' deceitful proposal as if no other concession could secure the alliance.
on this condition (בְּזֹאת - bəzōt): Meaning "in this," or "on this," it refers specifically to the requirement about to be stated. It establishes the singular criterion upon which the entire negotiation hinges, serving as the deceptive anchor for their cunning plan.
will we agree with you (נֵאוֹת לָכֶם - nē’ôt lāḵem): The verb nē’ôt comes from a root (’wh) meaning "to desire," "to consent," or "to be willing." This implies a profound level of accord and partnership. The sons falsely project a willingness to enter into a cooperative, friendly relationship, making their underlying malevolent intent even more insidious.
if (אִם - ’im): This conditional particle introduces the direct requirement that must be met. It sets the precise term for their ostensible agreement, clearly articulating the proposed path to integration.
you will become like us (תִהְיוּ כָּנוּ - tihyû kā'anû): This phrase overtly proposes assimilation, suggesting a shared identity and way of life. For Jacob's sons, "like us" centrally pointed to circumcision as the indelible mark of Abrahamic lineage and, outwardly, devotion to their God. It presents the covenantal sign as a prerequisite for social and political fusion.
by every male (לְכָל־זָכָר - ləḵol-zāḵār): Specifies the universality of the demand. Not just a select few, but "every male" in their community must conform, ensuring maximum vulnerability when their plan for revenge unfolds.
among you being circumcised (הִמֹּול לָכֶם - himmōl lāḵem): Himmōl is the Niphal infinitive construct of מוּל (mûl), "to circumcise." This specifies the sacred ritual, the sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen 17), to be physically enacted. Its demand gives the sons' terms an air of covenantal integrity while cloaking their bloody intentions.
"Only on this condition will we agree with you": This clause emphasizes the seemingly strict yet clear pathway to an alliance. It suggests an open and firm proposal for a relationship, while strategically limiting the negotiation to this singular, debilitating demand designed for the Shechemites' destruction, not their integration.
"if you will become like us by every male among you being circumcised": This full clause links cultural and religious conformity directly to a core ritual of Israelite identity. The call to "become like us" (signified by circumcision) was a deliberate strategic ploy. While to Hamor and Shechem it may have meant mutual acceptance and prosperity, to Jacob's sons it signified the ritualistic and painful incapacitation of all their males, making them easy targets for a violent attack and ensuring their ultimate demise rather than a genuine union.
Genesis 34 15 Bonus section
The cunning proposal of Jacob's sons in Gen 34:15 reveals a complex moral dilemma that resonates throughout the Abrahamic narrative. While their indignation over Dinah's defilement was understandable, their chosen method of revenge violated core tenets of righteousness and trust. Their willingness to employ a holy covenant sign (circumcision) for a manipulative and violent purpose highlights a dangerous misuse of sacred principles. This is not simply a strategic error; it's a moral failure that stains the burgeoning covenant people, foreshadowing internal strife and ethical compromises seen later in Israel's history. This event also marks a critical point where Jacob's household deviates from his usual, more peaceful reliance on God's provision and guidance. The deceptive use of circumcision by Jacob's sons stands in stark contrast to the integrity of Abraham and Isaac, who sought God's will in their dealings with non-covenant peoples. The narrative subtly condemns this manipulative and violent approach, showcasing that external compliance (the Hivites being circumcised) without true inward transformation leads to tragic consequences.
Genesis 34 15 Commentary
Genesis 34:15 vividly illustrates the chilling duplicity of Jacob's sons. While presented as a principled demand for assimilation into their covenant community—signified by the sacred ritual of circumcision (Gen 17)—this verse actually sets the stage for heinous treachery. Circumcision, a distinct mark of God's covenant with Abraham, was profoundly symbolic of separation and belonging to a people dedicated to the Lord. The sons here twisted this sacred sign into a mere tool for vengeance, desecrating its holy intent. The Hivites, prioritizing pragmatic social and economic benefits, readily agreed to the painful procedure, misunderstanding its spiritual depth and failing to see the dark intentions concealed by the seemingly religious condition. This act of violence, undertaken under the guise of piety, is a somber reminder of how human anger and dishonor, when left unchecked by God's truth, can pervert even holy commands for wicked ends. The passage underscores the dangers of deceit, tribal honor leading to excess, and the misuse of divine ordinances. It shows a severe failure in character, especially for future tribal heads like Simeon and Levi, whose actions profoundly impacted Israel's early history and foreshadowed later challenges of living distinctly in a pagan land.