But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;
But we will agree to this only if you do what we do: every male among you must be circumcised.
The writer is showing how Jacob's sons set a condition for intermarriage, requiring the Shechemites to be circumcised like them.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Jacob and his family had settled in the land of Canaan after returning from exile with his uncle Laban. When Shechem, a prince of the region, violated Jacob's daughter Dinah and then sought to marry her, his father proposed an alliance through intermarriage with Jacob's clan. Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, responded by demanding that all the men of Shechem's city undergo circumcision, a ritual that was originally given by God to Abraham as a sign of His covenant with the Israelites.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.