Genesis 34 · Verse 12

Genesis 34:12

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.
Genesis 34:12, King James Version

Genesis 34:12 in other translations

BSBDemand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”
WEBAsk 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.”
ASVAsk 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.
YLTmultiply on me exceedingly dowry and gift, and I give as ye say unto me, and give to me the young person for a wife.'
DARBYImpose on me very much as dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say to me; but give me the maiden as wife.
BBEHowever great you make the bride-price and payment, I will give it; only let me have the girl for my wife.
WebsterAsk me never so much dower and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say to me: but give me the damsel for a wife.

What does Genesis 34:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. Ask me never so much dowry and gift--The gift refers to the presents made at betrothal, both to the bride elect and her relations (compare Ge 24:53), the dowry to a suitable settlement upon her.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Ask me never so much dowry - See Clarke on Gen 29:20 (note), etc. See the law relative to this, Exo 22:16, Exo 22:17.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 34:1-19

Young persons, especially females, are never so safe and well off as under the care of pious parents. Their own ignorance, and the flattery and artifices of designing, wicked people, who are ever laying snares for them, expose them to great danger. They are their own enemies if they desire to go abroad, especially alone, among strangers to true religion. Those parents are very wrong who do not hinder their children…

Read the full comment on Genesis 34:1-19 →

Genesis 34:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

הַרְבּ֨וּhar.BuincreaseH7235
עָלַ֤י'a.Laion meH5921
מְאֹד֙me.'OdexceedinglyH3966
מֹ֣הַרMo.hara bride priceH4119
וּמַתָּ֔ןu.ma.Tanand a giftH4976
וְאֶ֨תְּנָ֔הve.'E.te.Nahso let me give [it]H5414
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.Sherjust asH834
תֹּאמְר֖וּto.me.Ruyou will sayH559
אֵלָ֑י'e.Laito meH413
וּתְנוּ\־u.te.nu-and giveH5414
לִ֥יlito <the> me
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ha.na.'a.Rathe girlH5291
לְאִשָּֽׁה\׃le.'i.Shahto a wifeH802

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 34:12

  • Exodus 22:16-17

    And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins.

  • Genesis 24:53

    And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.

  • Deuteronomy 22:28-29

    If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

  • 1 Samuel 18:25-27

    And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired. Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

  • Genesis 31:41

    Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.

  • 2 Samuel 3:14

    And David sent messengers to Ish–bosheth Saul’s son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.

  • Genesis 29:18

    And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

  • Matthew 14:17

    And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

  • Hosea 3:2

    So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ask me.On the practice of purchasing wives, De La Roque says, "Properly speaking, a young man who would marry must purchase his wife; and fathers among the Arabs are never so happy as when they have many daughters. They form part of the riches of the house. Accordingly, when a young man would treat with a person whose daughter he is inclined to marry, he says to him, 'Will you give me your daughter for fifty sheep, for six camels, or for a dozen cows?' according to the rank of her family, and the circumstances of him who desires to marry her."
dowry.
24:53; 29:18; 31:41; Ex 22:16,17; De 22:28,29; 1Sa 18:25-27
2Sa 3:14; Ho 3:2; Mt 14:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 34:11

    And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.

  • Genesis 34:12

    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.

  • Genesis 34:13

    And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

Read all of Genesis 34

Genesis 34:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Aumentad á cargo mío mucho dote y dones, que yo daré cuanto me dijereis, y dadme la moza por mujer.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Haussez beaucoup pour moi la dot et le présent, et je donnerai selon que vous me direz; et donnez-moi la jeune fille pour femme.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Leget mir sehr viel auf als Heiratsgabe und Geschenk, und ich will es geben, so wie ihr mir sagen werdet; und gebet mir das Mädchen zum Weibe.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		augete dotem, et munera postulate, et libenter tribuam quod petieritis: tantum date mihi puellam hanc uxorem.