Genesis 34:12
New International Version
Make the price for the bride and the gift I am to bring as great as you like, and I’ll pay whatever you ask me. Only give me the young woman as my wife.”

New Living Translation
No matter what dowry or gift you demand, I will gladly pay it—just give me the girl as my wife.”

English Standard Version
Ask me for as great a bride-price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife.”

Berean Standard Bible
Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Ask me ever so much dowry and gift, and I will give according to what you say to me; but give me the young woman as a wife.”

New American Standard Bible
Demand of me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give whatever you tell me; but give me the girl in marriage.”

NASB 1995
“Ask me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give according as you say to me; but give me the girl in marriage.”

NASB 1977
“Ask me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give according as you say to me; but give me the girl in marriage.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Ask me ever so much bridal payment and gift, and I will give according as you say to me; but give me the girl as a wife.”

Amplified Bible
Demand of me a very large bridal payment and gift [as compensation for giving up your daughter and sister], and I will give you whatever you tell me; only give me the girl to be my wife.”

Christian Standard Bible
Demand of me a high compensation and gift; I’ll give you whatever you ask me. Just give the girl to be my wife! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Demand of me a high compensation and gift; I’ll give you whatever you ask me. Just give the girl to be my wife!”

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
Ask anything, no matter how expensive. I'll do anything, just let me marry Dinah."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Set the price I must pay for the bride and the gift I must give her as high as you want. I'll pay exactly what you tell me. Give me the girl as my wife."

Good News Translation
Tell me what presents you want, and set the payment for the bride as high as you wish; I will give you whatever you ask, if you will only let me marry her."

International Standard Version
No matter how big or how extensive your demands are for a dowry and wedding presents from me, I'll provide whatever you ask. Only give me the young lady to be my wife."

Majority Standard Bible
Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!?

NET Bible
You can make the bride price and the gift I must bring very expensive, and I'll give whatever you ask of me. Just give me the young woman as my wife!"

New Heart English Bible
Ask me for a very expensive bride price, and I will pay whatever you ask of me, but give me the young woman as a wife."

Webster's Bible Translation
Ask 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.

World English Bible
Ask 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.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
multiply on me dowry and gift exceedingly, and I give as you say to me, and give to me the young person for a wife.”

Young's Literal Translation
multiply on me exceedingly dowry and gift, and I give as ye say unto me, and give to me the young person for a wife.'

Smith's Literal Translation
Increase to me greatly the dowry and gift, and I will give according to that ye shall say to me; and ye shall give to me this maiden for a wife.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Raise the dowery,, and ask gifts, and I will gladly give what you shall demand: only give me this damsel to wife.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Increase the dowry, and request gifts, and I will freely bestow what you will ask. Only give me this girl as a wife.”

New American Bible
No matter how high you set the bridal price and gift, I will give you whatever you ask from me; only give me the young woman as a wife.”

New Revised Standard Version
Put the marriage present and gift as high as you like, and I will give whatever you ask me; only give me the girl to be my wife.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Ask me as much as you wish, both dowry and gifts, and I will give you according as you shall say to me; but give me this girl to wife.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Multiply against me a great dowry and gifts and I shall give just as you say to me, and give this girl to me as a wife.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Multiply your demand of dowry very much, and I will give accordingly as ye shall say to me, only ye shall give me this damsel for a wife.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Defiling of Dinah
11Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Grant me this favor, and I will give you whatever you ask. 12Demand a high dowry and an expensive gift, and I will give you whatever you ask. Only give me the girl as my wife!”

Cross References
Exodus 22:16-17
If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged in marriage and sleeps with her, he must pay the full dowry for her to be his wife. / If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, the man still must pay an amount comparable to the bridal price of a virgin.

Deuteronomy 22:28-29
If a man encounters a virgin who is not pledged in marriage, and he seizes her and lies with her, and they are discovered, / then the man who lay with her must pay the young woman’s father fifty shekels of silver, and she must become his wife because he has violated her. He must not divorce her as long as he lives.

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.”

Hosea 3:2
So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech of barley.

Judges 14:2-3
So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.” / But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”

1 Kings 9:16
Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire, killed the Canaanites who lived in the city, and given it as a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.

Numbers 36:6-7
This is what the LORD has commanded concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: They may marry anyone they please, provided they marry within a clan of the tribe of their father. / No inheritance in Israel may be transferred from tribe to tribe, because each of the Israelites is to retain the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Ruth 4:10
Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.”

1 Corinthians 7:36-38
However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married. / But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well. / So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

Matthew 22:25-28
Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died without having children. So he left his wife to his brother. / The same thing happened to the second and third brothers, down to the seventh. / And last of all, the woman died. ...

Ephesians 5:25-33
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. ...

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

1 Timothy 5:14
So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, denying the adversary occasion for slander.

1 Corinthians 6:16
Or don’t you know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”


Treasury of Scripture

Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as you shall say to me: but give me the damsel to wife.

Ask me.

dowry.

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.

Genesis 29:18
And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.

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.

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Amount Bridal Damsel Dower Dowry Exceedingly Gift Girl Great However I'll Impose Lady Maiden Marriage Multiply Payment Present Price Whatever Wife Young
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Amount Bridal Damsel Dower Dowry Exceedingly Gift Girl Great However I'll Impose Lady Maiden Marriage Multiply Payment Present Price Whatever Wife Young
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.














Demand a high dowry and gift
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a dowry was a customary payment made by the groom to the bride's family, signifying a formal agreement and commitment. The Hebrew word for "dowry" is "mohar," which indicates a bride price or compensation. This practice was not merely transactional but was intended to demonstrate the groom's ability to provide and his earnestness in marriage. The mention of a "high" dowry suggests an attempt to appease and negotiate, reflecting the gravity of the situation following the violation of Dinah. It underscores the cultural importance of marriage agreements and the value placed on familial honor and restitution.

I will pay whatever you ask me
This phrase reveals the desperation and willingness of Shechem to secure Dinah as his wife, regardless of the cost. The Hebrew root "natan," meaning "to give," is used here, emphasizing the act of offering or providing. This reflects Shechem's determination to rectify his wrongdoing through material compensation, a common practice in ancient times to resolve disputes and restore relationships. It also highlights the patriarchal nature of the society, where women's futures were often negotiated by male relatives.

Only give me the girl as my wife
The plea "only give me the girl" underscores Shechem's singular focus on marrying Dinah, despite the preceding transgression. The Hebrew word "na'arah," translated as "girl," refers to a young woman of marriageable age, indicating Dinah's vulnerability and the societal expectations placed upon her. The phrase "as my wife" reflects the cultural and legal binding of marriage, which was seen as a means to legitimize relationships and secure alliances. This request, however, is laden with irony and tension, as it follows an act of violence, challenging the moral and ethical standards of the community. The narrative invites reflection on the themes of justice, repentance, and the complexities of human relationships within the framework of divine law and covenant.

(12) Dowry and gift.--The word rendered dowry (mohar) is the price paid to the parents and relatives of the bride, though taking the form of a present. The gift (matthan) was the present made by the bridegroom to the bride herself. Besides this, her relatives were expected to give her presents, and with some tribes of Arabs it is usual even to make over to her the dowry.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Demand
הַרְבּ֨וּ (har·bū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

a high
עָלַ֤י (‘ā·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

dowry
מֹ֣הַר (mō·har)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4119: Purchase price (of a wife)

and [an expensive] gift,
וּמַתָּ֔ן (ū·mat·tān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4976: A present

and I will give you
וְאֶ֨תְּנָ֔ה (wə·’et·tə·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

whatever
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you ask.
תֹּאמְר֖וּ (tō·mə·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Only give
וּתְנוּ־ (ū·ṯə·nū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

me
לִ֥י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

the girl
הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ (han·na·‘ă·rā)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5291: A girl, maiden

as my wife!”
לְאִשָּֽׁה׃ (lə·’iš·šāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female


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OT Law: Genesis 34:12 Ask me a great amount (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 34:11
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