The Meaning of Genesis 34:12 Explained

Genesis 34:12

KJV: 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.

YLT: 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.'

Darby: Impose 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 34:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 34:1-17 - Jacob With The Shechemites
Jacob was tempted by the fat pastures of Shechem, without thought or care of the character of its people, and he lived to bitterly rue his choice. How many religious parents have made the same mistake! They first encamp near the world, pitching their tent doors in that direction; then they buy a parcel of land, and finally their children contract alliances that end in shame and disaster. He who came of a pilgrim race, and to whom the whole land had been given by promise, bought real estate right against Shechem, one of the worst cities in the country. Like Lot, Jacob bid high for wealth and worldly advancement, risked the highest for the lowest, and was saved as by fire. Poor Dinah! Yet she was more sinned against than sinning. Jacob had put her in jeopardy by his selfish policy; and Leah was not blameless, for she had let her go unwarned and unaccompanied into the middle of that furnace of trial. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 34:12 mean?

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
הַרְבּ֨וּ עָלַ֤י מְאֹד֙ מֹ֣הַר וּמַתָּ֔ן וְאֶ֨תְּנָ֔ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר תֹּאמְר֖וּ אֵלָ֑י וּתְנוּ־ לִ֥י אֶת־ הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖ לְאִשָּֽׁה

הַרְבּ֨וּ  Ask 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הַרְבָּה 
Sense: be or become great, be or become many, be or become much, be or become numerous.
עָלַ֤י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מְאֹד֙  ever  so  much 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
מֹ֣הַר  dowry 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹהַר  
Sense: purchase price for wife, wedding money.
וּמַתָּ֔ן  and  gift 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַתָּן  
Sense: gifts, offerings, presents.
וְאֶ֨תְּנָ֔ה  and  I  will  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר  according  to  what 
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
תֹּאמְר֖וּ  you  say 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלָ֑י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וּתְנוּ־  but  give 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לִ֥י  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַֽנַּעֲרָ֖  the  young  woman 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: נַעֲרָה  
Sense: girl, damsel, female servant.
לְאִשָּֽׁה  as  a  wife 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אִשָּׁה  
Sense: woman, wife, female.