We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is uncircumcised, which with us is unlawful and abominable.

and say unto them, 'We are not able to do this thing, to give our sister to one who hath a foreskin: for it is a reproach to us.

And they said, It is not possible for us to give our sister to one who is without circumcision, for that would be a cause of shame to us:

"We are not able to do what you ask, nor to give our sister to an uncircumcised man. For us, this is unlawful and abominable.

Et dixerunt ad eos, Non possumus facere hoc, ut demus sorerem nostram viro, cui est praeputium: quia opprobrium esset nobis.

That were a reproach unto us - Because the uncircumcised were not in the covenant of God; and to have given an heiress of the promise to one who had no kind of right to its spiritual blessings, from whom might spring children who would naturally walk in the way of their father would have been absurd, reproachful and wicked. Thus far they were perfectly right; but to make this holy principle a cloak for their deceitful and murderous purposes, was the full sum of all wickedness

And they said unto them, (c) We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that [were] a (d) reproach unto us:
(c) They used the holy ordinance of God a means to accomplish their wicked purpose.
(d) As it is abomination for those who are baptized to be joined to infidels.

And they said unto them,.... Levi and Simeon, to Hamor and Shechem:
we cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; not that there was any law against it at that time; and there were, on the other hand, precedents for it both in Isaac and Jacob, who had married the daughters of uncircumcised persons; nor indeed do they plead any law, only that it was not becoming their character, nor agreeably to their religion, nor honourable in their esteem:
for that were a reproach unto us; and they should be reflected upon for slighting the institution of circumcision, which was of God: so they pretend it might be interpreted, should they enter into affinity with uncircumcised persons.