Genesis 46:34
New International Version
you should answer, ‘Your servants have tended livestock from our boyhood on, just as our fathers did.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

New Living Translation
you must tell him, ‘We, your servants, have raised livestock all our lives, as our ancestors have always done.’ When you tell him this, he will let you live here in the region of Goshen, for the Egyptians despise shepherds.”

English Standard Version
you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Berean Standard Bible
you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth—both we and our fathers.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

King James Bible
That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

New King James Version
that you shall say, ‘Your servants’ occupation has been with livestock from our youth even till now, both we and also our fathers,’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

New American Standard Bible
you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock since our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

NASB 1995
you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.”

NASB 1977
that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.”

Legacy Standard Bible
then you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth and until now, both we and our fathers,’ that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”

Amplified Bible
you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we and our fathers [before us],’ in order that you may live [separately and securely] in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is repulsive to the Egyptians.”

Christian Standard Bible
you are to say, ‘Your servants, both we and our ancestors, have raised livestock from our youth until now.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to Egyptians.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
you are to say, ‘Your servants, both we and our fathers, have raised livestock from our youth until now.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are abhorrent to Egyptians.”

American Standard Version
that ye shall say, Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Contemporary English Version
When he does, be sure to say, "We are shepherds. Our families have always raised sheep." If you tell him this, he will let you settle in the region of Goshen. Joseph wanted them to say this to the king, because the Egyptians did not like to be around anyone who raised sheep.

English Revised Version
that ye shall say, Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
you must answer, 'We have taken care of herds all our lives, as our ancestors have done.' [You must say this] so that you may live in the region of Goshen, because all shepherds are disgusting to Egyptians."

Good News Translation
be sure to tell him that you have taken care of livestock all your lives, just as your ancestors did. In this way he will let you live in the region of Goshen." Joseph said this because Egyptians will have nothing to do with shepherds.

International Standard Version
you are to tell him, 'Your servants have been taking care of livestock since we were youths. We and our ancestors have taken care of livestock.' That way, you'll be able to live in the Goshen territory, since shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."

Majority Standard Bible
you are to say, ?Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth?both we and our fathers.? Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.?

NET Bible
Tell him, 'Your servants have taken care of cattle from our youth until now, both we and our fathers,' so that you may live in the land of Goshen, for everyone who takes care of sheep is disgusting to the Egyptians."

New Heart English Bible
that you are to say, 'Your servants have looked after livestock from our youth until now, both we, and our fathers: 'in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen; since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."

Webster's Bible Translation
That ye shall say, The occupation of thy servants hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.

World English Bible
that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
That you have said, Your servants have been men of livestock from our youth, even until now, both we and our fathers, in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for the abomination of the Egyptians is everyone feeding a flock.”

Young's Literal Translation
that ye have said, Thy servants have been men of cattle from our youth, even until now, both we and our fathers, -- in order that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen, for the abomination of the Egyptians is every one feeding a flock.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And saying, Thy servants were men of cattle from our childhood and till now; also we, also our fathers; that ye shall dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd of sheep is an abomination to the Egyptians.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
You shall answer: We thy servants are shepherds, from our infancy until now, both we and our fathers. And this you shall say, that you may dwell in the land of Gessen, because the Egyptians have all shepherds in abomination.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You will respond, ‘Your servants are pastors of honor, from our infancy even to the present time, both we and our fathers.’ Now you will say this so that you may be able to live in the land of Goshen, because the Egyptians detest all pastors of sheep.”

New American Bible
you must answer, ‘We your servants, like our ancestors, have been owners of livestock from our youth until now,’ in order that you may stay in the region of Goshen, since all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.”

New Revised Standard Version
you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our ancestors’—in order that you may settle in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are abhorrent to the Egyptians.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
You shall say to him, Your servants are cattle raisers from their youth even until now, both we and also our fathers; that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for the Egyptians despise all those who feed sheep.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Say to him, ‘My Lord, your Servants have been cattle men from their youth until now, also we and also our fathers’, because you will dwell in the land of Geshan because Egyptians despise all Shepherds of sheep.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
that ye shall say: Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers; that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Ye shall say, We thy servants are herdsmen from our youth until now, both we and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Gesem of Arabia, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Arrives in Egypt
33When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth both we and our fathers.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”

Cross References
Exodus 8:26
But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us?

Genesis 43:32
They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

Genesis 47:3-4
“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.” / Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen.”

Genesis 37:2
This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

1 Samuel 16:11
And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

1 Samuel 17:15
but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep in Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 17:34-36
David replied, “Your servant has been tending his father’s sheep, and whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a lamb from the flock, / I went after it, struck it down, and delivered the lamb from its mouth. If it reared up against me, I would grab it by its fur, strike it down, and kill it. / Your servant has killed lions and bears; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

2 Samuel 7:8
Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel.

Amos 1:1
These are the words of Amos, who was among the sheepherders of Tekoa—what he saw concerning Israel two years before the earthquake, in the days when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam son of Jehoash was king of Israel.

Luke 2:8
And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

John 10:11-14
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. / The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. ...

Matthew 9:36
When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Matthew 25:32-33
All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. / He will place the sheep on His right and the goats on His left.

Hebrews 13:20
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; / not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. / And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.


Treasury of Scripture

That you shall say, Your servants' trade has been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Thy servants.

Genesis 46:32
And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.

Genesis 30:35
And he removed that day the he goats that were ringstraked and spotted, and all the she goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons.

Genesis 34:5
And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.

for every.

Genesis 43:32
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Exodus 8:26
And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?

Jump to Previous
Abomination Cattle Dwell Egyptians Fathers Goshen Keepers Livestock Occupation Servants Shepherd Trade Youth
Jump to Next
Abomination Cattle Dwell Egyptians Fathers Goshen Keepers Livestock Occupation Servants Shepherd Trade Youth
Genesis 46
1. Jacob is comforted by God at Beersheba.
5. Thence he with his company goes into Egypt.
8. The number of his family that went into Egypt.
28. Joseph meets Jacob.
31. He instructs his brothers how to answer Pharaoh.














you are to say
This phrase indicates a directive or instruction, emphasizing the importance of obedience and preparation. In the Hebrew context, the act of speaking or declaring is often tied to authority and intention. Here, Joseph is instructing his brothers on how to present themselves to Pharaoh, highlighting the importance of wisdom and discernment in communication.

Your servants have raised livestock
The term "servants" reflects humility and a recognition of social hierarchy. In ancient cultures, identifying oneself as a servant was a way to show respect and submission. The phrase "raised livestock" connects to the Hebrew word "ro'eh," meaning shepherd or herdsman. This occupation was central to the patriarchal lifestyle, signifying a connection to the land and God's provision.

ever since our youth
This phrase underscores a lifelong vocation and tradition, suggesting continuity and faithfulness. It implies a deep-rooted identity and expertise in their trade. In the biblical narrative, such continuity often signifies God's enduring faithfulness and the passing down of covenantal promises through generations.

both we and our fathers
This highlights the generational aspect of their occupation, emphasizing heritage and legacy. In the Hebrew tradition, the mention of "fathers" often invokes the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—reminding the reader of God's covenantal relationship with His people. It underscores the importance of family and tradition in maintaining identity and faith.

Then you will be allowed to settle
The phrase "allowed to settle" indicates permission and acceptance, suggesting a divine orchestration in the unfolding events. In the context of the narrative, it reflects God's providence in providing a place of refuge and sustenance for Jacob's family during the famine. It also foreshadows the eventual growth of Israel into a great nation within Egypt.

in the land of Goshen
Goshen is identified as a fertile region in Egypt, suitable for grazing and agriculture. Archaeologically, it is believed to be located in the eastern Nile Delta. Theologically, Goshen represents God's provision and protection, a place where His people could thrive despite being in a foreign land. It symbolizes the blessings that come from obedience and faithfulness.

since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians
This phrase provides cultural and historical context, as Egyptians viewed shepherds with disdain, possibly due to differing lifestyles and religious practices. The Hebrew word "to'evah," translated as "detestable," often denotes something ritually or morally abhorrent. This cultural distinction serves God's purpose, allowing Israel to remain separate and distinct, preserving their identity and faith amidst a pagan society.

(34) For every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.--This is probably a remark of the narrator, and it is confirmed by the monuments, which generally represent shepherds as unshaven and ill-dressed. Necessarily the Egyptians had sheep and cattle (Genesis 47:16-17), and even Pharaoh had herds (Genesis 47:6); but the care of them was probably left by the peasantry to the women and children, while the men busied themselves with the cultivation of their fields. We need not go far to seek for the cause of this dislike. The word "abomination," first of all, suggests a religious ground of difference; and not only did shepherds probably kill animals worshipped in different Egyptian districts, but their religion generally was diverse from that of the fixed population. But next, men who lead a settled life always dislike wandering clans, whose cattle are too likely to prey upon their enclosed land (see Note on Genesis 4:8), and who, moving from place to place, are usually not very scrupulous as to the rights of property. Such nomades, too, are generally lower in civilisation, and more rude and rough, than men who have fixed homes. The subjugation of Egypt by the Hyksos was possibly subsequent to the era of Joseph; but we now know from Egyptian sources that there was perpetual war between Egypt and the Hittites, and probably raids were often made upon the rich fields on the banks of the Nile by other Semitic tribes dwelling upon its eastern frontier; and as all these wore regarded as shepherds, there was ground enough for the dislike of all nomades as a class, even though the Egyptians did not disdain to have cattle themselves. But as the land in the Nile Valley was arable, the cattle kept would only be such as were useful for agriculture, whereas they formed the main wealth of the Israelites.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
you are to say,
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם (wa·’ă·mar·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Your servants
עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

have raised livestock
מִקְנֶ֜ה (miq·neh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisition

ever since our youth—
מִנְּעוּרֵ֣ינוּ (min·nə·‘ū·rê·nū)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 5271: Youth, the state, the persons

both
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

we
אֲנַ֖חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū)
Pronoun - first person common plural
Strong's 587: We

and
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

our fathers.’
אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ (’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 1: Father

Then
בַּעֲב֗וּר (ba·‘ă·ḇūr)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5668: Crossed, transit, on account of, in order that

you will be allowed to settle
תֵּשְׁבוּ֙ (tê·šə·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in the land
בְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Goshen,
גֹּ֔שֶׁן (gō·šen)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1657: Goshen -- a district in Egypt, also a city in southern Judah

since
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

shepherds
רֹ֥עֵה (rō·‘êh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with

are detestable
תוֹעֲבַ֥ת (ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

to the Egyptians.”
מִצְרַ֖יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt


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OT Law: Genesis 46:34 That you shall say 'Your servants have (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 46:33
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