New International Version Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.” New Living Translation And Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors. English Standard Version Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” Berean Standard Bible “What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.” Berean Literal Bible And Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What are your⁺ works?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds of sheep, both we and also our fathers.” King James Bible And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. New King James Version Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.” New American Standard Bible Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” NASB 1995 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” NASB 1977 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” Legacy Standard Bible Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” Amplified Bible And Pharaoh said to his brothers [as Joseph expected], “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers [before us].” Berean Annotated Bible “What is your⁺ occupation? Pharaoh (great house) asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds, they replied, “both we and our fathers. Christian Standard Bible And Pharaoh asked his brothers, “What is your occupation? ” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants, both we and our ancestors, are shepherds.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then Pharaoh asked his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants, both we and our fathers, are shepherds.” American Standard Version And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers. Contemporary English Version who asked them, "What do you do for a living?" "Sir, we are shepherds," was their answer. "Our families have always raised sheep. English Revised Version And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers. GOD'S WORD® Translation Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What kind of work do you do?" They answered Pharaoh, "We are shepherds, as were our ancestors. Good News Translation The king asked them, "What is your occupation?" "We are shepherds, sir, just as our ancestors were," they answered. International Standard Version Pharaoh asked his brothers, "What are your occupations?" "Your servants are shepherds," they replied, "both we and our ancestors. NET Bible Pharaoh said to Joseph's brothers, "What is your occupation?" They said to Pharaoh, "Your servants take care of flocks, just as our ancestors did." New Heart English Bible Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers." Webster's Bible Translation And Pharaoh said to his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.” World English Bible Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Pharaoh says to his brothers, “What [are] your works?” And they say to Pharaoh, “Your servants [are] feeders of a flock, both we and our fathers”; Berean Literal Bible And Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What are your⁺ works?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds of sheep, both we and also our fathers.” Young's Literal Translation and Pharaoh saith unto his brethren, 'What are your works?' and they say unto Pharaoh, 'Thy servants are feeders of a flock, both we and our fathers;' Smith's Literal Translation And Pharaoh will say to his brethren, What your work? and they will say to Pharaoh, Thy servants were feeding sheep, also we, also our fathers. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he asked them: What is your occupation? They answered: Re thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers. Catholic Public Domain Version And he questioned them, “What do you have for work?” They responded: “Your servants are pastors of sheep, both we and our fathers. New American Bible When Pharaoh asked them, “What is your occupation?” they answered, “We, your servants, like our ancestors, are shepherds. New Revised Standard Version Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Pharaoh said to Joseph's brothers, What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers, from our youth. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Pharaoh said to the brothers of Yoseph, “What is your work?”, and they said to Pharaoh: “Your Servants are Shepherds of sheep, even we and also our fathers from our youth.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Pharaoh said unto his brethren: 'What is your occupation?' And they said unto Pharaoh: 'Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Pharao said to the brethren of Joseph, What is your occupation? and they said to Pharao, Thy servants are shepherds, both we and our father. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Jacob Settles in Goshen…2And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. 3“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.” 4Then 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.”… Cross References What is your occupation? Genesis 46:33-34 When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ / 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.” Genesis 4:2 Later she gave birth to Cain’s brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, while Cain was a tiller of the soil. Genesis 25:27 When the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man who stayed at home. Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. Genesis 46:31-32 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh: ‘My brothers and my father’s household from the land of Canaan have come to me. / The men are shepherds; they raise livestock, and they have brought their flocks and herds and all that they own.’ Acts 7:13 On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. Genesis 45:16-20 When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. / Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. / Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’ … “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, 1 Samuel 17:34-35 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. Exodus 3:1 Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. Genesis 13:7 And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land. “both we and our fathers.” Genesis 24:35 “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. Genesis 26:12-14 Now Isaac sowed seed in the land, and that very year he reaped a hundredfold. And the LORD blessed him, / and he became richer and richer, until he was exceedingly wealthy. / He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. Genesis 30:43 Thus Jacob became exceedingly prosperous. He owned large flocks, maidservants and menservants, and camels and donkeys. Exodus 1:11 So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. Exodus 1:13-14 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly / and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh. Exodus 5:4-5 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!” / Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” Exodus 6:6 Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. Treasury of Scripture And Pharaoh said to his brothers, What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Your servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. What is. Genesis 46:33,34 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? … Amos 7:14,15 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: … Jonah 1:8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? shepherds. Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Jump to Previous Business Fathers Feeders Flock Keepers Occupation Pharaoh Servants Sheep Shepherds WorksJump to Next Business Fathers Feeders Flock Keepers Occupation Pharaoh Servants Sheep Shepherds WorksGenesis 47 1. Joseph presents his father, and five of his brothers before Pharaoh.11. He gives them habitation and maintenance. 13. He gets the Egyptian's money; 16. their cattle; 18. and their lands, except the priests', to Pharaoh. 23. He restores the land for a fifth. 28. Jacob's age. 29. He swears Joseph to bury him with his fathers. “What is your occupation?” Pharaoh’s question allowed Joseph’s family to state plainly who they were and why they had come. Their work would help determine where they could live and how they would fit within Egypt. Shepherds were despised by many Egyptians, who considered sheep unclean, making Goshen a suitable place for Jacob’s household to remain together and apart from Egyptian society. Gen 46:33-34 When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?… Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. Joseph’s position gave his family access to Egypt’s ruler during the famine. Their appearance before Pharaoh also continued the fulfillment of Joseph’s earlier dreams, as his brothers stood before the one God had raised to authority over Egypt. Gen 46:31-32 Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household,… “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, The brothers answered honestly and respectfully, acknowledging Pharaoh’s authority while identifying themselves as men who cared for flocks and herds. Their occupation was the same work practiced by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 1Sa 17:34-35 David replied, “Your servant has been tending… “both we and our fathers.” Their answer emphasized that shepherding was their family’s longstanding way of life. Though they entered Egypt because of famine, they remained the household through whom God would preserve Jacob’s family and fulfill His covenant promises. Gen 24:35 The LORD has greatly blessed my master… Persons / Places / Events 1. PharaohThe ruler of Egypt, who holds significant power and authority. In this context, he is interacting with Joseph's brothers. 2. Joseph's Brothers The sons of Jacob, who have come to Egypt due to the famine in Canaan. They are seeking sustenance and a place to live. 3. Egypt The land where Joseph has risen to power and where his family seeks refuge during the famine. 4. Shepherds The occupation of Joseph's brothers, which is significant in the cultural and historical context of the time. Teaching Points Cultural Identity and FaithfulnessJoseph's brothers openly declare their occupation as shepherds, despite its low status in Egyptian society. This teaches us the importance of maintaining our identity and values, even when they are counter-cultural. God's Provision in Times of Need The brothers' journey to Egypt and their interaction with Pharaoh demonstrate God's provision and guidance during times of famine and hardship. We can trust God to provide for us in our times of need. Humility and Service The occupation of shepherding, often seen as humble and lowly, is embraced by Joseph's family. This reflects the biblical theme that God values humility and service over status and power. Intercultural Interactions The encounter between Joseph's family and Pharaoh highlights the challenges and opportunities in intercultural interactions. As Christians, we are called to navigate these interactions with wisdom and integrity. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 47:3?2. How does Genesis 47:3 demonstrate God's provision for His people in adversity? 3. What role does Joseph play in fulfilling God's plan in Genesis 47:3? 4. How does Genesis 47:3 connect to God's promises to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3? 5. How can we trust God's sovereignty in our work situations, as seen in Genesis 47:3? 6. What lessons from Genesis 47:3 can we apply to our faith during trials? 7. How does Genesis 47:3 reflect the Israelites' relationship with Egyptians? 8. What does Genesis 47:3 reveal about Joseph's leadership skills? 9. How does Genesis 47:3 illustrate God's providence in times of famine? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 47? (3) Also our fathers.--Joseph had instructed them to add this (Genesis 46:34), because occupations were hereditary among the Egyptians, and thus Pharaoh would conclude that in their case also no change was possible in their mode of life.Verse 3. - And Pharaoh said unto his (i.e. Joseph's) brethren, What is your occupation? (vide Genesis 46:33). And they said unto Pharaoh, - as directed (Genesis 46:34) - Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. Genesis 47:3 captures more than a job interview; it reveals God orchestrating events so His covenant family remains set apart in Egypt. Pharaoh’s direct question allows the brothers to declare their humble, inherited vocation, positioning them in Goshen where their identity and faith can flourish. Their unified, honest answer shows integrity, honors Joseph’s leadership, and keeps them aligned with God’s centuries-long plan to make Israel a distinct people through whom He will bless the world. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Whatמַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what is your occupation?” מַּעֲשֵׂיכֶ֑ם (ma·‘ă·śê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property Pharaoh פַּרְעֹ֛ה (par·‘ōh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings asked וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say [Joseph’s] brothers. אֶחָ֖יו (’e·ḥāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 251: A brother, ) “Your servants עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant are shepherds,” רֹעֵ֥ה (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 they replied, וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “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.” אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 1: Father Additonal Resources Genesis 47:3 Blue Letter BibleGenesis 47:3 Bible Gateway Genesis 47:3 Bible.com Genesis 47:3 NIV |
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