Genesis 46:32-34
New English Translation
32 The men are shepherds;[a] they take care of livestock.[b] They have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 Pharaoh will summon you and say, ‘What is your occupation?’ 34 Tell him, ‘Your servants have taken care of cattle[c] from our youth until now, both we and our fathers,’ so that you may live in the land of Goshen,[d] for everyone who takes care of sheep is disgusting[e] to the Egyptians.”
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- Genesis 46:32 tn Heb “feeders of sheep.”
- Genesis 46:32 tn Heb “for men of livestock they are.”
- Genesis 46:34 tn Heb “your servants are men of cattle.”
- Genesis 46:34 sn So that you may live in the land of Goshen. Joseph is apparently trying to stress to Pharaoh that his family is self-sufficient, that they will not be a drain on the economy of Egypt. But they will need land for their animals and so Goshen, located on the edge of Egypt, would be a suitable place for them to live. The settled Egyptians were uneasy with nomadic people, but if Jacob and his family settled in Goshen they would represent no threat.
- Genesis 46:34 tn Heb “is an abomination.” The Hebrew word תּוֹעֵבָה (toʿevah, “abomination”) describes something that is loathsome or off-limits. For other practices the Egyptians considered disgusting, see Gen 43:32 and Exod 8:22.
Genesis 46:32-34
English Standard Version
32 (A)And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.’ 33 When Pharaoh calls you and says, (B)‘What is your occupation?’ 34 you shall say, (C)‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock (D)from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell (E)in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is (F)an abomination to the Egyptians.”
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