English Standard Version
Genesis 46:34
34you 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."
Genesis 46:34 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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 International Version (NIV)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 King James Version (NKJV)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 Living Translation (NLT)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.”
Context of Genesis 46:34
32And 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.' 33When Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation?' 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."
Read all of Genesis 46Genesis 46:34 word by word
וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם אַנְשֵׁ֨י מִקְנֶ֜ה הָי֤וּ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ מִנְּעוּרֵ֣ינוּ וְעַד־עַ֔תָּה גַּם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ גַּם־אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ בַּעֲב֗וּר תֵּשְׁבוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ גֹּ֔שֶׁן כִּֽי־תוֹעֲבַ֥ת מִצְרַ֖יִם כָּל־רֹ֥עֵה צֹֽאן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- That ye shall sayאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Thy servants’עֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- tradeאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- hath been about cattleמִקְנֶהmiqneh · livestockH4735
- from our youthנְעוּרִיםnâ‛ûr nâ‛ûr ne‛ûrâh · youthH5271
- also our fathersאָב'âb · fatherH1
- that ye may dwellיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- in the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Goshenגֹּ֫שֶׁןgôshen · GoshenH1657
- for every shepherdצֹאןtsô'n tse'ôn · flockH6629
- for every shepherdרָעָהrâ‛âh · to pastureH7462
- an abominationתּוֹעֵבַהtô‛êbah tô‛êbah · abominationH8441
- unto the Egyptiansמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
Cross-references for Genesis 46:34
- Genesis 46:32And 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.'
- Genesis 30:35But that day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white on it, and every lamb that was black, and put them in the charge of his sons.
- Genesis 34:5Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came.
- Genesis 37:12Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near Shechem.
- Genesis 43:32They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.
- Exodus 8:26But Moses said, "It would not be right to do so, for the offerings we shall sacrifice to the Lord our God are an abomination to the Egyptians. If we sacrifice offerings abominable to the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us?
Commentaries on Genesis 46:34
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Thy servants trade hath been about cattle - "The land of Goshen, called also the land of Rameses, lay east of the Nile, by which it was never overflowed, and was bounded by the mountains of the Thebaid on the south, by the Nile and Mediterranean on the west and north, and by the Red Sea and desert of Arabia on the east. It was the Heliopolitan nome or district, and its capital was called On. Its proper name was Geshen, the country of grass or pasturage…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-34Verses 1-34 - Jacob Goes Down to Egypt 9. פלוּא pallû' Pallu, “distinguished.” חצרן chetsrôn Chetsron, of the “court,” or “village.” כרמי karmı̂y Karmi, “vine-dresser.” 10. ימוּאל yemû'êl Jemuel, “day of El.” ימין yâmı̂yn Jamin, “right hand.” אהד 'ôhad Ohad, “joining together.” יכין yâkı̂yn Jakin, “he shall establish.” צחר tsôchar Tsochar, “whiteness.” 11. גרשׁון gêreshôn Gereshon, “expelling.” קהת qehâth Qehath, “assembly.” מררי merârı̂y…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 28-34Verses 28-34 It was justice to Pharaoh to let him know that such a family was come to settle in his dominions. If others put confidence in us, we must not be so base as to abuse it by imposing upon them. But how shall Joseph dispose of his brethren? Time was, when they were contriving to be rid of him; now he is contriving to settle them to their advantage; this is rendering good for evil. He would have them live by themselves, in the land of Goshen…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34The Canaanites would have mixed with the Israelites if they stayed in Canaan. But, Egyptians disliked Semitic shepherds due to ethnic pride and kept them separate (see 43:32). When Jacob’s family settled in Egypt, this separation helped them increase into a large nation while keeping their identity.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 31-3431-34. Joseph said, ... I will go up, and show Pharaoh--It was a tribute of respect due to the king to inform him of their arrival. And the instructions which he gave them were worthy of his character alike as an affectionate brother and a religious man.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 46:34
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 46
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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