Genesis Chapter 46 verse 34 Holy Bible
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.
read chapter 46 in ASV
You are to say, Your servants have been keepers of cattle from our early days up to now, like our fathers; in this way you will be able to have the land of Goshen for yourselves; because keepers of sheep are unclean in the eyes of the Egyptians.
read chapter 46 in BBE
then ye shall say, Thy servants are men that have been occupied with cattle from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers; in order that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.
read chapter 46 in DARBY
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.
read chapter 46 in KJV
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.
read chapter 46 in WBT
that you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of cattle 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."
read chapter 46 in WEB
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.'
read chapter 46 in YLT
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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 ...Hebrewyou are to say,וַאֲמַרְתֶּ֗ם (wa·’ă·mar·tem)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralStrong's 559: To utter, say‘Your servantsעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā)Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singularStrong's 5650: Slave, servanthave raised livestockמִקְנֶ֜ה (miq·neh)Noun - masculine singularStrong's 4735: Something bought, property, livestock, acquisitionever since our youth—מִנְּעוּרֵ֣ינוּ (min·nə·‘ū·rê·nū)Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralStrong's 5271: Youth, the state, the personsbothגַּם־ (gam-)ConjunctionStrong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, andweאֲנַ֖חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū)Pronoun - first person common pluralStrong's 587: Weandגַּם־ (gam-)ConjunctionStrong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, andour fathers.’אֲבֹתֵ֑ינוּ (’ă·ḇō·ṯê·nū)Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralStrong's 1: FatherThenבַּעֲב֗וּר (ba·‘ă·ḇūr)Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularStrong's 5668: Crossed, transit, on account of, in order thatyou will be allowed to settleתֵּשְׁבוּ֙ (tê·šə·ḇū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralStrong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marryin the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץ (bə·’e·reṣ)Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructStrong's 776: Earth, landof Goshen,גֹּ֔שֶׁן (gō·šen)Noun - proper - feminine singularStrong's 1657: Goshen -- a district in Egypt, also a city in southern Judahsinceכִּֽי־ (kî-)ConjunctionStrong's 3588: A relative conjunctionallכָּל־ (kāl-)Noun - masculine singular constructStrong's 3605: The whole, all, any, everyshepherdsרֹ֥עֵה (rō·‘êh)Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular constructStrong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate withare detestableתוֹעֲבַ֥ת (ṯō·w·‘ă·ḇaṯ)Noun - feminine singular constructStrong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idolto the Egyptians.”מִצְרַ֖יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singularStrong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of EgyptJump to PreviousAbomination Cattle Dwell Egyptians Fathers Goshen Keepers Livestock Occupation Servants Shepherd Trade Youth
