Genesis 47:3

Verse

“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.

Bible in Basic English

And Pharaoh said to them, What is your business? And they said, Your servants are keepers of sheep, as our fathers were before us.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he asked them: What is your occupation? They answered: We thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.

Free Bible Version

Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What work do you do?” “Your servants are shepherds, just like our fathers before us,” they replied.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then Pharaoh said vnto his brethren, What is your trade? And they answered Pharaoh, Thy seruants are shepheards, both we and our fathers.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.”

Translation for Translators

The king asked the brothers, “What work do you do?” They replied, “We are shepherds, just as our ancestors were.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors.”

Noah Webster Bible

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.

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.”

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;'

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.”

Summary

In this verse, Pharaoh asks Jacob about his age, to which Jacob responds by recounting the difficult and challenging years of his life. Jacob's acknowledgment of his life's hardships reflects his humility and resilience in the face of adversity. Despite the trials he faced, Jacob's faith in God remained steadfast, serving as a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision throughout his life. This exchange between Pharaoh and Jacob showcases the importance of trusting in God's sovereignty and guidance, even in the midst of life's struggles.

Commentary

Keil-Delitzsch
John Gill

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

Pharaoh asked them about their occupation, and according to Joseph's instructions they replied that they were herdsmen (צאן רעה, the singular of the predicate, see Ges. 147c), who had come to sojourn in the land (גּוּר, i.e., to stay for a time), because the pasture for their flocks had failed in the land of Canaan on account of the famine. The king then empowered Joseph to give his father and his brethren a dwelling (הושׁיב) in the best part of the land, in the land of Goshen, and, if he knew any brave men among them, to make them rulers over the royal herds, which were kept, as we may infer, in the land of Goshen, as being the best pasture-land.

Genesis 47:3

Jacob Settles in Goshen

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.

Bible in Basic English

And Pharaoh said to them, What is your business? And they said, Your servants are keepers of sheep, as our fathers were before us.

Douay-Rheims 1899

And he asked them: What is your occupation? They answered: We thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.

Free Bible Version

Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What work do you do?” “Your servants are shepherds, just like our fathers before us,” they replied.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then Pharaoh said vnto his brethren, What is your trade? And they answered Pharaoh, Thy seruants are shepheards, both we and our fathers.

King James (Authorized) Version

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.

One Unity Resource Bible

Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.”

Translation for Translators

The king asked the brothers, “What work do you do?” They replied, “We are shepherds, just as our ancestors were.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors.”

Noah Webster Bible

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.

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.”

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;'

Genesis 47:3

Verse

Context

Jacob Settles in Goshen

Summary

Commentary

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Genesis 47:3

Jacob Settles in Goshen

Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary