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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 46:33 When Pharaoh summons you and asks, 'What is your occupation?'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/46-33.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/01_Gen_46_33.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 46:33 - Jacob Arrives in Egypt" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="When Pharaoh summons you and asks, 'What is your occupation?'" /><script type="application/javascript" 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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/46.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/46.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />When Pharaoh calls you in and asks, &#8216What is your occupation?&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/46.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Then he said, “When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you about your occupation,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/46.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />When Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/46.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/46.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What <i>is</i> your occupation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/46.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So it shall be, when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/46.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Pharaoh calls for you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/46.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220When Pharaoh calls you and says, &#8216What is your occupation?&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/46.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“And it shall come about when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/46.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And it will be when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/46.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And it shall be that when Pharaoh calls you and says, ‘What is your occupation?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/46.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Pharaoh addresses you and asks, ‘What is your occupation? ’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/46.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Pharaoh addresses you and asks, &#8216What is your occupation?&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/46.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/46.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The king will call you in and ask what you do for a living. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/46.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/46.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Now, when Pharaoh calls for you and asks, 'What kind of work do you do?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/46.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />When the king calls for you and asks what your occupation is, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/46.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />When Pharaoh calls for you and asks you 'What's your occupation?' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/46.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ?What is your occupation??<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/46.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Pharaoh will summon you and say, 'What is your occupation?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/46.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And it will come to pass, when Pharaoh summons you and says, 'What is your occupation?'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/46.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/46.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />It will happen, when Pharaoh summons you, and will say, ‘What is your occupation?’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/46.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it has come to pass, when Pharaoh calls for you and has said, What [are] your works?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/46.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it hath come to pass when Pharaoh calleth for you, and hath said, What are your works?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/46.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it will be when Pharaoh shall call to you and say, What your work?<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/46.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And when he shall call you, and shall say: What is your occupation? <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/46.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And when he will call you and will say, ‘What is your work?’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/46.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So when Pharaoh summons you and asks what your occupation is,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/46.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />When Pharaoh calls you, and says, ‘What is your occupation?’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/46.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you and shall say to you. What is your occupation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/46.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And when Pharaoh will call you and he will say to you, ‘What is your work?.’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/46.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say: What is your occupation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/46.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />If then Pharao call you, and say to you, What is you occupation?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/46-33.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=12207" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/46.htm">Jacob Arrives in Egypt</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">32</span>The men are shepherds; they raise livestock, and they have brought their flocks and herds and all that they own.’ <span class="reftext">33</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. ">When</a> <a href="/hebrew/6547.htm" title="6547: par·‘ōh (N-proper-ms) -- A title of Eg. kings. Of Egyptian derivation; Paroh, a general title of Egyptian kings.">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/hebrew/7121.htm" title="7121: yiq·rā (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To call, proclaim, read. A primitive root; to call out to.">summons</a> <a href="/hebrew/lā·ḵem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: wə·’ā·mar (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and asks,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4100.htm" title="4100: mah- (Interrog) -- What? how? anything. ">‘What</a> <a href="/hebrew/4639.htm" title="4639: ma·‘ă·śê·ḵem (N-mpc:: 2mp) -- A deed, work. From asah; an action; generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product or property.">is your occupation?’</a> </span><span class="reftext">34</span>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.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-11.htm">Exodus 1:11</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-13.htm">Exodus 1:13-14</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/3-18.htm">Exodus 3:18</a></span><br />The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/5-4.htm">Exodus 5:4-5</a></span><br />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.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/6-6.htm">Exodus 6:6-7</a></span><br />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. / I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/8-25.htm">Exodus 8:25-26</a></span><br />Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, sacrifice to your God within this land.” / But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/9-1.htm">Exodus 9:1</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/10-24.htm">Exodus 10:24-26</a></span><br />Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.” / But Moses replied, “You must also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. / Even our livestock must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind, for we will need some of them to worship the LORD our God, and we will not know how we are to worship the LORD until we arrive.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/12-31.htm">Exodus 12:31-32</a></span><br />Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. / Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-5.htm">Exodus 14:5</a></span><br />When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-11.htm">Exodus 14:11-12</a></span><br />They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us into the wilderness to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? / Did we not say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone so that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/15-9.htm">Exodus 15:9</a></span><br />The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/18-1.htm">Exodus 18:1</a></span><br />Now Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian, heard about all that God had done for Moses and His people Israel, and how the LORD had brought Israel out of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/19-4.htm">Exodus 19:4-6</a></span><br />‘You have seen for yourselves what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. / Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. / And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/20-2.htm">Exodus 20:2</a></span><br />“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?</p><p class="hdg">no references listed for this verse.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/39-11.htm">Business</a> <a href="/revelation/17-9.htm">Calls</a> <a href="/acts/19-25.htm">Occupation</a> <a href="/genesis/46-31.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/revelation/1-4.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/nahum/2-5.htm">Summons</a> <a href="/acts/22-10.htm">What</a> <a href="/revelation/22-12.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/47-3.htm">Business</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/18-11.htm">Calls</a> <a href="/genesis/46-34.htm">Occupation</a> <a href="/genesis/47-1.htm">Pharaoh</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/24-3.htm">Sends</a> <a href="/numbers/16-12.htm">Summons</a> <a href="/exodus/3-13.htm">What</a> <a href="/genesis/47-3.htm">Works</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 46</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/46-1.htm">Jacob is comforted by God at Beersheba.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/46-5.htm">Thence he with his company goes into Egypt.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/46-8.htm">The number of his family that went into Egypt.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">28. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/46-28.htm">Joseph meets Jacob.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/46-31.htm">He instructs his brothers how to answer Pharaoh.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/46.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/46.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>When Pharaoh summons you and asks,</b><br>This phrase sets the scene for a significant encounter between Joseph's family and Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. The summoning by Pharaoh indicates the importance of the meeting, as Pharaoh was the most powerful figure in Egypt. This reflects the high status Joseph had achieved, allowing his family to have an audience with the king. Historically, Egypt was a powerful and advanced civilization, and Pharaohs were considered divine figures. This context highlights the gravity of the situation for Jacob's family, who were shepherds from Canaan.<p><b>‘What is your occupation?’</b><br>The question about occupation is crucial in the context of ancient Egypt. Shepherds were often looked down upon by Egyptians, as seen in <a href="/genesis/46-34.htm">Genesis 46:34</a>, where Joseph advises his brothers to say they are keepers of livestock rather than shepherds. This distinction was important because Egyptians considered shepherds to be an abomination (<a href="/genesis/46-34.htm">Genesis 46:34</a>). The occupation of Joseph's family as shepherds also connects to their identity as Hebrews, a nomadic people with a pastoral lifestyle. This question foreshadows the separation of the Israelites in the land of Goshen, which would allow them to maintain their distinct cultural and religious identity. The theme of occupation also ties into the broader biblical narrative of God using humble beginnings and professions to fulfill His purposes, as seen in the lives of other biblical figures like David, who was a shepherd before becoming king.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob (Israel)</a></b><br>The patriarch of the Israelites, who is moving his family to Egypt during a time of famine.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a></b><br>Jacob's son, who has risen to a position of power in Egypt and is orchestrating the relocation of his family.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/p/pharaoh.htm">Pharaoh</a></b><br>The ruler of Egypt, who will meet Jacob's family and inquire about their occupation.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where Jacob's family is moving to find sustenance during the famine.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_famine.htm">The Famine</a></b><br>A severe famine affecting the region, prompting Jacob's family to seek refuge in Egypt.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/i/identity_and_occupation.htm">Identity and Occupation</a></b><br>Understanding one's identity in Christ is crucial, just as Jacob's family needed to be clear about their occupation when meeting Pharaoh.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_provision.htm">God's Provision</a></b><br>Trust in God's provision, as He provided for Jacob's family through Joseph's position in Egypt.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/faith_in_transition.htm">Faith in Transition</a></b><br>Like Jacob's family moving to Egypt, believers often face transitions that require faith and trust in God's plan.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/cultural_engagement.htm">Cultural Engagement</a></b><br>Engaging with different cultures, as Jacob's family did with the Egyptians, requires wisdom and discernment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_the_future.htm">Preparation for the Future</a></b><br>Just as Joseph prepared his family for their meeting with Pharaoh, believers should prepare for future challenges by grounding themselves in Scripture.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_46.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 46</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'the_flesh_profits_nothing'_mean.htm">Who is comparable to the Most High?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/forgive_debtors.htm">Does Genesis depict Joseph's actions as socialist?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_proof_of_joseph's_high_rank_in_egypt.htm">Is there archaeological proof that Joseph was elevated to such a high rank in Egypt as described in Genesis 47:1-6?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_of_abimelech's_gerar_in_genesis_20.htm">Is there any archaeological or historical evidence to support the presence of Abimelech or a kingdom in Gerar at the time of Genesis 20?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/46.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 33, 34.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation</span>? Pharaoh's inquiry was characteristically Egyptian, being rendered necessary by the strict distinction of castes that then prevailed. According to a law promulgated by Amasis, a monarch of the 26th dynasty, every Egyptian was obliged to give a yearly account to the monarch or State governor of how he lived, with the certification that if he failed to show that he possessed an honorable calling (<span class="greek">δικαίην ζόην</span>) he should be put to death (Herod., 2:177). <span class="cmt_word">That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle</span> (literally, men <span class="accented">of cattle arc thy servants</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen.</span> Joseph probably desired his brethren to settle in Goshen for three reasons. <p><span class="note_emph">(1)</span> It was suitable for their flocks and herds; <p><span class="note_emph">(2)</span> it would secure their isolation from the Egyptians; and <p><span class="note_emph">(3)</span> it was contiguous to Canaan, and would be easier vacated when the time arrived for their return. <span class="cmt_word">For every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.</span> These are obviously the words not of Joseph, but of the historian, and their accuracy is strikingly corroborated by Herodotus (2. 47, 164), who affirms that the swine-herds, one of the seven castes, classes, or guilds into which the Egyptians were divided, were regarded with such abhorrence that they were not allowed to enter a temple or contract marriage with any others of their countrymen; and by existing monuments, which show that though the statement of Josephus ('Ant.,' 2:07, 5) is incorrect that "the Egyptians were prohibited from meddling with the keeping of sheep,' yet those, who tended cattle were greatly despised, Egyptian artists evincing the contempt in which they were held by frequently representing them as either lame or deformed, dirty and unshaven, and sometimes of a most ludicrous appearance (<span class="accented">vide</span> Wilkinson, 'Ancient Egyptians,' vol. 2. p. 444, ed. 1878). It has been thought that the disrepute in which the shepherd guild was held by the Egyptians was attributable partly to the nature of their occupation, and partly to the feeling excited against them by the domination of the shepherd kings (Wilkinson, Wordsworth, Murphy, and others); but . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/46-33.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">When</span><br /><span class="heb">כִּֽי־</span> <span class="translit">(kî-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> </span><span class="str2">A relative conjunction</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Pharaoh</span><br /><span class="heb">פַּרְעֹ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(par·‘ōh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6547.htm">Strong's 6547: </a> </span><span class="str2">Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings</span><br /><br /><span class="word">summons</span><br /><span class="heb">יִקְרָ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(yiq·rā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7121.htm">Strong's 7121: </a> </span><span class="str2">To call, proclaim, read</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="heb">לָכֶ֖ם</span> <span class="translit">(lā·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/.htm">Strong's Hebrew</a> </span><span class="str2"></span><br /><br /><span class="word">and asks,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאָמַ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’ā·mar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘What</span><br /><span class="heb">מַה־</span> <span class="translit">(mah-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interrogative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4100.htm">Strong's 4100: </a> </span><span class="str2">What?, what!, indefinitely what</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is your occupation?’</span><br /><span class="heb">מַּעֲשֵׂיכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(ma·‘ă·śê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4639.htm">Strong's 4639: </a> </span><span class="str2">An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/46-33.htm">Genesis 46:33 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/46-33.htm">OT Law: Genesis 46:33 It will happen when Pharaoh summons you (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/46-32.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 46:32"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 46:32" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/46-34.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 46:34"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 46:34" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>