One verse. Three ways to understand.
You should tell them, 'Your servants have been livestock herders from our youth until now, both we and our fathers before us. This way you can live in the land of Goshen, because all shepherds are disgusting to the Egyptians.'
Joseph is coaching his family to emphasize their occupation as herders so they can be settled in Goshen, away from the Egyptians who despise shepherds.
These are AI-assisted adaptations, not separate Bible editions. Compare them with the KJV source and read our methodology. How these readings are made →
Read the KJV source
King James Version · EnglishThat 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.Ask the AI Assistant
Ask about this passage. AI can make mistakes; compare the answer with the source.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Joseph, who had risen to a position of power in Egypt, instructed his family to identify themselves as shepherds when speaking to Pharaoh during a time of severe famine. This was strategic because the Egyptians culturally despised shepherds, viewing them as unclean, which would allow the Israelites to settle in the isolated land of Goshen and maintain their separation. This context highlights the tensions between nomadic herders like the Israelites and the settled agricultural society of Egypt.