These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’
Parallel Translations
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These men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.’
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And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.
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and the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.
Cross-references (15)
Passages linked to Genesis 46:32 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Genesis 47:3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.”
- Genesis 4:2 Again she gave birth, to Cain’s brother Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
- Genesis 9:20 Noah began to be a farmer, and planted a vineyard.
- Genesis 31:18 and he took away all his livestock, and all his possessions which he had gathered, including the livestock which he had gained in Paddan Aram, to go to Isaac his father, to the land of Canaan.
- Genesis 37:2 This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought an evil report of them to their father.
- Genesis 45:10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
- Genesis 46:34 that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock 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.”
- Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to God’s mountain, to Horeb.
- 1 Samuel 17:15 Now David went back and forth from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.
- 1 Kings 9:27 Hiram sent in the fleet his servants, sailors who had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.
- 1 Kings 18:5-6 Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land, to all the springs of water, and to all the brooks. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, that we not lose all the animals.” So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
- Psalms 78:70-72 He also chose David his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the ewes that have their young, he brought him to be the shepherd of Jacob, his people, and Israel, his inheritance. So he was their shepherd according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skillfulness of his hands.
- Isaiah 40:11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom. He will gently lead those who have their young.
- Zechariah 13:5 but he will say, ‘I am no prophet, I am a tiller of the ground; for I have been made a bondservant from my youth.’
- 1 Samuel 16:11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (5 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain He was not ashamed of his father and kindred,…
He was not ashamed of his father and kindred, though they were of base condition.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Gen 46:32 And the men [are] shepherds, for their…
Gen 46:32 And the men [are] shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.
Ver. 32. The men are shepherds.] The truly virtuous or valorous are no whit ashamed of their lowly parentage, but rather glory in themselves, that their merit hath advanced them above so many thousands far better descended. Dr Cox, almoner, and Sir John Cheek, tutor, to King Edward VI, were men of lowly birth, but so well esteemed, saith the historian, {a} for virtue and learning, that they might well be said to be born of themselves. So were Iphicrates, that brave Athenian, the son of a cobbler; Eumenes, one of Alexander’s best captains, the son of a carter; Agathocles king of Sicily, of a potter, &c. And these would many times freely discourse of their beginning, and plainly relate their bringing up, and what their parents were.
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And they have brought their flocks.] As choosing rather a poor shepherd’s life in God’s service, than to ruffle it as courtiers, out of the Church. So did Moses afterwards; and David; {Psa 84:10} and the poor prophet that died so deep in debt; and Micaiah; and those that "wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins," {Heb 11:37} who haply might have rustled in silks and velvets, if they would have strained their consciences. Origen was contented to be a poor catechist at Alexandria, every day in fear of death, when he might have been with his fellow pupil Plotinus, in great authority and favour, if not a Christian. Luther was offered a cardinalship, to have held his tongue; Galeacius Caracciohs, a great sum of gold, to have returned to his marquesdom in Italy, &c. God takes it kindly when men will go "after him in the wilderness, in a land not sown"; {Jer 2:2} that is, choose him and his ways in affliction, and with self-denial.
{a} Sir John Heywood in his Edward VI
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 32. The men are shepherds — “In spite of…
32. The men are shepherds — “In spite of the fact that shepherds were ‘an abomination to the Egyptians,’ Joseph introduces his brethren as shepherds; yea, for that reason he does so. This fact would secure them the isolation demanded by their providential mission. Compare the note at the beginning of this chapter, and see note on Gen_47:3.” — Newhall.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 32. the men are shepherds] These words are followed…
32. the men are shepherds] These words are followed by what may be a gloss, “for they have been keepers of cattle” (probably drawn from Gen_46:34). If not a gloss, “shepherds” must include herdsmen, and “cattle” be used here quite generally of flocks and herds. In Gen_47:3 “thy servants are shepherds”: but in Gen_47:6 Pharaoh makes them “rulers over my cattle.”
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (32) The men are shepherds.—As Joseph’s object was to…
(32) The men are shepherds.—As Joseph’s object was to keep his brethren isolated in Goshen, he instructs them not to conceal their occupation, because Pharaoh on knowing it would not wish them to dwell in Egypt itself.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.