Joseph instructs his family to identify as shepherds to Pharaoh, but the surprising part is his strategic use of an Egyptian aversion. He knows this specific profession is "an abomination" to the Egyptians, using this cultural disgust as a reason to settle his family in the isolated, pasture-rich land of Goshen, thereby protecting them and preserving their distinct identity.
you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joseph advises his family on how to present themselves to Pharaoh, suggesting they identify themselves as shepherds. This strategic move is intended to secure their settlement in the land of Goshen, a fertile area suitable for their livestock. Joseph knows that shepherds were generally held in contempt by Egyptians, which he believes will prevent the Israelites from being too integrated into Egyptian society and allow them to remain distinct.
Why did Joseph steer his family away from the heart of Egypt and towards a specific region? It wasn't just about finding pasture; it was about protecting his entire family's future.
Joseph's careful instruction to his brothers about their occupation serves a crucial purpose: preservation. By presenting themselves as shepherds, a profession held in contempt by the Egyptians, they are strategically placed in the land of Goshen.
Protection Through Separation
Ask a follow-up
The Egyptians despised shepherds, yet Joseph presented this very profession as the key to his family's settlement. How could something viewed with such disdain become a pathway to safety?
The apparent paradox of seeking favor by highlighting a despised profession reveals a deeper divine strategy. Joseph understood that the Egyptians' aversion to shepherds wasn't merely a minor dislike; it was a significant cultural and even religious barrier.
Reasons for Egyptian Disdain:
Joseph's Astute Application:
Joseph leverages this deep-seated aversion. By identifying his family as shepherds, he signals that they are:
This strategy effectively created a protective barrier, allowing the Israelites to remain physically together in Goshen, where they could grow and flourish under God's protection, apart from the corrupting influences of Egyptian society.
Understand the original words
ʿebed · Hebrew Noun
A person who provides service or labor to another, often implying submission and obligation. In a biblical context, it frequently describes the posture of believers before God, but here it denotes the social status of Joseph's family in relation to Pharaoh.
tōʿēbāh · Hebrew Noun
A term used in the Old Testament to describe something that is morally detestable, repugnant, or religiously unclean to God or, as in this context, to a specific culture. It suggests a strong social barrier or cultural taboo that separates the Israelites from the Egyptians.
gōšen · Hebrew Noun
A region in the eastern Nile Delta granted to the Israelites by Pharaoh. It represents a place of divine provision and temporary refuge where God protected His people during the famine, distinct from the main centers of Egyptian life.
Joseph strategically places his family in Goshen, a region known for its pastures and separation from Egyptian society, because their occupation as shepherds was considered detestable by the Egyptians, likely due to religious differences and historical conflicts with foreign shepherds.
c. 1845 BC
Jacob's Family Settles in Canaan
Jacob and his large family have been living and prospering in the land of Canaan for many years, following God's promises.
c. 1730 BC
Joseph's Rise to Power in Egypt
Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, rises to become the second-in-command in Egypt after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams.
c. 1730 BC
Famine Grips Canaan and Egypt
A severe famine strikes the region, forcing Jacob to send his sons to Egypt to buy grain.
c. 1730 BC— this verse
Jacob's Family Migrates to Egypt
Following Joseph's guidance and Pharaoh's invitation, Jacob and his entire household, numbering about 70 people, move to Egypt to escape the famine.
c. 1730 BC
Settlement in Goshen
Joseph advises his family to tell Pharaoh they are shepherds, a profession abhorred by Egyptians. This allows them to settle in the fertile land of Goshen, separate from the general population.
c. 1730 BC
Israelites Begin Dwelling in Goshen
The family of Jacob is granted permission to live in the land of Goshen, a pastureland suitable for their livestock, establishing their presence in Egypt.
This verse directly echoes the sentiment of Genesis 46:34, stating that sacrificing the animals the Egyptians held sacred would be an abomination to them, explaining the deep-seated cultural and religious aversion to shepherds.
Numbers 32:1-5The request by the tribes of Reuben and Gad to settle in Gilead, a region suitable for livestock, parallels the Israelites' desire for and Joseph's strategy in settling in Goshen, a pastureland, for the sake of their herds.
Deuteronomy 11:10-12This passage contrasts the watered lands of Egypt, where one 'watered it with his foot,' with the land of Canaan, which required rain from heaven, highlighting that Goshen's suitability for pastureland was a key factor in God's providence for Israel's dwelling in Egypt.
Psalm 78:52-53This psalm recounts God's guidance of Israel out of Egypt, likening their exodus to a shepherd leading his flock, providing a thematic link between Israel's identity as shepherds and God's protective care for them, even when they were settled in Egypt.
clarkeGenesis 46:34: "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."
Thy servants trade hath been about cattle - "The land of Goshen, called also the land of Rameses, lay east of the Nile, by which it was never overflowed, and was bounded by the mountains of the Thebaid on the south, by the Nile and Mediterranean on the west an…
calvinGenesis 46:1-34: "And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac."
- Et dixit Deus ad Israel in visi onibus noctis, dixit inquam, Jahacob Jahacob. Ille respondit, Ecce, adsum.
3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
- Et dixit, Ego sum Deus, Deus patris tui: ne timeas descendere in Aegyptum: quia in gentem magnam ponam to ibi…
Joseph instructs his family to identify as shepherds to Pharaoh, but the surprising part is his strategic use of an Egyptian aversion. He knows this specific profession is "an abomination" to the Egyptians, using this cultural disgust as a reason to settle his family in the isolated, pasture-rich land of Goshen, thereby protecting them and preserving their distinct identity.
Joseph advises his family on how to present themselves to Pharaoh, suggesting they identify themselves as shepherds. This strategic move is intended to secure their settlement in the land of Goshen, a fertile area suitable for their livestock. Joseph knows that shepherds were generally held in contempt by Egyptians, which he believes will prevent the Israelites from being too integrated into Egyptian society and allow them to remain distinct.
Joseph advises his family on how to present themselves to Pharaoh, suggesting they identify themselves as shepherds. This strategic move is intended to secure their settlement in the land of Goshen, a fertile area suitable for their livestock. Joseph knows that shepherds were generally held in contempt by Egyptians, which he believes will prevent the Israelites from being too integrated into Egyptian society and allow them to remain distinct.
"you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,’ in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.”" — Joseph instructs his family to identify as shepherds to Pharaoh, but the surprising part is his strategic use of an Egyptian aversion. He knows this specific profession is "an abomination" to the Egy…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
