Genesis 47:3 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 47:3 kjv
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.
Genesis 47:3 nkjv
Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers."
Genesis 47:3 niv
Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What is your occupation?" "Your servants are shepherds," they replied to Pharaoh, "just as our fathers were."
Genesis 47:3 esv
Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were."
Genesis 47:3 nlt
And Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What is your occupation?" They replied, "We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors.
Genesis 47 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:34 | "And you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock…'… that you may dwell in the land of Goshen…" | Joseph's counsel to declare their profession to secure Goshen. |
| Ex 3:1 | "Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law…" | Moses, chosen leader of Israel, was a shepherd. |
| 1 Sam 17:15 | "But David had gone to and from Saul to feed his father’s sheep at Bethlehem." | David, the chosen king, was a shepherd. |
| Ps 23:1 | "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." | God portrayed as the caring Shepherd. |
| Isa 40:11 | "He will feed His flock like a shepherd…" | God's compassionate care for His people, similar to a shepherd. |
| Ezek 34:11-12 | "For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out…'" | God promises to be the true Shepherd of Israel, contrasting with failed human leaders. |
| Jn 10:11, 14 | "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep… I know My sheep…" | Jesus identifies Himself as the ultimate Good Shepherd. |
| Heb 13:20 | "Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep…" | Jesus confirmed as the Great Shepherd. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-4 | "Shepherd the flock of God which is among you… you will receive the unfading crown of glory." | Believers called to spiritually shepherd the church under the Chief Shepherd. |
| Num 27:17 | "…who may go out before them and come in before them… so that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep without a shepherd.” | Need for a shepherd-like leader for God's people. |
| Ps 78:70-71 | "He chose David His servant and took him from the sheepfolds… to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance." | God calls those from humble shepherd tasks to lead His people. |
| Gen 46:32 | "And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock…" | Description of their occupation to Joseph before Pharaoh. |
| Prov 12:19 | "The lip of truth shall be established forever…" | The importance and enduring nature of truthfulness in their declaration. |
| Zech 8:16 | "Speak the truth to one another." | God's call for honesty, exemplified in their answer. |
| Col 4:6 | "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." | Principle of speaking wisely and appropriately. |
| Gen 43:32 | "for the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians." | Pre-existing cultural distinctness facilitating separation. |
| Ex 8:26 | "And Moses said, ‘It is not right to do so, for we would sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God.’" | Cultural distinction leading to the demand for separation from Egyptians for worship. |
| Lev 20:24 | "I have separated you from the peoples." | God's broader principle of setting apart His people. |
| Acts 15:9 | "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." | In contrast to Israel's former distinctness, in Christ there's unity among believers. |
| 2 Cor 6:17 | "Therefore 'Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.'" | The spiritual imperative for believers to maintain distinctness from the world. |
| Gen 45:7-8 | "And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth…" | Joseph’s recognition of God’s overarching plan behind events. |
| Gen 50:20 | "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good…" | God's sovereignty working through human intentions. |
| Ps 37:23 | "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…" | God’s guiding hand in the trajectory of lives. |
| 2 Sam 5:2 | "The LORD said to you, 'You shall shepherd My people Israel and be prince over Israel.'" | God specifically appointed David from his shepherd role to lead Israel. |
Genesis 47 verses
Genesis 47 3 meaning
Pharaoh inquired of Joseph's brothers about their family's traditional profession. They truthfully responded that they, and their ancestors, were shepherds. This declaration of their pastoral occupation was a crucial part of Joseph’s divinely guided plan to secure the best land for his family and keep them distinct from the Egyptians.
Genesis 47 3 Context
Genesis chapter 47 begins with Joseph presenting five of his brothers, and later his aged father Jacob, before Pharaoh. The severe famine gripping the entire region necessitated the migration of Jacob's large family to Egypt. Joseph, who had already instructed his brothers on how to answer Pharaoh (Gen 46:31-34), orchestrated this encounter. Pharaoh's question in verse 3 is not casual; it is an administrative inquiry, vital for deciding where to settle these newcomers. Historically, ancient Egyptians, predominantly settled agriculturists, held nomadic shepherds in low regard, sometimes viewing them as an abomination (Gen 46:34) or as foreign, uncultured wanderers. This cultural prejudice, ironically, served God's providential plan, allowing the Hebrew family to be isolated in the rich grazing lands of Goshen, preventing their assimilation into Egyptian society and preserving their distinct identity as a nascent nation, setting the stage for their future deliverance.
Genesis 47 3 Word analysis
- Then Pharaoh: Indicates the formal encounter and direct involvement of Egypt's highest authority. Pharaoh's power directly influences the lives of Jacob's family.
- said: A simple declaration from the monarch, requiring an immediate and respectful response.
- to his brothers: Refers to Joseph's family members whom he had brought into the royal presence (Gen 47:2).
- 'What is your occupation?':
- Hebrew: מַה־מַּעֲשֵׂיכֶם (mah-ma'ăśêḵem).
mah(what),ma'aseh(work, deed, business, occupation). - Significance: This is a crucial administrative question from a ruler to new inhabitants. It seeks to categorize them for economic integration, land allocation, and societal order. It also serves as the direct fulfillment of Joseph's earlier strategic coaching, preparing the brothers to respond in a way that secures Goshen for them.
- Hebrew: מַה־מַּעֲשֵׂיכֶם (mah-ma'ăśêḵem).
- And they said: Indicates immediate, obedient, and truthful compliance to Pharaoh's authoritative query.
- to Pharaoh: Reiteration of the respectful protocol required when addressing the powerful king.
- 'Your servants':
- Hebrew: עֲבָדֶיךָ (ʿăḇādeḵā).
avadim(servants, slaves). - Significance: A humble and deferential address appropriate for subjects speaking to a sovereign. It establishes their acknowledged lower status relative to the Pharaoh's supreme authority, but does not yet imply literal enslavement. It signifies respect and submission to the governing authority.
- Hebrew: עֲבָדֶיךָ (ʿăḇādeḵā).
- 'are shepherds':
- Hebrew: רֹעֵי צֹאן (ro'ei tzon) - "feeders of sheep/flocks."
ro'eh(shepherd, herdsman),tzon(flock, sheep, goats). - Significance: The definitive and truthful declaration of their inherited way of life. This identifies them as pastoral nomads, requiring extensive grazing land, and strategically plays into the Egyptian cultural bias against shepherds (Gen 46:34). This truth positions them perfectly for settlement in the separate region of Goshen. This seemingly humble profession also holds significant theological weight throughout Scripture, associating with divine leadership (Moses, David, Christ).
- Hebrew: רֹעֵי צֹאן (ro'ei tzon) - "feeders of sheep/flocks."
- 'both we and our fathers':
- Significance: This phrase emphasizes the ancestral, generational continuity of their occupation. It's not a temporary job but an inherited tradition, validating their need for vast pasturelands and reinforcing their cultural identity as distinct from the settled Egyptians. This also shows their transparency and commitment to their heritage.
Words-group Analysis
- "What is your occupation?" / "Your servants are shepherds": This question and answer form the pivotal exchange that determines the immediate future of Jacob's family in Egypt. It underscores the practical administration of the Egyptian state, combined with the strategic, divinely-guided response of Joseph and his brothers. This simple exchange reveals identity, purpose, and sets the stage for God's larger redemptive plan, ensuring Israel's preservation and eventual emergence as a distinct nation.
Genesis 47 3 Bonus section
- Polemical Implication: While not overtly polemical, the text subtly contrasts the Egyptians' settled, agricultural (and religiously polytheistic) life with the Hebrews' nomadic, pastoral, and monotheistic (though still developing) identity. The Egyptian disdain for shepherds thus providentially becomes the very mechanism by which God separates and preserves His people from assimilation into the dominant pagan culture, highlighting His unique care for Israel.
- Type of Leaders: The "shepherd" motif carries immense theological weight. While seen as a humble occupation in Egypt, in Israel's history, figures like Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David were shepherds, culminating in Jesus Christ, the ultimate "Good Shepherd." The seemingly low status declared in this verse is ironic in light of God's later raising up of shepherd-leaders.
- Narrative Resolution: This verse directly fulfills the pre-planned strategy outlined by Joseph in Genesis 46:31-34. It acts as a moment of narrative resolution, showing Joseph's foresight and God's guiding hand effectively shaping the future of Jacob's family.
Genesis 47 3 Commentary
Genesis 47:3 is a concise yet highly significant verse. Pharaoh’s direct, pragmatic question regarding the occupation of Joseph's brothers is met with their well-rehearsed, honest answer. Their declaration that they are hereditary shepherds, a profession looked down upon by the settled agricultural Egyptians, strategically enabled their permanent settlement in Goshen. This geographical and social separation was crucial. It preserved their distinct cultural and religious identity, protecting them from assimilation into Egyptian polytheistic society, ensuring their eventual growth into a large nation, and preparing them for the later exodus. This passage beautifully illustrates God's sovereign providence working through human planning and cultural dynamics, utilizing seemingly ordinary circumstances—even societal disdain—to perfectly position His chosen people for His ultimate purposes.
For practical application, this shows how even our mundane, honest descriptions of our lives and work can be used by God for His larger purposes. Believers are called to truthfully present themselves, trusting that God can orchestrate events even through the world's perception of our "occupation" or identity in Christ, leading to preservation and spiritual growth.