Genesis 47:4 kjv
They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.
Genesis 47:4 nkjv
And they said to Pharaoh, "We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."
Genesis 47:4 niv
They also said to him, "We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan and your servants' flocks have no pasture. So now, please let your servants settle in Goshen."
Genesis 47:4 esv
They said to Pharaoh, "We have come to sojourn in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants' flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. And now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen."
Genesis 47:4 nlt
We have come to live here in Egypt for a while, for there is no pasture for our flocks in Canaan. The famine is very severe there. So please, we request permission to live in the region of Goshen."
Genesis 47 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:10 | Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. | Abram also sojourned in Egypt due to famine. |
| Gen 23:4 | “I am a sojourner and resident among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” | Abraham identifies as a sojourner. |
| Gen 26:1-3 | Now there was a famine in the land... The Lord appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land that I shall tell you... For to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands." | Isaac warned not to go to Egypt, showing God's control. |
| Gen 41:54 | The seven years of famine began to come, as Joseph had said, and there was famine in all lands... | Global famine, confirming their reason. |
| Gen 45:6-7 | For there are yet five years of famine, in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to keep alive for you many survivors. | Joseph reveals divine purpose behind the famine and their preservation. |
| Gen 45:10 | “You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.” | Joseph's prior instruction to dwell in Goshen. |
| Gen 46:3-4 | He said, “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation... I will also bring you up again." | God affirms Jacob's going to Egypt, highlighting it's a temporary dwelling for a larger purpose. |
| Exo 1:7 | But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. | Fulfillment of God's promise of multiplication in Egypt. |
| Exo 8:22 | But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there... | Goshen protected during plagues, demonstrating divine distinction. |
| Exo 12:48 | If a stranger sojourns with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised... he shall be as a native of the land. | Laws concerning sojourners among Israel. |
| Lev 25:23 | “The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with me.” | God's ownership of the land and Israel's sojourner status, even in Canaan. |
| Deut 23:7 | “You shall not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. You shall not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a sojourner in his land." | Reminder of Israel's sojourning in Egypt. |
| Ps 39:12 | “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry... for I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers.” | David reflects on humanity's temporary status before God. |
| Ps 105:23 | Then Israel came to Egypt; Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham. | Confirms Jacob's temporary dwelling in Egypt. |
| Acts 7:11 | Now there came a famine over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction, and our fathers could find no food. | Stephen recounts the famine, aligning with Genesis. |
| Heb 11:9 | By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. | Patriarchs lived as sojourners in Canaan, a continuation of the theme. |
| Heb 11:13 | These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. | The spiritual status of believers as sojourners for an eternal home. |
| 1 Pet 2:11 | Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. | Christians viewed as spiritual sojourners in this world. |
Genesis 47 verses
Genesis 47 4 Meaning
Genesis 47:4 records the request made by Jacob's sons to Pharaoh. They explain their temporary relocation from Canaan to Egypt due to the severe famine that has depleted the pastures for their livestock. They explicitly ask Pharaoh for permission to reside as sojourners in the land of Goshen, a region known for its suitable grazing lands, affirming their current state as strangers in need of a temporary dwelling place.
Genesis 47 4 Context
Genesis chapter 47 opens with Joseph presenting five of his brothers to Pharaoh. Joseph had previously instructed his brothers to tell Pharaoh that they were shepherds (Gen 46:31-34), knowing that shepherds were considered detestable to the Egyptians. This strategy was not to insult Pharaoh but to ensure his family would be settled in a distinct region, Goshen, away from the main Egyptian population centers, preserving their cultural and religious identity. The famine was a well-known crisis, severely affecting both Egypt and Canaan, creating a pressing need for a viable living space with sufficient pasturage. Their request in Genesis 47:4 builds upon this pre-arranged understanding with Joseph and Pharaoh's initial benevolent invitation for Jacob's family to settle in the best part of the land (Gen 45:18-20). Their statement affirms their need and respectfully seeks formal permission to ensure a proper and lawful temporary settlement, crucial for the security and sustenance of their large family and vast livestock.
Genesis 47 4 Word analysis
And they said: Initiates the formal petition to Pharaoh.
to Pharaoh: Emphasizes the supreme authority being addressed, showing respect and dependence on his royal decree.
We have come to sojourn: (Hebrew: lagur לָגוּר) - The verb signifies dwelling as a temporary resident, a foreigner, or a stranger, rather than settling permanently. It underlines their intention not to claim permanent ownership of Egyptian land but to reside there as transient guests for a specific purpose (to escape famine). This term defines their status as dependent, non-permanent residents, which would become crucial later in their history.
in the land: Refers to the land of Egypt.
for there is no pasture: (Hebrew: ki ein mir'eh כִּי אֵין מִרְעֶה) - "No pasture" indicates the dire lack of grazing land. Pasture was vital for their identity and wealth as shepherds. The absence of it necessitated their relocation.
for your servants’ livestock: "Livestock" (mikneh מִקְנֶה) was the primary asset and livelihood of Jacob's family, reflecting their nomadic pastoral existence. The well-being of their animals was directly linked to their survival. Calling themselves "your servants" shows deference and submission to Pharaoh's authority.
for the famine is severe: (Hebrew: ki khaved hara'av כִּי כָבֵד הָרָעָב) - "Severe" (kaved) implies heavy or burdensome, highlighting the extreme impact and widespread nature of the famine mentioned throughout previous chapters (Gen 41:56, 42:5, 43:1). This provides the primary justification for their presence and request.
in the land of Canaan: Specifies the region from which they came, their divinely promised homeland, which was currently suffering from the famine, reinforcing their need to leave it temporarily. This sets a contrast with Egypt, highlighting that Egypt's role is to sustain them temporarily.
Now therefore, please: (Hebrew: v'attah na וְעַתָּה נָּא) - "Now therefore" acts as a logical connector, leading from the presented problem (famine, no pasture) to the proposed solution/request. The addition of "please" (na) expresses politeness and supplication, appropriate when petitioning a sovereign.
let your servants dwell: A direct and humble request for permission, acknowledging Pharaoh's authority to grant or deny their stay. "Dwell" here (Hebrew: yeshvu) reinforces their desire for a settled, though temporary, place.
in the land of Goshen: (Hebrew: b'eretz Goshen בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן) - The specific requested location. Goshen was a fertile, border region in the Nile Delta, well-suited for grazing, and likely somewhat isolated from the main Egyptian population, which allowed for the preservation of their cultural and religious practices. Joseph's prior guidance (Gen 45:10) ensured they sought this particular location, fitting their lifestyle.
"We have come to sojourn in the land; for there is no pasture for your servants’ livestock": This phrase concisely states their intention (temporary residency) and the compelling economic necessity (lack of pasture) that drives their request. It grounds their petition in a practical and understandable crisis.
"for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.": This two-part phrase logically progresses from the broader problem (severe famine in Canaan, their home) to the specific, respectful solution requested (residing in Goshen, a specific fertile part of Egypt). It encapsulates their rationale and humble appeal to Pharaoh.
Genesis 47 4 Bonus section
The Hebrew word for "sojourner," ger, holds profound theological significance. It's the same term used for Abraham (Gen 23:4), the Levites, and later all Israel (Lev 25:23) in relation to their ultimate temporary existence on Earth, as the true land belongs to God. This subtly weaves into Genesis 47:4 the idea that their dwelling in Egypt, while temporary due to famine, also mirrors a deeper spiritual truth about humanity's status as aliens and strangers in this world, ultimately looking toward a promised inheritance from God. The choice of Goshen further illustrates divine provision, as this specific region allowed the family to thrive (Exo 1:7) while remaining distinct from the Egyptians due to Egyptian cultural disdain for shepherds (Gen 46:34), inadvertently protecting Israel's religious and cultural identity before the Exodus.
Genesis 47 4 Commentary
Genesis 47:4 is a pivotal moment as Jacob's family formalizes their temporary settlement in Egypt under Pharaoh's protection. The meticulous wording of their request, likely guided by Joseph, underscores their status as "sojourners" (Hebrew: gerim), which means temporary foreign residents seeking sustenance, not permanent inhabitants. This highlights their identity as a distinct group maintaining a specific livelihood (shepherds) that found an advantageous niche in Goshen, a rich agricultural and pastoral area often somewhat separate from dense Egyptian populations. The repeated mention of "famine" and "no pasture" not only justifies their migration but subtly indicates God's overarching plan to preserve the covenant family through this difficult period, leading them to grow into a numerous people as promised to Abraham (Gen 12:2; 46:3). This sojourn, born out of necessity, foreshadows the eventual "great nation" that would exit Egypt, emphasizing divine faithfulness in a context of human crisis. The brothers' respectful, humble approach ("your servants," "please") also illustrates a proper deferential attitude toward governmental authority, consistent with biblical principles (Rom 13:1).