Genesis 47:6 kjv

The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

Genesis 47:6 nkjv

The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock."

Genesis 47:6 niv

and the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you know of any among them with special ability, put them in charge of my own livestock."

Genesis 47:6 esv

The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land. Let them settle in the land of Goshen, and if you know any able men among them, put them in charge of my livestock."

Genesis 47:6 nlt

choose any place in the entire land of Egypt for them to live. Give them the best land of Egypt. Let them live in the region of Goshen. And if any of them have special skills, put them in charge of my livestock, too."

Genesis 47 verses

Genesis 47 6 Meaning

Pharaoh, recognizing Joseph's integrity and value, extends remarkable favor to Joseph's entire family. He grants them free access to settle in the most fertile and suitable region of Egypt, specifically the land of Goshen. Furthermore, he instructs Joseph to identify any skilled or competent men among his brothers and appoint them to oversee the king's personal livestock, indicating significant trust and offering immediate employment and status within the Egyptian economy. This divine providence ensured the survival and secure placement of God's chosen family during a severe famine.

Genesis 47 6 Context

Genesis chapter 47 begins with Joseph presenting five of his brothers and then his father, Jacob, to Pharaoh. This verse captures Pharaoh's immediate and magnanimous response after being informed of their occupation as shepherds and their need for pasture for their flocks. Pharaoh's decree to settle them in the "best part of the land" (Goshen) and to utilize their pastoral expertise reflects not only his high regard for Joseph but also his strategic foresight during a time of widespread famine. Historically, Egyptians generally held shepherds in low esteem (Gen 46:34), yet Pharaoh, perhaps divinely influenced or simply pragmatically recognizing the value of the Hebrew skills, overlooked this cultural prejudice to secure his livestock and provide for a capable people group. This period sets the stage for the family's growth into a nation during their four centuries in Egypt, before the Exodus.

Genesis 47 6 Word analysis

• "The land of Egypt": Hebrew: אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם (’erets Mitsrayim). Significance: Establishes the setting in a powerful foreign nation where God's people find refuge. It emphasizes their temporary status as sojourners in a land not their own, under the authority of a foreign ruler, yet within God's providential care.
• "is before you": Hebrew: לְפָנֶיךָ הִוא (l'phaneicha hiw). Literally "it is before your face." Signifies availability and openness; the land is at Joseph's disposal to decide where his family should be settled. This phrase indicates royal authorization and an open-handed grant.
• "settle": Hebrew: הוֹשֵׁב (hoshev). A Hiphil imperative form of the verb יָשַׁב (yashav), meaning "to cause to sit," "to cause to dwell," or "to settle." This is a strong, authoritative command from Pharaoh to Joseph, demonstrating his royal power and his specific directive concerning Jacob's family.
• "your father and your brothers": Direct beneficiaries of Pharaoh's decree. This specificity underscores Pharaoh's personal favor shown to Joseph's immediate family, securing their welfare and establishing their place within Egypt.
• "in the best part of the land": Hebrew: בְּמֵיטַב הָאָרֶץ (b’meitav ha’aretz). Meitav comes from the root טוֹב (tov), meaning "good," "choicest," or "most excellent." This denotes the superior quality of the land granted, suitable for abundant pasturage and highly fertile, showcasing Pharaoh's exceptional generosity.
• "let them live": Hebrew: יֵשְׁבוּ (yeshvu). A Qal imperative or jussive form of yashav. This reinforces the idea of permanent dwelling or inhabitancy, granting official permission for their prolonged stay, implying stability and a place to thrive.
• "in the land of Goshen": Hebrew: בְּאֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן (b’erets Goshen). A specific, well-watered, and fertile region often identified in the eastern Nile Delta, ideal for raising livestock. Its location offered a degree of geographical separation from mainstream Egyptian society, which allowed the Hebrews to maintain their distinct cultural identity and preserve their shepherd lifestyle.
• "if you know any able men among them": Hebrew: וְאִם יֶשׁ־בָּם אַנְשֵׁי חַיִל (v'im yesh-bam anshei chayil). Anshei chayil literally means "men of valor," "men of strength," but in this context signifies "men of capability," "competent men," or "skilled men." Pharaoh, ever the pragmatist, was looking for talented individuals who could contribute economically, seeking to utilize the skills of the newcomers beyond merely providing asylum.
• "then make them overseers of my livestock": Hebrew: וְשַׂמְתָּם שָׂרֵי מִקְנֶה עַל־אֲשֶׁר לִי (v'sam’tam sarei mikneh al-asher li). Sarei mikneh: "chiefs/officers/princes of livestock." This command signifies an appointment to a position of responsibility and authority over valuable royal assets. It highlights Pharaoh's trust in Joseph and, by extension, in his family's pastoral skills, granting them a role of influence despite their traditionally disfavored profession in Egypt.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The land of Egypt is before you": This phrase functions as a royal decree, providing an open invitation and unconditional access to the fertile lands. It conveys Pharaoh's ultimate authority and his gracious disposition towards Joseph's family.
• "settle your father and your brothers in the best part of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen": This demonstrates a compound command that first states a general principle of quality ("best part of the land") and then specifies the location ("Goshen"). This dual emphasis highlights the intention for the family's welfare, security, and the provision of suitable grazing land for their large flocks and herds. The strategic choice of Goshen, distinct from populated Egyptian cities, facilitated their numerical growth while maintaining cultural separation.
• "if you know any able men among them, then make them overseers of my livestock": This conditional statement reveals Pharaoh's keen eye for competence and resourcefulness, even in foreigners. It transforms simple hospitality into a mutual benefit. By offering positions of trust over royal assets, Pharaoh acknowledges the value of Israelite skills (as shepherds, despite Egyptian aversion) and integrates them into the royal economic system, underscoring the extraordinary favor granted through Joseph.

Genesis 47 6 Bonus section

The settlement in Goshen served multiple purposes:

• Ecological Suitability: Goshen was exceptionally fertile, a vital requirement for the massive livestock belonging to Jacob's large family, sustaining them through the prolonged famine.
• Cultural Preservation: By settling them in Goshen, which was somewhat geographically isolated, Pharaoh inadvertently facilitated the Hebrews' preservation of their distinct cultural identity and their covenant faith, keeping them somewhat separate from the religious and social norms of Egypt. This minimized assimilation into Egyptian polytheism and preserved their heritage.
• Divine Plan: The choice of Goshen also serves as a strategic starting point for the eventual Exodus, as it was located conveniently for departure towards the wilderness and Canaan. Their subsequent multiplication in Goshen (Exod 1:7) fulfills the Abrahamic promise of nationhood before they depart for the Promised Land. This verse underscores that God can work through both willing benefactors (like Pharaoh here) and later hostile rulers to achieve His redemptive purposes.

Genesis 47 6 Commentary

Genesis 47:6 vividly illustrates God's providential care for His chosen people through human channels. Pharaoh's remarkable generosity to Jacob's family, offering them not just refuge but the "best part of the land" and positions of authority over royal livestock, directly contravened typical Egyptian social disdain for shepherds. This extraordinary favor highlights Joseph's unparalleled influence and the divine hand guiding Pharaoh's decisions. The selection of Goshen was strategic; it provided fertile pasture necessary for the growing flocks of a nomadic, pastoral people, while also offering a degree of isolation from dense Egyptian cities. This segregation was crucial for Israel to retain its distinct identity, customs, and eventually, its unique covenant relationship with God, allowing them to multiply significantly without being fully assimilated into pagan Egyptian culture. The offer of positions as "overseers of my livestock" suggests an early economic integration and recognition of Israelite capabilities, which paradoxically might have contributed to their later large numbers becoming a perceived threat, leading to the oppression detailed in Exodus. It signifies that God uses unexpected means—even foreign, pagan rulers—to fulfill His covenant promises and protect His people.