Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied to Pharaoh, “just as our fathers were.” New Living Translation And Pharaoh asked the brothers, “What is your occupation?” They replied, “We, your servants, are shepherds, just like our ancestors. English Standard Version Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our fathers were.” Berean Standard Bible “What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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.” New American Standard Bible Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” NASB 1995 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” NASB 1977 Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” Legacy Standard Bible Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.” Amplified Bible And Pharaoh said to his brothers [as Joseph expected], “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers [before us].” Christian Standard Bible And Pharaoh asked his brothers, “What is your occupation? ” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants, both we and our ancestors, are shepherds.” Holman Christian Standard Bible Then Pharaoh asked his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants, both we and our fathers, are shepherds.” American Standard Version And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers. Contemporary English Version who asked them, "What do you do for a living?" "Sir, we are shepherds," was their answer. "Our families have always raised sheep. English Revised Version And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers. GOD'S WORD® Translation Pharaoh asked the brothers, "What kind of work do you do?" They answered Pharaoh, "We are shepherds, as were our ancestors. Good News Translation The king asked them, "What is your occupation?" "We are shepherds, sir, just as our ancestors were," they answered. International Standard Version Pharaoh asked his brothers, "What are your occupations?" "Your servants are shepherds," they replied, "both we and our ancestors. Majority Standard Bible ?What is your occupation?? Pharaoh asked Joseph?s brothers. ?Your servants are shepherds,? they replied, ?both we and our fathers.? NET Bible Pharaoh said to Joseph's brothers, "What is your occupation?" They said to Pharaoh, "Your servants take care of flocks, just as our ancestors did." New Heart English Bible Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers." Webster's Bible Translation And Pharaoh said to his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. World English Bible Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Pharaoh says to his brothers, “What [are] your works?” And they say to Pharaoh, “Your servants [are] feeders of a flock, both we and our fathers”; Young's Literal Translation and Pharaoh saith unto his brethren, 'What are your works?' and they say unto Pharaoh, 'Thy servants are feeders of a flock, both we and our fathers;' Smith's Literal Translation And Pharaoh will say to his brethren, What your work? and they will say to Pharaoh, Thy servants were feeding sheep, also we, also our fathers. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he asked them: What is your occupation? They answered: Re thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers. Catholic Public Domain Version And he questioned them, “What do you have for work?” They responded: “Your servants are pastors of sheep, both we and our fathers. New American Bible When Pharaoh asked them, “What is your occupation?” they answered, “We, your servants, like our ancestors, are shepherds. New Revised Standard Version Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” And they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Pharaoh said to Joseph's brothers, What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers, from our youth. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Pharaoh said to the brothers of Yoseph, “What is your work?”, and they said to Pharaoh: “Your Servants are Shepherds of sheep, even we and also our fathers from our youth.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Pharaoh said unto his brethren: 'What is your occupation?' And they said unto Pharaoh: 'Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And Pharao said to the brethren of Joseph, What is your occupation? and they said to Pharao, Thy servants are shepherds, both we and our father. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jacob Settles in Goshen…2And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. 3“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.” 4Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen.”… Cross References Exodus 1:11 So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. Exodus 1:13-14 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly / and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh. Exodus 5:4-5 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!” / Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” Exodus 6:6 Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. Exodus 6:9 Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him. Exodus 6:11 “Go and tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites go out of his land.” Exodus 6:13 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge concerning both the Israelites and Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. Exodus 6:26 It was this Aaron and Moses to whom the LORD said, “Bring the Israelites out of the land of Egypt by their divisions.” Exodus 6:28-30 Now on the day that the LORD spoke to Moses in Egypt, / He said to him, “I am the LORD; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt everything I say to you.” / But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?” Exodus 7:16 Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to tell you: Let My people go, so that they may worship Me in the wilderness. But until now you have not listened. Exodus 8:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Exodus 9:1 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Exodus 9:13 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning, stand before Pharaoh, and tell him that this is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Exodus 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me. Exodus 12:31 Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. Treasury of Scripture And Pharaoh said to his brothers, What is your occupation? And they said to Pharaoh, Your servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. What is. Genesis 46:33,34 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? … Amos 7:14,15 Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit: … Jonah 1:8 Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou? shepherds. Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. Jump to Previous Business Fathers Feeders Flock Keepers Occupation Pharaoh Servants Sheep Shepherds WorksJump to Next Business Fathers Feeders Flock Keepers Occupation Pharaoh Servants Sheep Shepherds WorksGenesis 47 1. Joseph presents his father, and five of his brothers before Pharaoh.11. He gives them habitation and maintenance. 13. He gets the Egyptian's money; 16. their cattle; 18. and their lands, except the priests', to Pharaoh. 23. He restores the land for a fifth. 28. Jacob's age. 29. He swears Joseph to bury him with his fathers. What is your occupation? This question from Pharaoh is not merely a matter of curiosity but a significant inquiry into the identity and social status of Joseph's brothers. In ancient Egypt, occupations were closely tied to one's social standing and identity. The Hebrew word for "occupation" here is "מַעֲשֶׂה" (ma'aseh), which can also mean work or deed. This reflects the importance of one's work as a reflection of character and societal role. In the biblical context, work is seen as a divine mandate, originating from God's command to Adam to tend the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15). Thus, Pharaoh's question probes not only their economic role but also their cultural and familial identity. Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers and they answered Your servants are shepherds both we and our fathers Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Whatמַה־ (mah-) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what is your occupation?” מַּעֲשֵׂיכֶ֑ם (ma·‘ă·śê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 4639: An action, a transaction, activity, a product, property Pharaoh פַּרְעֹ֛ה (par·‘ōh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings asked וַיֹּ֧אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say [Joseph’s] brothers. אֶחָ֖יו (’e·ḥāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 251: A brother, ) “Your servants עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ (‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵā) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant are shepherds,” רֹעֵ֥ה (rō·‘êh) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct Strong's 7462: To tend a, flock, pasture it, in, to graze, to rule, to associate with they replied, וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “both גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and we אֲנַ֖חְנוּ (’ă·naḥ·nū) Pronoun - first person common plural Strong's 587: We and גַּם־ (gam-) Conjunction Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and our fathers.” אֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ׃ (’ă·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 1: Father Links Genesis 47:3 NIVGenesis 47:3 NLT Genesis 47:3 ESV Genesis 47:3 NASB Genesis 47:3 KJV Genesis 47:3 BibleApps.com Genesis 47:3 Biblia Paralela Genesis 47:3 Chinese Bible Genesis 47:3 French Bible Genesis 47:3 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 47:3 Pharaoh said to his brothers What (Gen. 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