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Genesis 46 · a question people ask

Why was every shepherd "an abomination" to the Egyptians?

In the text

Genesis doesn't say why. It records two things the Egyptians would not share with the Hebrews: a table, "the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians" (43:32), and a trade, "every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians" (46:34). What the text does show is the result: Joseph uses it so that his family may "dwell in the land of Goshen" (46:34), and Pharaoh later agrees, "Let them dwell in the land of Goshen" (47:6).

The verses

“They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.”
Genesis 43:32 · World English Bible
“that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.””
Genesis 46:34 · World English Bible
“The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.””
Genesis 47:6 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Genesis 46

Genesis 46: I will go down with you

At Beersheba God told Jacob, "Don’t be afraid to go down into Egypt... I will go down with you," and promised to make him a great nation and bring him up again. All the souls of the house of Jacob in Egypt numbered seventy. Joseph fell on his father's neck, and Jacob said, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face."

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions