Definition: 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.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Genesis 47:4. It's a really important passage about God’s care and justice! Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Story: God is watching over Israel: The verse starts with God saying, “They said…” This suggests that God has been observing the Israelites (a group of people in ancient Israel) for a long time. Israel's Struggles: The Israelites were facing a problem – they were being treated unfairly by their neighbors. They had no enough land to graze their flocks, and there was a severe shortage of food. Pharaoh’s Wickedness: Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, was causing this suffering. He was letting his people starve, and he wasn't doing anything to help them. He was being greedy and unkind. A Plea for Help: The Israelites are asking God to intervene. They’re begging him to do something – they want their servants to be allowed to stay in Egypt. What the Verse Says Specifically: “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.” Let’s unpack that a little: “They said…” : This is a direct address to Pharaoh. He's being called out. “For to sojourn in the land are we come” : This means that the Israelites, through their actions (like traveling and seeking work), have actually come to live in Egypt. They’ve made a choice to be in this place. “…for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks” : This is a really important point. Pharaoh was letting his people starve! The Israelites were suffering because they didn't have enough land to feed them. “the famine [is] sore in the land of Canaan” : This emphasizes how bad the situation is – there’s a serious lack of food and resources across Egypt. “now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” : This is the key part! The Israelites are pleading with Pharaoh to allow their servants to live in Goshen, a special area in Egypt where they were given some protection and allowed to have enough land and resources. What It Means – A Big Message: This verse is about God’s judgment on injustice and his desire for fairness. It's a reminder that God cares deeply about His people and will intervene when things are unfair. It also highlights God’s plan to bless Israel, even amidst hardship. In short, it’s a story of a desperate situation where God is actively working to help the Israelites, and he’s asking Pharaoh to make a difficult decision. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Relate it to a specific event in Bible history (like the Exodus)?