Notes on Genesis · §46 · Origen of Alexandria

Shepherds an abomination to Egyptians but not to Hebrews

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Origen is closing the work by commenting on Genesis 46:34, where Joseph's brothers tell Pharaoh they are herdsmen, and explaining why this makes them an abomination to Egyptians but not to Hebrews.

“We are herdsmen” (Genesis 46:34). Every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians, but not to the Hebrews. So if he has been set over us as a shepherd, he is an abomination to the Egyptians; but if he is a hired man, he is perhaps even a friend to the Egyptians.

Greek

(9) Στίχ. λδ΄. Ἄνδρες κτηνοτρόφοι ἐσμέν. Βδέλυγμα Αἰγυπτίοις πᾶς ποιμὴν προβάτων, ἀλλ᾿ οὐχ Ἑβραίοις. Εἰ μὲν οὖν ὧς ποιμὴν ἐφέστηκεν ἡμῖν, βδέλυγμά ἐστιν Αἰγυπτίοις· εἱ δὲ ὡς μισθωτὸς, τάχς καὶ φίλος Αἰγυπτίοις.

About this text

Origen's short notes on hard passages in Genesis, such as why God sent the flood.

Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–c. 254) was a Christian theologian and head of the Catechetical School of Alexandria, later ordained a priest in Caesarea.

The work addresses difficult passages in Genesis by showing how apparent problems in the text can be understood through God's providential plan. Origen explains that the flood was not an act of divine anger or regret but a deliberate change in God's providential plan to destroy Cain's line while preserving the righteous Noah. He interprets the fire that destroyed Sodom as a sign of the coming end of the age, and connects Lot's wife becoming a pillar of salt to a spiritual warning about losing one's saltiness.

A reader will meet Noah, Cain, Saul, Lot's wife, Joseph, Mary, and Joseph's steward. Origen quotes Scripture and also quotes opponents, introduced by phrases such as 'as some say.' He notes that the four hundred didrachms paid for Abraham's burial field are significant because the numbers four and one hundred are harmful. He asks whether Joseph's dream about his mother and brothers bowing to him may prophesy Mary and Joseph worshiping Christ. Finally, he suggests that Joseph's steward seems to have benefited in piety from Joseph, and explains why the Hebrews' identity as shepherds made them an abomination to the Egyptians.

New English from the Greek base text; no published English used as wording.

Printed text used

Translated from de La Rue, Origen's Works, vol. 7 (Migne PG 17, Paris 1857) (Greek)

This work has passed this project's source check. This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.