# Your servants are shepherds

"Your servants shepherd flocks"

# Your servants

Joseph's brothers refer to themselves as "your servants." This is a formal way of speaking to someone with more authority. This can be stated in first person. AT: "We, your servants" or "We" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-123person]])

# as our ancestors

"both we and our forefathers" or "both we and our ancestors"

# We come as temporary residents in the land

"We have come to stay for a while in Egypt"

# There is no pasture

"There is no grass to eat"

# now

This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.

# translationWords

* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/servant]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/shepherd]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/father]]
* [[rc://en/tw/dict/bible/other/famine]]