Verses 32-34 describe the meal eaten at Joseph’s house.

Verse 32 says that the meal is served in three places: Joseph, who is of high rank, eats by himself; the brothers being Hebrews eat by themselves; and some Egyptians eat by themselves. This way of serving may be expressed, for example, as “They put out separately his [Joseph’s] food, and theirs, and the food of the Egyptians.” Good News Translation has the meal served on separate tables: “Joseph was served at one table, and his brothers at another”; this is a useful model for people who are accustomed to eat at a table.

And the Egyptians who ate with him: the text does not indicate who these persons are. However, we may assume they are guests, probably lesser officials doing business with Joseph, or perhaps male members of Joseph’s wife’s family.

Because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination …: the Egyptians could not eat at the same table with foreigners. Doing so was considered an abomination, which means something disgusting, loathsome, or detestable. According to the ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the Egyptians “would not use the knife or cooking utensil of a Greek, because it might have been employed in preparing food from the flesh of a cow, which was sacred to Isis [an ancient Egyptian god].” Accordingly the reason for not eating with foreigners was a religious taboo. We may translate, therefore, “it was taboo for Egyptians to eat with Hebrews” or “the religion of the Egyptians prohibited them from eating with Hebrews.”

Translators may find that a footnote is needed to explain this taboo. In that case we may suggest, for example, “At that time the Hebrews and other foreigners were looked upon by the Egyptians as unclean, because they ate food that the Egyptians did not eat.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .