The structure of this verse is made up of a result clause followed by a cause and a request. In some languages the most natural order to express these is cause, result, and request.

We have come to sojourn in the land expresses the result. For sojourn see 12.10. In this context some translations express it as “stay for a short time” or “stay as foreigners.” In the land means “in this country” or “in your country.”

There is no pasture for your servants’ flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan: this clause expresses the reason or cause of the coming to Egypt. Pasture refers to grasslands or fields where animals graze. For the famine is severe in … Canaan, see 12.10 and 41.56.

We pray you, let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen is the request. We may translate this, for example, “Please, sir, allow us to stay in the area of Goshen.” In some languages this is expressed as a formal request: “We request you” or “We would like you to agree….” The brothers make it clear that they have come as immigrants or foreigners, and that they only request to dwell, that is, “stay,” “reside,” or “settle” in Goshen. This request was not included in Joseph’s instructions to the brothers in 46.34 but rather was what he expected the king would say.

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 .