Easton's Bible Dictionary In Egypt herdsmen were probably of the lowest caste. Some of Joseph's brethren were made rulers over Pharaoh's cattle (Genesis 47:6, 17). The Israelites were known in Egypt as "keepers of cattle;" and when they left it they took their flocks and herds with them (Exodus 12:38). Both David and Saul came from "following the herd" to occupy the throne (1 Samuel 9; 11:5; Psalm 78:70). David's herd-masters were among his chief officers of state. The daughters also of wealthy chiefs were wont to tend the flocks of the family (Genesis 29:9; Exodus 2:16). The "chief of the herdsmen" was in the time of the monarchy an officer of high rank (1 Samuel 21:7; Comp. 1 Chronicles 27:29). The herdsmen lived in tents (Isaiah 38:12; Jeremiah 6:3); and there were folds for the cattle (Numbers 32:16), and watch-towers for the herdsmen, that he might therefrom observe any coming danger (Micah 4:8; Nahum 3:8). Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The owner or keeper of a herd or of herds; one employed in tending a herd of cattle. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HERDSMAN hurdz'-man (boqer; the King James Version, the English Revised Version "herdman"): A cowherd (Amos 7:14). The same word is used in Syria today. ro`eh, has its equivalent in the language of Syria and Palestine (Arabic ra'i), and is a general term for any kind of a herdsman (Genesis 13:7, 8; Genesis 26:20 1 Samuel 21:7). noqedh, occurs in one passage (Amos 1:1); literally it means one who spots or marks the sheep, hence, a herdsman. Spotting the wool with different dyes is still the method of distinguishing between the sheep of different flocks. The herdsman is seldom the owner of the sheep, but a hireling. See SHEEP; SHEEP TENDING. James A. Patch

Multi-Version Concordance Herdsman (1 Occurrence) Amos 7:14 Then Amos answered Amaziah, "I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was a herdsman, and a farmer of sycamore figs; (WEB ASV YLT NAS RSV)