Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse (“what we say”), translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the readers of the letter).
In the Karbi and Tok Pisin translations only the first two instances are translated with the exclusive pronoun, but the third (“Let us do evil” in English) is inclusive. (This also matches the recommendation of SIL International Translation Department (1999).)
Many languages distinguish between inclusive and exclusive first-person plural pronouns (“we”). (Click or tap here to see more details)
The inclusive “we” specifically includes the addressee (“you and I and possibly others”), while the exclusive “we” specifically excludes the addressee (“he/she/they and I, but not you”). This grammatical distinction is called “clusivity.” While Semitic languages such as Hebrew or most Indo-European languages such as Greek or English do not make that distinction, translators of languages with that distinction have to make a choice every time they encounter “we” or a form thereof (in English: “we,” “our,” or “us”).
For this verse, Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan (in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.) recommend the exclusive form (excluding Titus) and SIL SIL International Translation Department (1999) the inclusive form (including Paul and Titus.
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 24:3:
Uma: “All this we (excl.) always put on top of our (excl.) pates [i.e., we keep in mind] and there is no end to our (excl.) saying thank you very, very much.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Everywhere and every time, we (excl.) really accept your help and we (excl.) are very grateful to you.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “This is a great source of joy to us and large is our thanks to you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “Therefore no matter where we (excl.) go, big is our (excl.) thanks to you (sing.) continually.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “Therefore, all of us (excl.), we (excl.) are really pleased about it and we (excl.) give thanks with big thankfulness.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Huautla Mazatec: “Every day, also everywhere, thus we stand well to you. Twenty times thus we give you grace, you little father Felix.” (“In court procedure among the Mazatecs ‘twenty times’ is the accepted number of times to thank an official in opening up a procedure before him: ‘little father’ is a term of high respect and is equivalent to ‘noble [Felix].’ — Source: Florence Cowan in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 135ff. )
Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 28:31:
Uma: “Without any fear/uneasiness, he announced to them that Yesus was Lord and the Redeemer King, and he taught them the way to become God’s people in his Kingdom. And there were none who bothered him.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “He proclaimed about God’s ruling and he taught/preached about Isa Almasi, the Lord. He had no fear-whatever to teach/preach and nobody restrained/forbade him.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “He caused them to understand how the kinging of God would be and he taught them who our Lord Jesus Christ is. He did not hide his teaching and neither did anyone tell him to stop.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “He was bold to preach and teach concerning the ruling of God and the Lord Jesu Cristo, and no one forbid him. That’s that.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tagbanwa: “He taught them well concerning the kingdom of God, and all the teaching concerning the Lord Jesu-Cristo. And there was no-one at all who forbade him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
Lalana Chinantec: “Just exactly as he wanted, he preached how God is the boss of people’s hearts. He taught the word of our Lord Jesus Christ. There was no one who prevented Paul from preaching the Word.” (Source: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Huautla Mazatec: “Thus he preached on behalf of the kingdom of God. he taught the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. (There was) no one whom Paul was afraid of. no one who cut him off.” (Source: Florence Cowan in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 135ff. )
