inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Sam 14:8)

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, the Jarai and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation both use the inclusive pronoun, including everyone.

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 14:8

Behold: most modern versions leave this particle untranslated in this context. But it seems to be used to focus attention on the proposal that follows. Contemporary English Version begins this verse with “This is what we will do.” See the comments on page 18 and following.

Cross over: that is, cross over the valley. See the comments on verse 1.

The men: that is, the Philistine soldiers. Revised Standard Version translates the Hebrew literally. New Revised Standard Version says “those men.”

Show ourselves: that is, “allow the Philistines to know where we are,” or simply “let them see us” (New International Version as well as Good News Translation).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .