inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 20:14)

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, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding the addressee).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Acts 20:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 20:14:

  • Uma: “We(excl.) did indeed meet in Asos, and he rode along with us (excl.) in the ship, going to the town of Mitilene.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When we (excl.) arrived in Assos, Paul met us (excl.). Then we (excl.) took him on board the ship and we (excl.) proceeded to Mitilene.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “We met him in the town of Assos, we brought him on board, and then we continued on to the town of Mitylene.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When we (excl.) met at Assos, he rode-with us (excl.), and we (excl.) went to Mitilene.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore when Pablo arrived in Ason, we (excl.) all went-aboard/sailed together. What we (excl.) were sailing in from Ason docked at Mitilene.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 20:14

We took him aboard may be rendered in some languages as “he joined us on the ship” or “he came onto the ship where we were.”

Mitylene was the main town of the island of Lesbos.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .