inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 21:1)

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: SIL International Translation Department (1999).

complete verse (Acts 21:1)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 21:1:

  • Uma: “We(excl.) exchanged greetings with those leaders of the Kristen people from Efesus, and we (excl.) left them behind, continuing our (excl.) journey to the province of Siria. Our(excl.) ship left, going straight to the island of Kos, and the next day arrived at the island of Rodos. From there we (excl.) continued to the island of Patara.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then we (excl.) bade-farewell to those people of Epesus and we (excl.) sailed. We (excl.) went-straight toward Kos. The following day we (excl.) arrived at Rodos and from there we (excl.) proceeded to Patara.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And then when we had said goodbye to them, we got on the ship again and left. We straightened our course and arrive there on the island of Cos. And the next day we arrived there on the island which is called Rhodes. We left there and then we landed in the town of Patara.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “When we (excl.) and Pablo had-gotten-on-board in leaving them, we (excl.) went-directly to Cos. On the next day then, we (excl.) went to Rodes, on the (lit. its) third, to Patara, and that’s where-we (excl.) -disembarked.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “When we (excl.) all split up, we (excl.) ourselves sailed again. Our(excl.) voyage went straight to Cos. Next day we (excl.) went on to Rodas, and then from there went to Patara.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)