inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 6:4)

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 congregation of the disciples).

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

complete verse (Acts 6:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 6:4:

  • Uma: “Because our (excl.) [emphatic] main work, is praying and carrying the Word of God.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Then we (excl.)’ they said, ‘will wholly/exclusively pray to God and proclaim God’s word/message.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And as for us, on the other hand, the apostles, it will be possible that we will do a good job of our work praying and of causing the word of God to be understood.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “so that as for us (excl.), we (excl.) will be able to be-singleminded/persistent in praying and preaching the word of God.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For as for us (excl.), what we (excl.) will give big attention to is praying and teaching this word of God.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 6:4

We ourselves brings out the emphasis intended in the Greek sentence structure. Give our full time (a verb which appears in 1.14) is rendered in most translations as “devote ourselves” (see Revised Standard Version, New English Bible, Phillips, Jerusalem Bible); but the “devotion” referred to is that of giving one’s entire time to this particular aspect of the Christian work. The work of preaching is literally “the ministry of the word,” but the context makes it obvious that the meaning is “preaching the word of God.”

The phrase give … full time to should not be understood as meaning that prayer and preaching were the only activities of the apostles; rather, it was their main work. In some languages, therefore, the equivalent is “we ourselves will have the work of praying and preaching the good news.”

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 .