inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Ezek 37:18)

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 Adamawa Fulfulde translation uses the exclusive pronoun, excluding Ezekiel.

Translation commentary on Ezekiel 37:18

And when your people say to you …: People would be watching when Ezekiel got these two sticks, wrote on them, carefully put them together in his hand, closed his fist, and then held up his hand with what looked like a single stick in it. As with the other symbolic actions Ezekiel did (see chapters 4–5, 12, 24), the people would be puzzled and would not understand what his actions meant. Your people are Ezekiel’s fellow exiles. New International Version says “your countrymen,” and New International Reader’s Version has “The people of your own country.” They will ask him to explain what he had done, saying Will you not show us what you mean by these? (compare New International Version “Won’t you tell us what you mean by this?”). Although this is a question, it can be rendered as a statement; for example, New Century Version has “Explain to us what you mean by this.” Indirect speech may also be used here; for example, Contemporary English Version renders this whole verse as “And when your people ask you what this means,” and Good News Translation has “When your people ask you to tell them what this means.” The demonstrative pronoun these refers to Ezekiel’s symbolic actions.

Quoted with permission from Gross, Carl & Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Ezekiel. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .