inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 24:23)

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 exclusive pronoun, excluding the woman.

formal 2nd person pronoun (Spanish)

Like many languages (but unlike Greek or Hebrew or English), Spanish uses a formal vs. informal second-person pronoun (a familiar vs. a respectful “you”). Spanish Bibles all use only the informal second-person pronoun (tú), with the exception of Dios Habla Hoy (third edition: 1996) which also uses the formal pronoun (usted). In the referenced verses, the formal form is used.

Sources and for more information: P. Ellingworth in The Bible Translator 2002, p. 143ff. and R. Ross in The Bible Translator 1993, p. 217ff.

See also the use of the formal vs. the informal pronoun in the Gospels in Tuvan.

complete verse (Genesis 24:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 24:23:

  • Kankanaey: “Then he said, ‘Who is your (sing.) father? Please also tell (me) if your (pl.) house has-space so-that that’s where- I and my companions -will-overnight.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then he said — ‘Whose daughter are you? Would your house have room for me and my men to stay the night?'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then he asked Rebekah, ‘Whose child (are) you (sing.)? Is there a place at yours (pl.)/with you that we can-sleep tonight?'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then he said, ‘Tell me whose daughter you are. Also, tell me, is there room in your father’s house for me and my men to sleep there tonight?'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 24:23

Tell me whose daughter you are: since the follow-up question concerns her father, Good News Translation expresses the first as “Please tell me who your father is.” For languages that prefer direct speech, this may be expressed as “Please tell me. Who is your father?” The next question is asked before Rebekah can answer the first.

Is there room in your father’s house for us to lodge in?: us refers to the servant and others who have accompanied him on the journey, and so Good News Translation says “my men and me.” Lodge translates a form of a verb meaning to spend the night. The servant is speaking of a one-night’s stay, expecting to be able to depart the following day. In some languages this question is too abrupt and requires some statement to introduce the request for lodging; in one language, for example, the servant says “I and my men are looking for a place to sleep. Do you think we could come and stay at his house?”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .