inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen. 37:7)

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, both the Jarai translation and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the inclusive pronoun, since “we” refers to Joseph and his brothers.

complete verse (Genesis 37:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 37:7:

  • Kankanaey: “We were all reportedly (kano ‘reportedly’, signalling 2nd-hand information, is normally used in relating dreams) in the rice-field bundling what we had harvested and what I bundled reportedly stood-vertically. What you bundled by-contrast they reportedly surrounded what I bundled and they knelt-down to it.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “We were all harvesting and binding sheaves of wheat in a field. My sheaf of wheat stood erect, then your sheaves of wheat bent over and bowed down to my sheaf of wheat.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “that while we (incl.) (were) there in the field causing-to-be-bundled stocks-of-grain, just suddenly my bundle stood-up and was-surrounded/[lit. was-caused-to-be-encircled] by your (pl.) bundles which were-bowing-down (to it).'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “In the dream, we were tying up bundles of wheat in the field. Suddenly my bundle stood up straight, and surprisingly, your bundles gathered around my bundle and bowed down to it!'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 37:7

In verse 7 Joseph tells his brothers about his dream.

Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field: behold (Hebrew hinneh) calls for the attention of the brothers and indicates that what Joseph is about to tell may be unexpected or surprising. We refers to Joseph and his brothers; that is, it is the inclusive first person pronoun. Binding sheaves refers to cutting the stalks of ripe grain and then tying them into bundles with the heads of grain at one end. In areas where grain harvests are unknown, it may be possible to say, for example, “we were tying the plants into bundles.” In rice-growing cultures the appropriate terms for tying rice bundles should be used. The picture given here is of tied bundles of grain stalks lying in the harvested field.

Lo, my sheaf: lo also translates the Hebrew hinneh, which is often repeated in this way in dream reports. See also 41.2-3; Judges 7.13. My sheaf means the sheaf Joseph had cut and tied into a bundle.

Arose and stood upright: in the dream the sheaves of grain act as if they were living creatures: “The bundle I had cut and tied got up and stood upright.” In some languages it may be necessary to say, for example, “got on its feet as a person stands up.”

And behold: behold (hinneh) is again repeated to maintain the emphasis on surprising events.

Your sheaves: that is, the bundles you (plural) had cut and tied.

Gathered round it: the sheaves of the brothers must also stand, as they will bow down. Accordingly it may be necessary to say “your sheaves got up and formed a ring around my sheaf” or “your sheaves walked around my sheaf.”

Bowed down to my sheaf: for bowed down see 23.7. The picture is of the standing bundles bending forward until their heads of grain are touching the ground. If the symbolic meaning of the bowing sheaves is not clear, it may be necessary to say, for example, “Your [plural] sheaves stood around mine and bowed down to honor mine.”

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 .