inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 43:20)

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 Joseph.

complete verse (Genesis 43:20)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 43:20:

  • Kankanaey: “‘Sir, there-is please that which we (excl.) would say. We (excl.) came here one-time to go buy food.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “‘Having bought grain here before, when we came back” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They said, ‘Sir, just a minute, we (excl.) have something-to-say to you (sing.). We (excl.) came here before to-buy food.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “one of them said to him, ‘Please, sir, listen to me. We came down here previously and bought some grain.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 43:20

Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food: Oh translates the Hebrew particle of entreaty, which is often used when an inferior speaks to a person of superior rank. In English, for example, the equivalent may be “I beg you to excuse me, sir,” or “Please excuse me, sir.” Other languages have particular expressions in this kind of social context; for example, “I speak with my mouth covered, my chief,” or “I hide my face to say to you, sir.” We came down may be rendered “we came to Egypt” or “we came to this country.” In a number of translations the first time is rendered as “once before.”

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 .