inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 43:8)

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 Israel.

Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

See also Judah.

complete verse (Genesis 43:8)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 43:8:

  • Kankanaey: “Juda also said to their father, ‘Please give-permission that he accompany me so that we (excl.) will go immediately so that we will not die-of-starvation (lit. be-famined).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Judah said to his father Israel — ‘Send Benjamin in my care. We will go from here like this. In this way you, I, and all of us will be able to live and not die.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “So Juda said to their father, ‘Father, just let- Benjamin -accompany us (excl.) so-that we (excl.) can-go immediately and can-buy food so-that we (excl.) will- not all -die with hunger.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Judah said to his father Jacob, ‘Send the boy with me, and we will go immediately, in order that we and you and our children may get grain and not die from hunger.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 43:8

Judah said to Israel his father: for Israel see 35.21. Note that Good News Translation and others do not give any name here, as Jacob has been identified in Gen 43.6.

Send the lad: Benjamin is referred to here as lad (Hebrew naʿar), which often designates a young boy but just as frequently refers to a young man not yet married. For use of the term in the case of Ishmael, see 21.12. In the text the impression is given that Benjamin, who was born some time after Joseph, is a boy compared with Joseph, who is a mature man. According to 41.46 Joseph was thirty years old when he became ruler of Egypt. He is several years older when Benjamin goes to Egypt. It may be that we cannot depend on the references to age in the story, or that naʿar emphasizes the endearing quality of a man more than his actual age. Translators all seem to agree that Benjamin is a boy or youth in this story.

With me: Judah’s request is that Jacob allow Benjamin to go to Egypt with Judah; that is, “in my care,” or as New Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch say, “Trust the boy to me.”

We will arise and go: we refers not just to Judah and Benjamin, but to all the brothers along with Benjamin. In some languages we requires a pronoun form that excludes the one addressed, namely Jacob. Arise and go means “get ready to leave,” or simply “go.” See Good News Translation.

That we may live and not die: this expression was first used in 42.2. See there for translation.

Both we and you and also our little ones: little ones refers to small children, as they are the ones who are most likely to die in a famine. However, New English Bible and New Jerusalem Bible translate more generally as “our dependents.” Bible en français courant has “our families.”

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 .