inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 44:22)

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 44:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 44:22:

  • Newari: “We said to you — ‘He cannot leave his father. If he did like that his father would die.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “We (excl.) said to you (sing.) that (it is) not possible for our (excl.) youngest-one to-leave our (excl.) father, for it might- still -be the cause-of- his -death.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “We said to you, ‘No, we cannot do that, because the boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die from sorrow.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 44:22

The lad cannot leave his father: these words are not recorded as having been said to Joseph. However, they represent what Jacob said in 42.38, when he refused Reuben’s plea to let Benjamin go with the brothers to Egypt.

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 .