inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 44:26)

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 44:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 44:26:

  • Newari: “We said to him — ‘We are not able to go. We will only go if our youngest brother is sent with us. For unless the younger brother is brought it was said that we would not be allowed to meet the head.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But we (excl.) said to him that we (excl.) could- only -go if our (excl.) youngest would-accompany us (excl.), because we (excl.) can- not possibly -show (ourselves) to you if our (excl.) youngest (is) not with us (excl.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But we said, ‘We cannot go back by ourselves. We will go only if our youngest brother is with us. We will not be able to see the man who sells grain if our youngest brother is not with us.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 44:26

Verse 26 represents what Judah replied to Jacob in 43.3-5.

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 .