inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 44:27)

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 44:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 44:27:

  • Newari: “And our father said to us — ‘You certainly know that I had two sons from his mother.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This is what he answered us (excl.), ‘You (pl.) indeed know that my children with my wife Raquel (are) only two.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Our father replied, ‘You know that my wife Rachel gave birth to two sons for me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 44:27

You know that my wife bore me two sons: these words are not recorded in Jacob’s speech to his sons in chapters 42 and 43.

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 .