inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 44:9)

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’s steward.

complete verse (Genesis 44:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 44:9:

  • Kankanaey: “Go-ahead, look-for-it then. If even any of us (excl.) has the cup, you (pl.)-might-as-well kill him and cause- us (excl.) -to-become your (sing.) slaves.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “If that is found with any of your servants, kill him, and all of us will also stay [here] as your master’s servants.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “If you (sing.) find that cup among one of us (excl.), he will-be-killed and we will-become your (pl.) slaves.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “If you discover that any of us has that cup, you can execute him, and the rest of us will become your slaves.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 44:9

So certain are the brothers of their innocence that they are willing to have the culprit killed and the rest made slaves.

With whomever of your servants it be found, let him die: that is, “If you find the cup with any one of us, that person should die [be killed]” or “Let them kill the one of us who has that cup.”

And we also will be my lord’s slaves: that is, “and the rest of us will be your slaves, sir.” Many languages require changing my lord’s to “your.”

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 .