inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Jeremiah 44:18)

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 Jeremiah.

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 44:18

Since we left off burning incense … to her: This is best understood as a reference to the reforms set in motion by King Josiah, who attempted to do away with all idolatry in Judah and Jerusalem. However, following his death in the battle of Megiddo (604 B.C.), things doubtless began to turn for the worse and the people must have become disillusioned.

We have lacked everything can be expressed as “we have had nothing that we needed.”

Consumed, as elsewhere in this chapter, means to be killed. See verse 12.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .