inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Jeremiah 48:14)

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 translation uses the exclusive pronoun, excluding the Lord.

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 48:14

Since the LORD now addresses the Moabites, Good News Translation, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Bible en français courant make this clear: “Men of Moab…” (Good News Translation); “You people of Moab…” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

For heroes see 5.16, where Revised Standard Version has mighty men for the same Hebrew word.

Mighty men may also mean “brave soldiers” (Good News Translation).

In some languages restructuring of this verse will be necessary; for example:

• Men of Moab, you say you are heroes and mighty warriors. How can you say that?

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 .