inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (John 14:31)

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, translators typically select the inclusive form (including the disciples).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (John 14:31)

Following are a number of back-translations of John 14:31:

  • Uma: “But this must happen, so that all people know that I love my Father and I always follow all that he commands me. Stand-up, and let’s go.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “But all mankind shall know that I love my Father, therefore I persevere doing all as my Father has commanded to me. Na, stand up now, let us (incl.) go,’ said Isa.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “However, what I am going to do now is what my Father God commanded me to do. I will carry this out so that mankind will know that my Father is big in my breath. Now get going, because we are leaving here.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “but I permit what will happen so that all people will come-to-know that I love my Father and am careful/thorough to obey all that he has commanded me. All-right, let’s go.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But so that it will be comprehended by the people here under the heavens that I hold the Father very dear, I will really fulfill what he sent me here to do. Stand up now and we’ll be going now.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “But it is necessary for what is to be, in order that the people will know that I love the Father. And I do what he ordered me to do. Get up now and let’s leave here.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on John 14:31

In Greek this verse reads literally “but in order that the world may know that I love the Father, and just as the Father commanded me, thus I am doing.” Good News Translation and most other translations restructure this verse slightly; some do so rather radically. Note, for example, Revised Standard Version “but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.”

As in many other instances, the world must often be translated “the people of the world.” Similarly, I love the Father must often be translated “I love my Father.” It is possible that in some languages the use of the possessive pronoun my with Father may be misunderstood as referring to Jesus’ earthly father. However, in view of the many other contexts in which it has been used, it seems unlikely that it will cause any serious misunderstanding.

That is why I do everything as he commands me may be rendered “that is why I do everything in just the way he tells me to do it.”

Come, let us go from this place is very close to Mark 14.42 (Get up, let us go), words spoken in Gethsemane immediately before the arrest of Jesus. From this place may be best translated in some languages “from this room” or “from this building.” As observed in the introduction to this section, these words should be taken literally, not spiritually.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .