inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Luke 23:18)

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, translators typically select the exclusive form (excluding Pilate).

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

complete verse (Luke 23:18)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 23:18:

  • Noongar: “All the people shouted, ‘Crucify him! Release Barabbas to us!'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “When they heard that, the people shouted/made-noise saying: ‘Kill him! Release Barabas for us (excl.)!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “When the people heard what Pilatus said, they all shouted they said, ‘Kill that person! We want Barabbas to be freed!'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when the many people heard that which Pilate said, they began to shout, ‘You have that man killed, and the one you let loose is Barabbas!'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “But the many-people, they all-shouted-together saying, ‘Kill him! Barabbas is the one we (excl.) want you (sing.) to release!'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Well, when they heard that which Pilato said, the crowd all called out together, saying, ‘Kill that person, that Jesus! Barrabas is the one to release from prison!'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 23:18

Exegesis:

anekragon de pamplēthei ‘but they shouted out all together.’

pamplēthei lit. ‘with the whole multitude,’ adverb, ‘all together.’

aire touton lit. ‘take him away,’ ‘remove him,’ hence ‘away with him.’

apoluson de hēmin ton Barabban ‘release Barabbas for us.’

Translation:

They all cried out together, or, “the whole crowd shouted” (Translator’s New Testament).

Away with this man, implying that he should die; hence, ‘kill this man, or, him’ (cf. An American Translation, Good News Translation, Bible de Jérusalem, Batak Toba), or, ‘destroy this man’ (Javanese).

Release to us Barabbas, or, if the force of “to us” has to be described, “We want B. set free” (Phillips, similarly Sundanese), “… let us have B.” (The Four Gospels – a New Translation). Us has exclusive force.

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.