inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Dan. 3:16)

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 and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive form (excluding the king).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Dan. 3:17)

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 and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive form (excluding the king).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Dan. 3:18)

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 translation and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive form (excluding the king).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Dan. 6:5)

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 and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the inclusive form (including the presidents and the satraps).

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Dan. 9:6)

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 and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive form, “since this is a prayer of confession addressed to God.”

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Dan. 1:12)

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 and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive form, “since the hearer is not included.”

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Dan. 1:13)

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 and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive form, “since the hearer is not included.”

Translation commentary on Daniel 1:17

The form of this verse is awkward in Revised Standard Version, since it follows the basic structure of the Hebrew, beginning with the phrase that is essentially the object of the verb that comes later in the sentence. It is surprising how many modern English versions retain this structure (New International Version, New English Bible, New American Bible, New Jerusalem Bible). In many languages it will be more natural to begin with the subject, God, and the verb “to give,” then followed by the object of the verb. However, there may be cases where the structure of Revised Standard Version will be perfectly natural.

As for these four youths … them: as indicated above, this structure may be awkward and should probably be changed in the translation.

Learning and skill in all letters and wisdom: compare verse 4 above. The first quality mentioned is a more general term, while the second is in two parts and involves ability in the area of literature and philosophy. Thus the word translated skill in Revised Standard Version goes with both letters and wisdom. New American Bible, Moffatt, and Anchor Bible speak of “literature and science.” Revised English Bible speaks of “knowledge, understanding of books, and learning of every kind.”

And: the conjunction here should probably be expanded to make it clear that, in addition to the gifts received by Daniel along with his three companions, God also gave him another ability that was not shared by the others. Instead of a simple “and” it may be better to say “God added to Daniel the ability to…” or “in addition to what he received from God along with his friends, Daniel also acquired….”

Understanding in all visions and dreams: or “was able to understand every kind of vision and dream,” or “had power to interpret any kind of dream or vision.” The distinction between a dream and a vision is difficult in some languages. The term “vision” is used more than thirty times in the Book of Daniel and usually indicates the special revelation of events that would take place in the future. A vision is usually thought of as being distinguished from a dream, in that the person involved is fully awake when it takes place, while in a dream he is in a state of sleep. But this distinction is not always maintained in the Old Testament writings. In some languages translators may have to say “dreams and special revelations,” using the more commonly known term first in the sentence.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .