inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Cor. 5:2)

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 the addressee).

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

The Mal, Karbi and Copainalá Zoque translators chose an inclusive form. D. Filbeck says: “We do not feel that Paul expected to be made an exception to believers in general. Informant insists on inclusive.”

Source: Roy and Margaret Harrison in Notes on Translation with Drills, p. 173ff. (Mal), David Filbeck in The Bible Translator 1994, p. 401ff. (Copainalá Zoque) and Source: W. R. Hutton in The Bible Translator April 1953, p. 86ff. (Karbi).

complete verse (2 Corinthians 5:2)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 5:2:

  • Uma: “While we still live in this world, we groan/suffer and we desire our new body in heaven.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Now we (dual) are burdened (feel heavy) because of our (great) desire/longing to enter the new body fitting for heaven.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But since we are having such a hard time while we are still on the earth, we really wish that we could be given now, that new body of ours which is in Heaven.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Now, admittedly, it’s as if we are groaning on account of our extreme longing that our new bodies replace (the old)” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “And it’s true, we are really being hardshipped as long as we are still living here in this body. That’s why we are anxiously awaiting (the time) when it will be replaced by the one that we will live in there in heaven,” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Truly while we live here on earth we can hardly wait for the day when we change where we live, quickly we will live there in heaven where our homes are.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:2

The word Here is more literally “In this” and means “In this present body” (Revised English Bible), “While we are here on earth” (Contemporary English Version). Some may prefer to say “In this life.”

Indeed: this single English word translates two Greek words that may also be translated as “for also” or “for even.” Here they introduce a further point or elaboration on the previous verse. Many modern translations leave these Greek words untranslated (so Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, rev, New International Version).

We groan, and long: the words and long translate a participle which is literally “longing.” Paul means either “we groan while we long to put on” or “we groan because we long to put on” (Bible en français courant). In this context the verb translated groan should not be taken to mean the kind of noise one makes when in pain or severe doubt. It is rather the sighing that occurs when a person earnestly desires and hopes for something good. In verse 4 below, as in Mark 7.34, the same verb is translated “sigh.” Here Translator’s New Testament reads “we … cry out for….”

To put on our heavenly dwelling: the verb to put on means to put on an item of clothing over what one is already wearing. Paul mixes metaphors, referring to the spiritual body first as a building (5.1) and then as clothing to be put on. The form of the Greek verb to put on may be understood as active voice as in Revised Standard Version or as passive voice as in Good News Translation (“be put on”). If translators accept the verb as passive in meaning, it may be necessary to make the agent explicit: “that God should put on us our home that comes from heaven.” Knox has “the shelter of that home,” while New American Bible speaks of having “our heavenly habitation envelop us.” Because of the mixed metaphors in this verse, some translators have felt it necessary to change the image of putting on clothing to being hidden in a house, or covered by a house.

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .