inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Cor. 7:4)

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.

joy

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The Greek, Latin, Ge’ez, and Hebrew that is translated with “joy” or “gladness” in English is translated with various strategies:

  • Baoulé: “a song in the stomach” (see also peace (inner peace))
  • Bambara: “the spirit is made sweet”
  • Kpelle: “sweet heart”
  • Tzeltal: “the good taste of one’s heart”
  • Uduk: “good to the stomach”
  • Mískito: “the liver is wide open” (“happily letting the pleasures flooding in upon it”) (source for this and above: Nida 1952)
  • Mairasi: “good liver” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
  • Noongar: koort-kwabba-djil or “heart very good” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “refreshed heart” (source: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.).
  • Hausa Common Language Bible: farin ciki or “white stomach.” Other languages that use the same expression include Southern Birifor (pʋpɛl), Dera (popolok awo), Reshe (ɾipo ɾipuhã). (Source: Andy Warren-Rothlin)

See also Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling,” happiness / joy, and exceeding joy.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 7:4)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 7:4:

  • Uma: “I am not reluctant to speak to you plainly like this, relatives. My heart is so big because of you [i.e., I am very proud of you], relatives. Even though many sufferings hit us (excl.), my heart is strengthened now, and I am so glad over you.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “I really trust you, and I always make you great/honor you to people. Even though we (excl.) have many difficulties, I am not sad/troubled but I am really encouraged. I am really happy.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “I have great confidence in you and I always am greatly praising you. And because of this, even though we have many troubles, we are still happy. We are very joyful because of you.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “I exceedingly trust and boast/speak-highly-of you. Even though we (excl.) were extremely hardshipped, our (excl.) minds became-strong at Tito’s coming and extreme was our (excl.) happiness due to what he said.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “I am really sure now about the good-quality of your believing/obeying. I speak highly of it to others, and that’s what encouraged me (lit. strengthened my mind/inner-being). It’s true, even though I experience big hardship, the happiness of my mind/inner-being is really very-much-more.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “I know assuredly that you will do these words I am telling you. I praise you when I speak with people, because I tell about what you are doing. Even though I suffer, yet when there comes to my heart what all you are doing, then more than ever I rejoice.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

formal 2nd person plural pronoun (Japanese)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way Japanese shows different degree of politeness is through the choice of a formal plural suffix to the second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. In these verses, anata-gata (あなたがた) is used, combining the second person pronoun anata and the plural suffix -gata to create a formal plural pronoun (“you” [plural] in English).

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:4

As the Revised Standard Version translation indicates, verse 4 in Greek consists of four short phrases followed by the words With all our affliction. There are two different ways in which the words With all our affliction may be connected to the preceding words. Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, and Bible en français courant connect the words With all our affliction with the final two clauses, I am filled with comfort and I am overjoyed. Revised English Bible says “In all our many troubles my cup is full of consolation and overflows with joy.” Other translations such as New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, however, agree with Revised Standard Version in connecting the words With all our affliction with the last clause only, that is, with I am overjoyed. Though both interpretations are possible, perhaps the grammatical construction favors the Revised Standard Version translation more than the Good News Translation.

The translation I have great confidence in you does not seem to capture the meaning of the Greek. The word confidence in Revised Standard Version is the same word translated as “bold” in 3.12. As indicated in the comments on that verse, this Greek word often means “boldness in speech.” Paul’s relationship of trust with the Corinthians permits him to speak boldly to them. It may be translated “I have great confidence before you….” Anchor Bible expresses the meaning clearly: “I feel I can speak quite candidly to you.” Revised English Bible similarly says “I am speaking to you with great frankness.” New American Bible and Phillips translate similarly, speaking of “utter frankness.”

I have great pride in you: in some languages the idea of taking pride in someone else is expressed by saying “I am very happy about you” or “you make my heart rejoice.”

I am filled with comfort: while comfort and encouragement are closely related, the latter seems more appropriate in this context. Paul states that he is encouraged by the Corinthians. The passive may be avoided by saying “I have received great comfort,” or by making the Corinthians the subject of the verb, “you give me much encouragement….”

The pronoun our in all our affliction probably does not include the readers.

I am overjoyed: literally “I overflow with joy.” The sense is that, in spite of all his trouble, Paul is nevertheless extremely happy.

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 .

SIL Translator’s Notes on 2 Corinthians 7:4

7:4a Great is my confidence in you;

I am completely confident in you (plur.),
-or-
I am convinced that you will do the right thing,

7:4b great is my pride in you;

and am very proud of you. (New Century Version)
-or-
and I have a lot of reasons to be proud of you. (God’s Word)

7:4c I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles

(Revised English Bible) In all our many troubles my cup is full of consolation and

In the midst of all our (excl.) troubles/hardships, I am filled with comfort
-or-
During all the difficulties that we are experiencing, I have been completely comforted ⌊and remain like that⌋,

7:4d my joy overflows.

and overflowing with joy. (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
and I am now completely happy.

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