inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Acts 7:39)

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 Stephen and his listeners).

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

complete verse (Acts 7:39)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 7:39:

  • Uma: “‘But our ancestors did not want to submit to Musa. They rejected him as their leader. They just wanted to return to the land of Mesir.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “‘But our (incl.) forefathers,’ Estepan said, ‘they did not like to follow Musa. They rejected him and their desire was to go back to the land/place Misil.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “But when Moses was still on the mountains, our ancestors did not obey what Moses wanted them to do. They did not want Moses to be their leader, and they decided it would be good if they would return to Egypt.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “‘But our ancestors, they rejected Moses not believing/obeying what he said, because they missed the customs of the ones-from-Egipto.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “But, as for our ancestors, because they kept on looking-back-longingly to Egipto, where images/likenesses which can be seen were what were worshipped by the people there, they no longer wanted to follow/obey Moises. They really wanted to drop him.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 7:39

Since this is a new paragraph it may be necessary to reintroduce Moses as the object of refusing to obey, for example, “they would not listen to (or obey) Moses.”

Wished that they could go back to Egypt (see New English Bible “they wished themselves back in Egypt”) translates the Greek “they turned in their hearts towards Egypt.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .