inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Ezra 4:18)

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 Adamawa Fulfulde translation uses the exclusive form (excluding the recipients of the letter).

self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (Ezra 4:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Ezra 4:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “That letter has been read and translated for me.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The letter you sent has been translated, read to me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘The letter you (plur.) sent has-been-translated into our (excl.) language while (it) was-read to me.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The letter that you sent to me was translated and read to me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

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 Ezra 4:18

The letter which you sent to us: The king acknowledges that the letter sent to him had been received. The us may refer to the king and his government officials or it may be a royal plural (so New English Bible has “me”). In languages with an inclusive-exclusive pronoun distinction, it should be translated as a first person plural exclusive pronoun.

Has been plainly read before me: The letter may have been “translated” into Persian and read to the king (Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, New International Version), or the Aramaic word for plainly may indicate that the letter was read to him clearly and distinctly as translated by Revised Standard Version (also King James Version, New King James Version , Nouvelle version Segond révisée, New English Bible) or word by word. New Jerusalem Bible understands it to mean “has been accurately translated for me.” It is preferable to understand that the letter was translated and read as in Good News Translation. The translation here should be compatible with the translation of verse 7.

In many languages the passive verb form has been … read must be changed to an active form. The subject may be an indefinite “they,” or it may be the king’s servants.

For before me, the more common English expression is “to me,” as in Good News Translation. The reading before the king that is described here was not a formal performance but a reading to the king as he was seeking information.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Ezra. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Ezra 4:18

4:18 The letter you sent us has been translated and read in my presence.

The letter that you (plur.) sent us (excl.) was translated and read to me.
-or-
I have received the letter you wrote and sent to us. ⌊My servants⌋ have translated it ⌊from Aramaic into Persian⌋ and read it for me.

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