inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gal. 4:3)

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 either select the inclusive form (including the writer and the readers of this letter) or the exclusive form (referring to only Paul and Galatian and/or Jewish Christians).

Source: SIL International Translation Department (1999).

complete verse (Galatians 4:3)

Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 4:3:

  • Uma: “So also with us, relatives: before we knew God, we were like that child, for we submitted to customs and laws that are in this world.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Likewise we (incl.) also formerly at the time when we (incl.) were like children, that means when we (incl.) did not yet trust Isa Almasi, it is as if we (incl.) were figuratively slaves who followed only the customs of our (incl.) ancestors and the teachings of people in this world.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And we (incl.) are like that because we were ruled over long ago by doctrines which were not yet correct here on the earth, because we (incl.) were just like children observing all of those things.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So also with us. Before we understood the true teaching, we were enslaved to/by the commands on this earth that we formerly followed.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “In just the same way, when Cristo had not yet come, we were still like children who were still held-subject by the shallow perceptions of the world that were being taught.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “It is like that for us. Before we knew about Christ, we earnestly did the customs followed by the people here on earth.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Galatians 4:3

The pronoun we should be understood as referring to Christians generally, and not simply to Jewish or Gentile Christians. Paul first describes their pre-Christian condition.

Ruling spirits of the universe translates a phrase which can be literally rendered “the elements of the world.” The various possible meanings of the phrase are reflected in the numerous ways in which it is translated (Phillips “the authority of basic moral principles”; Jerusalem Bible “the elemental principles of this world”; Knox “the school room tasks which the world gave us”; New English Bible, Revised Standard Version “the elemental spirits of the universe”).

Paul uses the word “elements” three times (twice in this chapter and once in Col 2.8), and in these occurrences it may refer to one of three things: either (1) knowledge, with special reference to the Law; (2) the spirits or lesser deities which control human destiny; or (3) the physical universe, with special reference to the sun, moon, and other celestial bodies. The first of these would have reference to the pre-Christian religious experiences of those who had put their trust in impersonal moral principles, as defined by the Law. It is more likely, however, that a combination of the second and the third represents rather accurately what Paul is talking about. Not only was there widespread belief at that time in spiritual forces that rule the universe, but the celestial bodies were talked about as “spirits” endowed with power over man’s destiny. It is clear from what Paul is saying that these powers (meanings 2 and 3) were contrary to God’s will, since they put man in bondage and in a state of fear. The implication seems obvious: in Christ these powers are defeated, and mankind is no longer held in bondage.

In a number of languages the closest equivalent of ruling spirits of the universe is “spirits which control the world,” or “spirits which command things in the world.” These would, of course, be references to so-called “demonic” spirits, but it may be difficult to say that people are “slaves of such spirits.” It may be more appropriate to restructure the sentence to read “the spirits that ruled the world had made us their slaves,” or “… had caused us to serve them like slaves.” If there is a term which would specify not only the “world” but the entire “universe,” this would be very appropriate, since the underlying Greek expression refers to the entire cosmos. It may not, however, be possible to say that being slaves of the ruling spirits of the universe is precisely the same as the relationship of an heir to his guardian (the one managing his affairs), even though the son in some respects is treated like a slave before he inherits all that legally belongs to him. Therefore, in place of in the same way it may be necessary to say “in a very similar way” or “similarly.” The analogy is not exact, but it is parallel, and an appropriate equivalent term must be used in the receptor language.

The clause before we reached spiritual maturity translates “when we were babes.” The word for “babe” is the same word used in 4.1, where it refers to legal status of a minor. Paul also uses this word to refer to spiritual immaturity (as in 1 Cor 3.1), but here it describes primarily a person in his pre-Christian state. An appropriate equivalent in some languages may be “before we could fully understand,” or “before we realized what the truth really was.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 4:3

4:3–7

In 4:3–7, Paul explained the meaning of his illustration in 4:1–2. In the same way that a future heir is surrounded by guardians and is like a slave when he is a child, Jewish and Gentile believers had been slaves of sin. God the Father decided the right time to change this situation. This happened when he sent his Son. After God’s Son had redeemed us, believers became sons and received the full inheritance as sons. They were no longer slaves.

4:3a

So also, when we were children: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as So also, when we were children introduces Paul’s explanation of his illustration in 4:1–2. In his explanation, Paul compared Jewish and Gentile believers to the heir in 4:1–2. He referred to their lives before they believed as a time when they were like children. He compared their lives at that time to the life of an heir when he is a child.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

That is how it was with us. We were like children (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
It is the same for us. We were once like children (New Century Version)
-or-
And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children (New Living Translation (2004))

we: There are two ways to interpret the pronoun we here:

(1) It refers to all believers. It refers to both Jewish and non-Jewish believers and should be an inclusive we.

(2) It refers to Jewish believers only and should be an exclusive we.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), as the majority of commentators do. Here Paul was no longer talking about Jewish slavery under the law of Moses. He was talking about a more general slavery to the “basic principles of the world” (4:3b).

Also in support of this interpretation is the fact that in 4:9, Paul rebuked the Gentiles for returning to the basic principles of the world. Therefore, the Gentiles must have been included in we who had been slaves to those principles in 4:3b.

4:3b

Before Jewish and Gentile believers believed in Christ, they were like children. They were the same as slaves who are under the authority of a master.

we were enslaved under: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as we were enslaved under can also be translated as “we were slaves to/of.”

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

we were in slavery under (New International Version)
-or-
we were slaves to (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
We were…ruled by (Contemporary English Version)

the basic principles of the world: There are two main ways to interpret the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the basic principles of the world :

(1) It refers to the rules, laws, customs, and principles of this world. For example:

the…rules of this world (New Century Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, English Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It refers to spiritual beings. For example:

the ruling spirits of the universe (Good News Translation)

(New International Version (2011), Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (1996))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

customs and laws in this world
-or-
the customs/teachings of our ancestors

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