inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 39:17)

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 pronoun, excluding Joseph.

complete verse (Genesis 39:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 39:17:

  • Kankanaey: “Then she also reported-negatively to him saying, ‘That Hebreo slave that you (sing.) brought here, he entered my room so-that he would rape (lit. force) me (unfulfilled expectation).” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As soon as [her] husband came in, she told him that same story — ‘That Hebrew servant that you brought came in here to disgrace me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “She then told her husband what-had-happened. She said, ‘The Hebrew servant whom you (sing.) brought here [he] wanted to-put- me -to-shame for he entered my room to rape meit*.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then she told him this story: ‘That Hebrew slave whom you brought here came into my room and tried to rape me!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 39:17

Told him the same story refers to the version she had told to the servants. Instead of repeating the full account, she gives a shorter version to her husband.

The Hebrew servant … to insult me: in her report to her husband she uses insult (the same Hebrew word as used in verse 14) to refer to the attempted rape. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy and Bible en français courant say “and tried to dishonor me.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .