inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 41:13)

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 Pharaoh.

complete verse (Genesis 41:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 41:13:

  • Kankanaey: “And what he told was-fulfilled (admiration particle), because as for me, you (sing.) had-me-returned to my former work, but my companion by-contrast, you (sing.) had- him -hung.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “And just like he said, just like that it happened. I returned to my job again, and the bread baker was hanged.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “What he said to us (excl.) really happened: You (sing.) had- me -restored/caused-to-be-returned to my work and you (sing.) had-impaled on wooden-pole/treethe head the ones-who-cook/(-bake) bread.'” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And what happened was exactly the same as the meanings that he told us: You said I could have my previous job again, but the other man was killed by being hanged. The Hebrew man’s name was Joseph.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Japanese honorifics (Genesis 41:13)

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 usage of an honorific construction where the morpheme are (され) is affixed on the verb as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. This is particularly done with verbs that have God as the agent to show a deep sense of reverence. Here, tsurus-are-ru (つるされる) or “hang” and modos-are-ru (戻される) or “return” are used.

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

Translation commentary on Genesis 41:13

And as he interpreted to us, so it came to pass: that is, “Everything happened just as he said it would” or “Everything happened according to the way he interpreted our dreams.” For restored to my office see 40.13.

For baker was hanged see 40.22.

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 .