inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen. 42:30)

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, both the Jarai translation and the Adamawa Fulfulde translation use the exclusive pronoun (excluding Jacob).

complete verse (Genesis 42:30)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 42:30:

  • Kankanaey: “They said, ‘The governor in Egipto spoke-harshly in conversing-with us (excl.). He accused us (excl.) of being-spies reportedly in their country.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The head of Egypt spoke to us with a loud voice, and dealt with us, saying that we had come to spy.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “They said to Jacob, ‘We (excl.) were-told hurtful-(words) by the governor of Egipto and were-accused that we (excl.) (were) spies so-he-said.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “‘The man who governs the whole land of Egypt talked very harshly to us. He acted toward us as though we were spying on his country.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Genesis 42:30

The man, the lord of the land translates the Hebrew literally. It is the brothers’ way of speaking of Joseph as the ruler of the country. Good News Translation says “The governor of Egypt,” Bible en français courant “The man who is the governor of the country,” Biblia Dios Habla Hoy “The man who governs in that country.” All of these are good models. Some translators may wish to take account of their own political structure; for example, “The head man of that country,” “The prime minister,” or “The second-in-command there.”

Spoke roughly to us: see verse 7. Us in this verse and the other first person plural pronouns down to the end of verse 32 are all exclusive, whether the brothers are speaking to their father or reporting what they said to Joseph.

Took us to be spies of the land: that is, “said that we were spying against his country” or “treated us like spies.” See also Good News Translation “accused us of spying.” See verse 9 for suggestions for translating spies.

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 .