inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gen 43:3)

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

Judah, Judea

The name that is transliterated as “Judah” or “Judea” in English (referring to the son of Jacob, the tribe, and the territory) is translated in Spanish Sign Language as “lion” (referring to Genesis 49:9 and Revelation 5:5). This sign for lion is reserved for regions and kingdoms. (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. and Steve Parkhurst)


“Judah” and “Judea” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

See also Judah, Judah (son of Jacob) , and Tribe of Judah .

complete verse (Genesis 43:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Genesis 43:3:

  • Kankanaey: “Whereupon Juda said, ‘Yes indeed, but that ruler in Egipto, he thoroughly threatened us (excl.) saying, ‘Don’t you be-repeating to appear to me if you don’t bring-along your younger-sibling.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Judah said — ‘The head of Egypt warned us saying ‘Do not come without bringing your younger brother.'” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But Juda replied to him, ‘The governor warned us (excl.) not to show ourselves (excl.) to him if our (excl.) sibling/(brother) Benjamin(is) not with us (excl.).” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But Judah said to him, ‘The man who sold us the grain warned us sternly, ‘I will not let you see me again if you come and your younger brother is not with you.'” (Source: Translation for Translators)

2nd person pronoun with low register (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 second person pronoun (“you” and its various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. The most commonly used anata (あなた) is typically used when the speaker is humbly addressing another person.

In these verses, however, omae (おまえ) is used, a cruder second person pronoun, that Jesus for instance chooses when chiding his disciples. (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

See also first person pronoun with low register and third person pronoun with low register.

3rd person pronoun with high register (Japanese)

Click or tap here to see the rest of this insight.

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 third person singular and plural pronoun (“he,” “she,” “it” and their various forms) as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. While it’s not uncommon to avoid pronouns altogether in Japanese, there are is a range of third person pronouns that can be used. In these verses a number of them are used that pay particularly much respect to the referred person (or, in fact, God, as in Exodus 15:2), including kono kata (この方), sono kata (その方), and ano kata (あの方), meaning “this person,” “that person,” and “that person over there.”

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

See also third person pronoun with exalted register.

Translation commentary on Genesis 43:3 - 43:5

In the previous chapter Reuben pleaded unsuccessfully with Jacob to allow Benjamin to return with the brothers to Egypt. Now, however, we hear Judah, the fourth son of Leah (29.35), acting as spokesman for the brothers. Since this is the second discussion about the same matter, some translations begin by saying “Father, we told you before, that headman….”

The man solemnly warned us: The man, which refers to Joseph as the ruler of Egypt, is the same expression as in 42.30. There The man is identified as “lord of the land.” It may be necessary in the present context to say “the man who rules Egypt” or “the ruler.” Solemnly warned translates a special intensive construction of the Hebrew verb “to warn,” in which the sense is “sternly [severely] warned us.” In some languages this is translated “he clearly threatened us” or “he told us for certain.”

You shall not see my face: this is an idiom meaning “You [plural] will not be given an audience with me,” “I will not receive you,” “I will refuse to speak with you,” or “You cannot approach me.” In some translations the reference to what Joseph had said is given in indirect speech; for example, “he said that he will not agree to see us again, if our brother….”

Unless your brother is with you: here brother must often be rendered by a term for younger brother. A term for half-brother will be inappropriate, as Joseph has only been told that Benjamin is their youngest brother. In some languages it may be necessary to state the condition before the consequence; for example, “Unless your brother is with you, I will not allow you to speak with me” or “If your brother does not come with you, ….” Another way of expressing this condition is “warned us that we could not go back there to him. But if we have our [youngest] brother with us, it will be all right, we can go back.”

If you will send our brother with us: in many languages this is more naturally “if you let our brother go with us” or “if you agree that our brother can come with us.”

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 .