inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Heb. 3:19)

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 typically select the inclusive form (including the writer and the readers of this letter).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (Hebrews 3:19)

Following are a number of back-translations of Hebrews 3:19:

  • Uma: “So, we clearly know that they were not permitted to enter and get rest with God because they did not believe.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “We (dual) understand that the reason they did not enter that land was because they did not believe.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And we (incl.) know that they were not able to enter there because they would not believe the word of God.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “That’s how-we -know that the reason they were unable-to-enter the resting-place God had prepared, it was their not believing in him.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore then we know that they could not enter that place that was promised them because they refused to be taught in that (they) were not believing/obeying God. 3:2 It’s possible that this household means the (pl.) Israelita in the past whom God caused-to-be-led by Moises. 3:7-11 Psalm 95:7-11. 3:15 Psalm 95:7-8.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Thus it is seen here that they did not get to enter that land where they should have rested because they did not believe the word God spoke.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Hebrews 3:19

Verse 19 is a simple summary of the previous argument. The conjunction then does not refer to time but to the sequence of argument and may be rendered by forms equivalent to “accordingly” or “therefore.”

In place of the expression We see, it may be necessary to use some such expression as “We realize” or “We have come to know,” since in reality there was no direct visual perception but simply understanding.

The final, emphatic word “unbelief” recalls verse 12 (see the discussion). “Unbelief” includes an element of rebellion, and Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “So we see why they did not reach the goal: (it was) because they did not remain true.”

In order to emphasize the opposition implied in “not believing,” it may be best to translate the causal clause as “because they refused to believe.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Letter of the Hebrews. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1983. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .