inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Isa. 16:6)

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 translation uses the inclusive pronoun, including everyone. The Adamawa Fulfulde translation uses the exclusive pronoun, excluding Moab.

inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Isa. 16:6)

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 translation selects the inclusive form, because “it includes the prophet and his audience.” The Adamawa Fulfulde translation, however, uses the exclusive form.

complete verse (Isaiah 16:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 16:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “It was heard that the people of Moab were boasting/proud.
    It is known that (they are) people who are arrogant,
    but there is nothing they can boast of.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “We have heard about the arrogance of Moab.
    How proud and vain they may be
    we also know.
    But all their boasting is worthless.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “We (excl.) have-heard how proud are those of/from-Moab. They are proud and arrogant/[lit. ones-who-think-highly-of-themselves], but this has no value.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “We people of Judah have heard about the people of Moab;
    we have heard that they are very proud and conceited ;
    they are insolent,
    but what they proudly say about themselves is not true.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 16:6

We have heard of …: For languages that have inclusive and exclusive pronouns, the pronoun We is inclusive. It includes the prophet and his audience. Moab’s pride and pitiful situation was common knowledge within Judah (see also Jer 48.29-38). Good News Translation‘s quote frame, “The people of Judah say,” appears to exclude the prophet from the pronoun We.

The pride of Moab, how proud he was; of his arrogance, his pride, and his insolence: The words pride, proud and arrogance render the same Hebrew root. It is used four times to emphasize the pride of the Moabites. This root’s meaning is related to “rising up,” and when it used as a noun or adjective it refers to a person who has exalted himself. It is also connected to the idea of majesty. The synonym insolence translates a different Hebrew root. As far as the prophet is concerned, Yahweh destroyed Moab because of its pride. Pride as the primary cause of troubles is similar to the theme of many other oracles against foreign nations (see, for example, 13.11, 19; 14.11). Translators should aim for the same emphasis on pride that is found here in the original text, even if repetition is not possible (see Good News Translation for an example where repetition is avoided).

His boasts are false: There is some question about the precise meaning of the Hebrew noun rendered boasts. BDB suggests it comes from a root meaning “talk idly.” So Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch renders this line as “But all his showing-off is empty chattering.” Sweeney suggests Moab’s arrogance was not justified in light of its weakness, so he renders false as “not in proportion to him”. This also appears to be the view of the Vulgate, which reads this line as “its lack of dignity is more than its strength.” Despite the lack of consensus about the precise meaning of the Hebrew noun here, boasts appears to be an acceptable rendering. Bible en français courant speaks of “his boasts being without reason” (similarly Contemporary English Version). The prophet is referring to Moab’s empty or baseless pride.

Here and throughout this oracle, New International Version uses feminine pronouns for Moab (“she” and “her”). It does this because countries are often seen as feminine in English.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• We know all about Moab’s pride, how proud it is; [we know about] its pride, its arrogance and conceit. Its claims are hollow [or, empty].

• We have heard of Moab’s pride, its great pride; we have heard of its pride, its conceit, and its arrogance. It has no grounds for such arrogance.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .