inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Isa 3:6)

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

complete verse (Isaiah 3:6)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Isaiah 3:6:

  • Kupsabiny: “Also in those days one will take hold of a man of the clan,
    and will say,
    ‘Because you are dressed well,
    take on the leadership,
    and rule over this deserted house.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “The day is about to come
    when a man will take an elder brother in his father’s house and will speak to him like this —
    "You have a outer garment,
    you be our leader in this heap of ruins."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “At that time a man will-go to his relatives and say(-to-him), ‘Because your (sing.) clothes are still nice/okay/[lit. good], you (sing.) just lead us (excl.) in this time that our (incl.) place is ruined.’ But he will-answer, ‘I could not help you (plur.). My family does not even have food or clothes, therefore you (plur.) do- not make me the leader/[lit. head].’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Isaiah 3:6

When Yahweh has removed all the leaders and potential leaders from Jerusalem and Judah, the people will be panic-stricken. They will attempt to correct the situation by selecting new leaders. According to this verse, the situation will be so desperate that they will choose a leader just on the basis of whether he has some decent clothes to wear. Clearly the prophet is using hyperbole here in order to make his point. Translators can present the picture in this verse well, even if they render it literally. Translations that use blank lines for structuring poetry should follow Revised Standard Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh by adding a blank line before this verse. Good News Translation marks the break here by beginning a new paragraph.

This verse should be connected closely with the next verse: “6 When[ever] a man tells his brother…, 7 on that day the brother will speak out….” It is possible to put the time reference in verse 7 explicitly at the beginning of verse 6, as Good News Translation has done: “A time will come when….” Another possibility is to start with “At that time…” (without “when”), referring back to the situation described in the previous verses.

When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying: This verse pictures a situation in which a family member urges his brother to become their leader. Takes hold of literally means “grabs,” but here it may be used figuratively to mean “urges” or “begs,” which implies that the other person is reluctant to accept. The Hebrew word for brother can refer to a person’s brother, or more broadly to any male relative. Many languages need to specify whether this is a younger or an older brother; if so, “older brother” is best here. The phrase the house of his father more likely refers to the family or clan rather than to the actual house. The verb saying is not in the Hebrew text, but most translations add it following the Septuagint. In the context it may be rendered “plead” or “beg.”

You have a mantle; you shall be our leader: A mantle is a loose fitting cloak, that is, a large, outer garment. You have a mantle may be rendered “You have a coat” or even “you have clothes [or, something] to wear” (similarly Good News Translation). Since the brother has some outer clothing, this is enough to prompt his family to ask him to be their leader in their difficult situation. A general word meaning leader (for example, “chief” or “elder”) may be used here, especially since it is not immediately clear whether the brother is to lead the whole country or only the clan. See the comments on 1.10, where the Hebrew word for leader is rendered “rulers.” It is not clear from the Hebrew syntax whether you shall be our leader is a statement or an invitation. However, the general context suggests it is a strong invitation.

And this heap of ruins shall be under your rule: The man who is speaking refers to the clan or the country as a heap of ruins, which means it is something that has collapsed, that is, a “heap of rubbish.” There is a strong sense of irony here since the possibility of being the ruler over a heap of ruins is hardly an attractive offer. For this line Revised English Bible has a more explicit—and probably less poetic—rendering with “our stricken family shall be in your charge.” Under your rule is literally “under your hand,” where “hand” refers to the exercise of power.

Translation examples for this verse are:

• When a person grabs his [older] brother, and pleads with him,
“Because you have a cloak,
you can be our leader
and rule over this heap of ruins.”

• A person will beg his older brother,
“You can be our leader because you have a coat;
then this mess is yours to rule.”

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 .