inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Jeremiah 44:18)

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 Jeremiah.

complete verse (Jeremiah 44:18)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Jeremiah 44:18:

  • Kupsabiny: “But when we finished/ended burning to that woman ruler of heaven/up whom we worship those things that smell sweet and the wine that is poured/offered, everything has been lacking for us. War has destroyed us and famine has finished us.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But when we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and no longer offer drink offerings to her, we have-lost everything, and die in battle and famine.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and giving her offerings of wine, we have had many troubles, and some of our people have been killed by our enemies’ swords and some have died from hunger.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Jeremiah 44:18

Since we left off burning incense … to her: This is best understood as a reference to the reforms set in motion by King Josiah, who attempted to do away with all idolatry in Judah and Jerusalem. However, following his death in the battle of Megiddo (604 B.C.), things doubtless began to turn for the worse and the people must have become disillusioned.

We have lacked everything can be expressed as “we have had nothing that we needed.”

Consumed, as elsewhere in this chapter, means to be killed. See verse 12.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on Jeremiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2003. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .