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 Gideon.
The Hebrew and Greek that is transliterated as “Gideon” in English is translated in Spanish Sign Language with the sign for “wring out cloth” referring to Judges 6:38. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
The name that is transliterated as “Midian” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that depicts Moses fleeing to Midian (see Exodus 2:15, combined with a sign for the region. (Source: Missão Kophós )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Judges 8:22:
Kupsabiny: “After that, the people of Israel said to Gideon, ‘Rule us and let that rulership be inherited until it reaches your descendants because you have freed us from the Midianites.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “The Israelites said to Gideon — "You have delivered us from the Midianites. Now you be our ruler, [and] after you, your children must be our rulers."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Now the Israelinhon said to Gideon, ‘Because you (sing.) were- the-one-who -rescued us (excl.) from the Midianhon, you (sing.) alone and your (sing.) child/(son) and grandchild/(grandson) who will-lead/govern us (excl.).’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then a group of Israeli men came to Gideon and said to him, ‘You be our ruler! We want you and your son and your grandsons to be our rulers, because you rescued us from the Midian army.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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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 benefactive construction as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017.
Here, osamete (治めて) or “rule” is used in combination with kudasaru (くださる), a respectful form of the benefactive kureru (くれる). A benefactive reflects the good will of the giver or the gratitude of a recipient of the favor. To convey this connotation, English translation needs to employ a phrase such as “for me (my sake)” or “for you (your sake).” (Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )
⌊Then⌋ the people of Israel said to Gideon,
-or-
⌊After this victory over the Midianites,⌋ the people of Israel went to Gideon and said.
8:22b “Rule over us—you and your son and grandson—
“⌊We want⌋ you (sing.) and your descendants to reign over us, (excl.)
-or-
“Be our leader. Then when you die your son and your grandson will be our leaders.
8:22c for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.”
because you have delivered us from the Midian people.”
-or-
You saved us from the power of the people of Midian.”
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