inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Luke 20:7)

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 exclusive form (excluding Jesus).

Source: SIL International Translation Department (1999).

complete verse (Luke 20:7)

Following are a number of back-translations of Luke 20:7:

  • Noongar: “So they said, ‘We do not know who gave John his power.'” (Source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
  • Uma: “That is why they answered: ‘We do not know where he authority was from.'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Therefore they answered, ‘We (excl.) do not know as to where Yahiya’s authority was from.'” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “So then the only thing they answered Jesus was, ‘We do not know.'” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “So they only said, ‘We (excl.) don’t know who gave-it.'” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Therefore what they replied to Jesus was, ‘We don’t know.'” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Luke 20:7

Exegesis:

kai apekrithēsan mē eidenai pothen lit. ‘and they answered not to know where,’ i.e. ‘that they did not know where it came from.’

Translation:

Whence it was, or, ‘who caused/sent/told him (to baptize),’ ‘from where its origin,’ cf. on v. 4.

Quoted with permission from Reiling, J. and Swellengrebel, J.L. A Handbook on the Gospel of Luke. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1971. For this and other handbooks for translators see here . Make sure to also consult the Handbook on the Gospel of Mark for parallel or similar verses.

SIL Translator’s Notes on Luke 20:7

20:7a

So they answered that: The phrase So they answered that introduces what the Jewish leaders concluded from their reasoning in 20:6. They told Jesus their conclusion in 20:7b. Introduce their answer to Jesus in a natural way in your language.

20:7b

they did not know where it was from: The Berean Standard Bible translates this phrase as indirect speech. However, the Greek is more literally “We do not know from whence.” For example:

We don’t know where it was from. (New International Version)

The Jewish leaders did not believe that John’s authority to baptize people was from God, and they were afraid to say that it was from people. So they simply said that they did not know where John’s authority to baptize came from.

The word it refers to John’s authority to baptize. In your translation, it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

We(excl) do not know where ⌊John’s authority to baptize people⌋ came from.
-or-
We do not know who sent John to baptize ⌊people⌋.

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