inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Num 11:4)

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

complete verse (Numbers 11:4)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 11:4:

  • Kupsabiny: “There were people who used to like to cause trouble to people and were very greedy. They nagged people so much that the Israelites grumbled, ‘It would have been better if we got some meat.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “One useless group [of people] who were in their group started feeling gluttonous. And even the Israelites also began to wailing and complain like this — "who give us meat to eat?” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Now, the group of non-Israelinhon who came-with the Israelinhon are-looking for food that they like/want/desire to eat, so including the Israelinhon complained saying, ‘Hope/Wish we (incl.) can-eat meat.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then some troublemakers from other people-groups who were traveling with the Israelis began to want better food. And when they started complaining the Israeli people also started to complain.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 11:4

Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving: Now renders the Hebrew waw conjunction. The Hebrew text seems to imply that this second incident of complaining happened immediately or soon after the fire at Taberah. It highlights the Israelites’ stubbornness: they could not learn their lessons from the LORD. The rabble probably refers to the non-Israelites who joined the Israelites when they left Egypt (see Exo 12.38, which refers to a “mixed multitude”), so Good News Translation says “foreigners.” The Hebrew word for rabble is literally “those gathered together.” This word implies something inferior, so rabble is a good rendering for it. Other good models are “riffraff” (New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh) and “troublemakers.” De Nieuwe Bijbelvertaling and Willibrordvertaling say “rabble of strangers.” The pronoun them refers to the Israelites, which may be made explicit by rendering the rabble that was among them as “the rabble that was traveling with the Israelites.” Had a strong craving (literally “craved a craving”) renders a verb and noun from the same Hebrew root. This verb plus cognate noun construction emphasizes their craving for better food, especially meat. Some languages may need to make explicit what they craved. If so, this expression may be rendered “really wanted better food” (similarly New Century Version).

And the people of Israel also wept again is literally “and the people of Israel also returned and wept,” which means they also complained again. Good News Translation says “and even the Israelites themselves began to complain,” which is inaccurate. A better model is “and even the Israelites themselves complained/whined again.”

And said introduces the Israelites’ complaint in verses 4b-6. If possible, some of their negative, resentful attitude should be shown in the translation of these verses. In Egypt they had been living as oppressed slaves. The verb said may be rendered “exclaimed” (New Living Translation).

O that we had meat to eat! is literally “Who will cause us to eat meat?” which expresses a strong wish. Good News Translation provides a good model with “If only we could have some meat!”

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .