inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (1Sam 11:14)

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 inclusive pronoun, including everyone.

complete verse (1 Samuel 11:14)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of 1 Samuel 11:14:

  • Kupsabiny: “Samuel told the people that, ‘Let’s go up to Gilgal and confirm to the people that Saul has become our king.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Samuel said, "Let’s all go to Gilgal, and declare once again that Saul is our king."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Come, let- us (incl.) -go to Gilgal and we (incl.) will- again -proclaim Saul as our (incl.) king.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Let’s all go to Gilgal, and there we will again proclaim that Saul is our king.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on 1 Samuel 11:14

Come, let us go represents two different forms of the same verb in Hebrew. The first is imperative in form and serves as a kind of general exhortation. The second is literally “and we go.” But the overall sense of the two together is to urge the listeners, “Let’s go.”

Renew the kingdom: Saul has already been proclaimed as king at Mizpah (see 10.20-24). Now the people will “once more” proclaim that Saul is their king. Parola Del Signore: La Bibbia in Lingua Corrente says “in order to confirm our king.” Others may say “we will show that we accept Saul as our king.”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on the First and Second Books of Samuel, Volume 1. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2001. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .