inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (2Cor. 7:5)

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 the addressee).

Source: Velma Pickett and Florence Cowan in Notes on Translation January 1962, p. 1ff.

complete verse (2 Corinthians 7:5)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Corinthians 7:5:

  • Uma: “Why do I say that my heart is strengthened, relatives? Because I was happy to hear the news that Titus brought from you. Like I recounted earlier, we (excl.) left from the village of Troas and came here to Makedonia. But when we (excl.) arrived here, our (excl.) hearts were still not quiet. Left and right we (excl.) were hit by suffering. There were those who were-at-odds-with/disagreed with us, and on the other side [i.e., at the same time, on our part] we (excl.) were afraid too. Our(excl.) hearts were indeed discouraged [lit., lessened] at that time. But thank you I say to God, for at that time Titus arrived bringing news from you, relatives. So, our discouraged hearts were strengthened by God at the arrival of Titus.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Even when we (excl.) arrived in Makedoniya, still we (excl.) could not rest because we (excl.) had many troubles. There were some who contradicted us (excl.) and quarreled with us (excl.). And we (excl.) were also sad/troubled.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And when we arrived here in the province of Macedonia, we still could not leave our troubles behind. Because we were in difficulty with many problems. Our enemies quarrelled with us and we were worried about the believers.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Because even upon our (excl.) arrival in Macedonia, there was no resting of our (excl.) minds and bodies due to the manyness of the troubles that we (excl.) were experiencing. Because there were those who opposed (excl.) us and there was also that which we (excl.) were worried about.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “For, when we (excl.) were in Macedonia, we were not alowed to rest from hardships. For no matter where (we went) fierce-arguing (is what we encountered), and we (excl.) were always worrying about you that you might drop/give-up your believing/obeying.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “When I arrived here in the land of Macedonia, I could not at all be at peace. Because there were wars everywhere. Then my heart was sad, thinking that the people would spoil the word I spoke.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Macedonia

The name that is transliterated as “Macedonia” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that shows pillars, a hallmark of the architecture used there in the Roman period and also prominently used today at Archaeological Museum of the Republic of North Macedonia (see here ). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Macedonia” in Libras (source )

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about Macedonia (source: Bible Lands 2012)

More information about Macedonia (Greece) .

Translation commentary on 2 Corinthians 7:5

With verse 5 Paul returns to the subject of his travel plans which he left in 2.13. See the comments at the section heading for 2.14-17. It will be important to make a paragraph break at this point in the receptor language, as in most English versions.

On Macedonia see 2.13. Paul is writing from Macedonia (see 9.1-4), so the verb we came probably refers to a recent arrival.

Our bodies had no rest is literally “our flesh had no rest.” Here “flesh” refers to the entire person, with the additional sense that human beings are subject to frailty. The natural translation of this thought into English is expressed in the Good News Translation‘s pronoun “we,” though perhaps Good News Translation lacks the idea expressed by “flesh,” that the body is subject to weariness and pain. In some languages it may be perfectly natural to say “we did not let our bodies rest,” retaining the notion of “body” but using the more natural subject “we.” Others may say “we were physically exhausted.”

We were afflicted: this passive verb will have to be translated actively in many cases. However, there is no direct evidence as to the cause of the affliction. It may be possible to say simply “we suffered” or “there was trouble [for us].” Other languages will have to use the indefinite third person plural, “they caused us suffering.”

At every turn: literally “in all,” that is, in every way. Barclay translates this element by his choice of verb: “we were surrounded by troubles.”

Fighting without and fear within: the word fighting is not to be taken literally as referring to physical battle, but rather in the figurative sense of “quarrels” (Good News Translation) with other people who were without, meaning “outside the church.” These other people were perhaps Christian opponents, non-Christians, or both. Fear within: refers to concerns and anxieties within their own “hearts.” One possible model may be “while we struggled with other people, we also had to struggle with the fears in our minds [or, hearts].”

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellingworth, Paul. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .