inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Gal. 2:10)

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 readers of the letter).

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

complete verse (Galatians 2:10)

Following are a number of back-translations of Galatians 2:10:

  • Uma: “The only thing that they requested was that we (excl.) not stop helping the poor. As for that, it was what I was already doing.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “They asked only that we (excl.) should help the poor there in Awrusalam, the ones who trust in Isa Almasi. And that also is what I always want to do/be done.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The only command they gave us was that we should help the poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem. However, I had already decided on this in my breath.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “They only instructed us (excl.) that we (excl.) continue to help the poor Jews and that is exactly what I have been putting-forth my efforts (lit. ability) to do.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “The only thing they asked us (exc) to do, which also was what I was eager to strive to do, was to not just ignore (the needs of) the poor.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “There was just one word that they told me, that I should not forget to help the poor people. But concerning this word, it wasn’t necessary to remind me, I always endeavor to help the poor.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Galatians 2:10

There is only one condition appended to the agreement: that Paul and Barnabas should remember the poor and needy (see Acts 11.30 and 2 Cor 9.1). These are the poor Christians in Jerusalem, a fact made clear by Good News Translation (compare New English Bible “their poor”). The needy in their group must be made somewhat more specific in some languages: “the poor people among the believers there in Jerusalem,” or “the poor people who belonged to their group of believers.”

The word translated eager in the clause the very thing I have been eager to do does not simply refer to one’s state of mind, but primarily to one’s activity. It could therefore be translated “worked hard at.” Some translations tend to put emphasis on the former (Good News Translation, also Jerusalem Bible “I was anxious to do”; Phillips “only too ready to agree”). Most translations, however, capture the spirit of the clause, being divided only as to whether this refers to a subsequent action and/or attitude of the apostle (as it seems to be in Knox) or to a previous action and/or attitude which continued up to the time of this letter (New American Bible “the one thing that I was making every effort to do”). In order to indicate clearly the continuous nature of Paul’s activity on behalf of the poor believers in Jerusalem, one may say “and I have always been eager to do just that.” Note, however, that in this context the verb remember does not imply necessarily that the poor had been forgotten. The meaning here is that “we should continue to think about,” or “should constantly be concerned for.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1976. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

SIL Translator’s Notes on Galatians 2:10

2:10a

They only asked us: This clause means that James, Peter, and John had only one request for Paul and Barnabas. It implies that they did not add anything to Paul’s message.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

They asked only one thing (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
They requested only (NET Bible)
-or-

?When they welcomed us as partners,? they only told us one other thing

Here the word asked does not mean “asked a question.”

to remember the poor: This clause means “remember to help the poor.” The phrase the poor refers to the poor Jewish Christians living in Jerusalem. At that time, they were having a difficult time getting enough food.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

to remember to help the poor (New Century Version)
-or-
remember the needy in their group (Good News Translation)
-or-
that we should not forget to help the poor ?Jewish believers in Jerusalem?

2:10b

the very thing I was eager to do: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as was eager means “make every effort” or “work hard.” Paul wanted to continue to help the poor, as he had done in the past. In your translation, do not imply that Paul only began to help the poor after the Jerusalem leaders welcomed him as a partner.

Some other ways to translate this clause are:

This was the same thing that I had always worked hard to do.
-or-
This is what I wanted to continue to do.

© 2016 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.