inclusive vs. exclusive pronoun (Num 13:31)

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 (Numbers 13:31)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Numbers 13:31:

  • Kupsabiny: “But the people who went with him said, ‘Oh no, those people are very fierce, so, we are not able to fight them.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “But the people who went with him said, "We are not able to attack those people. They are stronger than we are."” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But the people who had-gone with Caleb to spy/explore said, ‘We can- not -able to attack them, for they are stronger than we (incl.) are.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But the men who had gone with him said, ‘No, we cannot attack and defeat those people! They are much stronger than we are!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Numbers 13:31

Then the men who had gone up with him said: In verses 31-33 the report of spies who explored Canaan with Caleb contradicts what Caleb recommended, so this is a natural point to start a new paragraph with a contrastive conjunction such as “But” (so Good News Translation). What was initially only implied in the latter part of the spies’ report in verses 28-29 is now openly stated in direct contrast to Caleb’s preceding claim that they could conquer Canaan. The suspense builds. How will the people respond? This will only become clear in chapter 14. For the Hebrew verb rendered had gone up, which may be translated simply “had gone” (Good News Translation), see verse 17.

We are not able to go up against the people: Go up renders the same Hebrew verb as in the previous clause, but here it has the sense of “attack” (Good News Translation) as in the previous verse. In some languages it is necessary to render the people more specifically as “the people of that land.”

For they are stronger than we gives the reason why the spies think the Israelites cannot attack the people of Canaan. Good News Translation says “the people there are more powerful than we are.”

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 .