Most High

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, Ge’ez, or Greek that is translated as “(God) the Most High” or “Most High God” in English is translated in various way:

  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “he the completely glorified God”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “Father God who is high in heaven”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has such tremendous authority”
  • Chichimeca-Jonaz: “he who is the native of the highest place”
  • Palantla Chinantec: “the Big God Himself”
  • Xicotepec De Juárez Totonac: “God who has authority over all”
  • Estado de México Otomi: “most exalted God”
  • Isthmus Mixe: “God who is in heaven”
  • Teutila Cuicatec: “God who has a great rule” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Sa’a: “God, the Surpassing One” (source: Carl Gross)
  • Elhomwe: Mulluku Muullupalli or “God the Great” (source: project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
  • Chichewa: Wammwambamwamba: A name of God. While this word is difficult to translate into English, its sense implies that God is highly above everything in his power and greatness. (Source: Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 1 Esdras 6:31

Darius had a special interest in helping religions throughout his empire and he contributed liberally to their restoration, for example, among the Greeks and Egyptians. He wanted to make sure that he was in the favor of every god in his empire.

In order that libations may be made to the Most High God for the king and his children: Libations are offerings of any kind of liquid, in this case wine. Good News Bible says “wine offerings,” and Contemporary English Version has “sacrifices of wine.” The phrase the Most High God refers to God’s supreme majesty, not to his actually being tall or big, and will be translated in some languages as “God who is above everything” or “God who is supremely powerful” (see the comments on 1 Esd 2.3). Here Darius refers to himself in the third person by saying the king and his children. This is a formal usage, but in many languages it will be better to use the first person to avoid confusing the readers, as in Good News Bible, which says “me and my children.”

And prayers be offered for their life: The prayers that the king requests are not literally for the “lives” (New Revised Standard Version) of him and his children, but that their lives will be blessed and that his reign will be long and prosperous. Good News Bible expresses the idea here well by saying “and pray for his blessing on our lives.”

An alternative model for this verse is:

• I want this done so that they can offer wine to God Most High for me and my children, and pray for us [or, that he blesses us].

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Esdras. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.