high priest

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “high priest” in English is translated in the following ways:

  • Yatzachi Zapotec: “the ruler of the priests of our nation”
  • Chol: “very great priest” (source for this and above: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.)
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “first over the priests”
  • Desano: “chief of the priests” (source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.).
  • Uma: “Big Priest” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “high sacrificer” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa as “Most-important Priest of God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Bariai: “Big leader of offerings” (source: Bariai Back Translation)

In Khoekhoe the translation for “high priest” is only capitalized when it refers to Jesus (as is Hebrews 2:17 et al.). (Source: project-specific notes in Paratext)

See also priest and chief priest.

Translation commentary on 1 Maccabees 12:6

Jonathan the high priest, the senate of the nation, the priests: The growing confidence of Jonathan and the Jews can be seen in this introduction to their letter. Compare it with the words addressed to the Roman senate by the messengers sent by Judas in 1Macc 8.20. Here there is proud talk of a High Priest, a senate (Good News Bible “council of leaders”; compare the comments on “elders” at 1Macc 7.33), and indeed of a nation. The word nation was not used in 8.20. The Greek term used for the Jewish nation speaks of it as a political entity. In some languages it may be more natural to place the priests immediately following the high priest by beginning this verse with “Jonathan the high priest, the other priests, the national council of leaders….”

And the rest of the Jewish people to their brethren the Spartans, greeting: For the Jewish people, Good News Bible has “the people of Judea,” which we prefer here, since the term “Judea” suggests a political entity, just as the Greek word for people does. Brethren is used as something more than a complimentary address. In the Mediterranean world at this time, nations often tried to establish fanciful genealogical relationships among themselves. In verses 7 and 21 it is reported that the Spartans themselves claimed a genealogical relationship with the Jews. No such relation existed, of course, but such claims were in fact made. Calling them to mind seems to have been part of normal diplomatic procedure. Good News Bible acceptably translates their brethren the Spartans as “our brothers in Sparta,” but translators for whom this literalism is impossible may say “our good friends in Sparta.” Greeting will be placed earlier in this verse in many languages; for example, Contemporary English Version renders the last half as “and the rest of our people send greetings to our dear friends in Sparta.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.