Most High

Click here to view graphically

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 2 Esdras 12:4

Behold, you have brought this upon me, because you search out the ways of the Most High: Ezra accuses his spirit (that is, himself) of bringing on his confusion and fear, because he insisted on trying to understand God’s ways. For the word Behold, which highlights the words that follow, see the comments on 2 Esd 6.18. If the previous verse is adjusted so that Ezra speaks to himself, the pronoun you, which refers to Ezra’s spirit, is better rendered “I” (Good News Bible). For the Most High, see 2 Esd 3.3. We may render this verse as follows:

• “I realize I have brought this [confusion and fear] on myself, because I have been trying to understand the ways of God Most High.

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.