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)

David

The name that is transliterated as “David” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with the sign signifying king and a sling (referring to 1 Samuel 17:49 and 2 Samuel 5:4). (Source: John Elwode in The Bible Translator 2008, p. 78ff. )


“Elizabeth” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

In German Sign Language it is only the sling. (See here ).


“David” in German Sign Language (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The (Protestant) Mandarin Chinese transliteration of “David” is 大卫 (衛) / Dàwèi which carries an additional meaning of “Great Protector.”

Click or tap here to see a short video clip about David (source: Bible Lands 2012)

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: David .

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 12:32

This is the Messiah whom the Most High has kept until the end of days, who will arise from the posterity of David, and will come and speak to them: The ancient versions are surely correct, since something is obviously missing from the Latin text here (see Revised Standard Version‘s second footnote). Revised Standard Version also notes that the Latin word for Messiah (unctus) is literally “anointed one,” but we do not recommend a footnote of this nature. A different Latin word is used for Messiah in 2 Esd 7.28 (see the comments there), but translators may express it the same way here. As noted there, the equivalent Greek word is translated “Christ” in the New Testament, and translators may use here whatever term they have used in the New Testament for “Christ” (not “Jesus”). The two best places in the New Testament to check this are John 1.41 and 4.25. These two passages are the most likely places that a translation would use a form of the Hebrew word for “Messiah” in the New Testament. If translators find that their translation of John makes that distinction, then the term used in those two verses is the most appropriate to use here. For the Most High, see the comments on 2 Esd 3.3. The Most High has kept until the end of days may be rendered “God Most High will hold back until the end time” or “God Most High will not reveal till the end of time.” See the comments on 2 Esd 3.6 for the notion that the Messiah existed before the creation of the world. Here the Messiah is said to be held back until the end of time. Remember that chapters 3–14 are a Jewish book, and although they are written in the Christian era, the author would not think of Jesus as the Messiah. For the author of these chapters, the Messiah had not yet come, and would not until the end of time. (However, the editor of this book would have considered Jesus the Messiah.) The Messiah, of course, would be from the posterity of David, that is, descended from David. The pronoun them refers to the Roman rulers represented by the eagle.

He will denounce them for their ungodliness and for their wickedness, and will cast up before them their contemptuous dealings: Compare 2 Esd 13.37-38. The words ungodliness and wickedness are similar in meaning. Both are used for emphasis. If possible, translators should use two separate words here as in Good News Bible. The verb phrases denounce them and cast up before them may be combined (so Good News Bible, which has “rebuke them”). Their contemptuous dealings may be rendered “their contempt for God’s ways” (Good News Bible).

We recommend Good News Bible‘s model for this verse.

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.