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 2 Esdras 7:87

The seventh way, which is worse than all the ways that have been mentioned: The Revised Standard Version footnote mentions that for worse the Latin has “greater,” but it offers a perfectly normal translational approach, which in our judgment calls for no footnote.

Because they shall utterly waste away in confusion and be consumed with shame: Instead of consumed with shame, the Latin text has “consumed with honors,” which is clearly wrong. Shame is widely accepted as the most likely text. Good News Bible renders these two clauses as “they are sick with remorse and shame,” or we may say “they feel such remorse and shame that they become sick.”

And shall wither with fear at seeing the glory of the Most High before whom they sinned while they were alive, and before whom they are to be judged in the last times: See the comments on verse 78. Wither with fear may be translated “tremble in fear” (Contemporary English Version).

Good News Bible does an excellent job with this verse, and we can offer nothing better to serve as a model.

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.