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 3 Maccabees 7:9

For you should know that … : The connector For may be omitted, so translators may begin this verse with “You should know…” or “I want you to know that….”

If we devise any evil against them may be rendered “if we are planning to do any evil against the Jews.”

Or cause them any grief at all may be translated “or cause them any trouble [or, harm] at all” (Contemporary English Version).

We always shall have not man but the Ruler over every power, the Most High God, in everything and inescapably as an antagonist to avenge such acts: The king tells his military officers and government officials that if anyone attempts to harm the Jews, they will have to deal with God, not just with human beings. Here the pronoun we seems to include the king and the other Egyptian leaders. An antagonist is an opponent. God will be the opponent of anyone who tries to harm the Jews. A possible model for this part of the verse is “We will not have a human ruler opposing us; but God Most High himself, who rules over all earthly rulers, will oppose us. He will certainly punish anyone who hurts the Jews.”

Farewell marks the end of the king’s letter. It may be translated by any customary way of closing a letter, especially a formal letter.

Here is an alternative model for this verse:

• You may be sure that if we plan to do anything evil against the Jews, or harm them in any way, we will not have a human ruler opposing us; but the Most High God, who rules over all earthly rulers, will oppose us. He will certainly punish anyone who does such things to the Jews. Good-by.”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 3-4 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2018. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.