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 Sirach 24:3

Both Good News Translation and Revised Standard Version begin this verse with quotation marks to indicate that Wisdom now is speaking. Contemporary English Version begins with “And this is what she says:….”

I came forth from the mouth of the Most High: Compare Pro 2.6; Wis 7.25. The reference here is to God’s speaking at the time of creation in Gen 1. Good News Translation (following New English Bible) goes as far as translation legitimately can in pointing to this by saying “I am the word spoken by the Most High”; but in many languages “I came from the mouth of God Most High” (Contemporary English Version) will be a natural translation.

And covered the earth like a mist: This may refer to Gen 2.6, or to the Spirit of God that covered the waters in Gen 1.2; compare Jdt 16.14. Mist is a cloud that comes down and covers the ground. In some desert areas near the ocean it is the only way that moisture reaches the earth.

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Sirach. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.