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 29:11

Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High: Lay up your treasure is literally “Place your treasure.” Here this probably refers to the use of money rather than to getting it. The Most High refers to God’s supreme majesty, not to his size or height (see the comments on 4.10). An alternative model for this line is “Give your money to the needy [or, poor] as the Lord Most High commands.”

And it will profit you more than gold: There is a logical problem here. Gold would certainly be part of the treasure that is to be used properly. How can it make sense to say that using gold properly is better than gold? Presumably, using that gold according to the Lord’s commandments is more profitable than simply owning gold or having gold. This is the idea behind Good News Translation here, which says “this will do you more good than keeping your money for yourself.” This approach is helpful, and we suggest that translators follow it.

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.