Most High

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin, 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)

compassion

The Hebrew, Greek and Latin that is typically as “compassion” in English is translated in various ways:

  • Shilluk´: “cries in the soul” (source: Nida, 1952, p. 132)
  • Q’anjob’al: “crying in one’s stomach” (source: Newberry and Kittie Cox in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. )
  • Aari: “has a good stomach” (=”sympathetic”) (source: Loren Bliese)
  • Una: “has a big liver” (source: Kroneman 2004, p. 471)
  • Uma: “heart is moved (lit., far-away)” (source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Chitonga: “to have the intestines twisting in compassion/sorrow for someone” (kumyongwa) (source: Wendland 1987, p. 128f.)

See also pain-love, moved with compassion (pity)Seat of the Mind for traditional views of “ways of knowing, thinking, and feeling.”

patience / patient

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The Hebrew and Greek terms that are translated as “patient” or “patience” are translated in a variety of ways.

Eugene Nida (1952, p. 130) gives some examples:

“Peace is the quality of the soul; patience is the behavior of the soul. The Aymara of Bolivia have described patience well by the phrase ‘a waiting heart.’

“The Ngäbere of Panama describe patience in more vivid terms. They say that it is ‘chasing down your temper.’ The impatient person lets his temper run away with him. Patience requires one to “chase down his temper” and get it under control [see also Mairasi down below].

“The Yucateco describe patience as ‘strength not to fall.’ This seems to include almost more than patience, but it is important to note that this Yucateco translation recognizes that impatience means ‘falling.’ For some of us, who tend to take a certain secret pride in our impatience—describing it as energetic drive—it might be well to recognize that impatience is failure, while patience is strength.

“The San Blas Kuna in Panama use a rather strange phrase to depict patience. They say ‘not caring what happens.’ But this is not meant as condoning foolhardy indifference to life and danger. It reflects a kind of reckless confidence in God, a confidence not bred of desperation but of utter reliance. The patient person is not concerned about what happens; he is willing to wait in confidence.”

In Mairasi, the phrase that is employed is “stop (our) anger” (source: Enggavoter 2004) and in Suki “slow careful thinking way” is used (source L. and E. Twyman in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 91ff. )

In Kwang an expression is used that directly translates as “carry one’s head” (source: Mark Vanderkooi right here ), and in Q’anjob’al it is translated with the phrase “large stomach” (source: Newberry and Kittie Cox in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ).

In Akan, it is typically translated as abodwokyɛre, lit. “chest cool longer.” (Source: Kofi Agyekum in International Journal of Language and Communication 2015, p. 35ff. )

See also Seat of the Mind / Seat of Emotions.

Translation commentary on 2 Esdras 7:33 - 7:34

And the Most High shall be revealed upon the seat of judgment: For the Most High, see the comments on 2 Esd 3.3. Since Contemporary English Version views God as speaking in this subsection, it says “I, God Most High,” which other languages may find helpful. Shall be revealed may be rendered “will appear” (Good News Bible). The seat of judgment is the throne on which God sits to pass judgment on the world (compare Dan 7.9; Rev 20.11). This clause may be translated “Then God Most High will reveal himself [or, appear] on his judgment seat.” Contemporary English Version is similar with “Then I, God Most High, will start judging all people.”

And compassion shall pass away, and patience shall be withdrawn: These two clauses have almost the same meaning, and may be combined; for example, Good News Bible says “Mercy and patience will vanish completely,” and Contemporary English Version has “I will no longer be kind and gentle to sinners.” As the Revised Standard Version footnote indicates, the Latin expression for shall be withdrawn is literally “will gather together,” but it probably means “will shrink to the vanishing point,” that is, “will disappear.” The idea here is that when God begins his judgment, there will be no place for anyone to plead a case for anyone else; everything will be decided according to strict justice. Good News Bible joins the final sentence of verse 33 with the first one in the next verse, and we recommend this.

But only judgment shall remain may be translated “and justice shall replace them.”

Truth shall stand, and faithfulness shall grow strong: The Latin word for faithfulness has the sense of truth in this context (compare the comments on 2 Esd 6.28). God will judge according to the truth. Good News Bible combines these two parallel clauses, saying “Truth and faithfulness will once again stand firm.” Contemporary English Version says simply “I will judge with truth.”

Translators who can use the passive voice should study Good News Bible‘s model for verses 33-34. But for those who must use the active voice, we suggest the following model:

• 33 Then God Most High will appear on his judgment seat. He will no longer have mercy or patience toward sinners, 34 but will judge [or, punish] them. Truth and justice will once again stand firm.

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.