high priest

The Greek and Hebrew that is translated as “high priest” in English is translated as “the ruler of the priests of our nation” in Yatzachi Zapotec, as “very great priest” in Chol (source: M. Larson / B. Moore in Notes on Translation February 1970, p. 1-125.), as “first over the priests” in Ayutla Mixtec, and “chief of the priests” in Desano (source for this and one above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.).

In Uma it is translated as “Big Priest,” in Western Bukidnon Manobo as “high sacrificer,” and in Tagbanwa as “Most-important Priest of God.” (See here.)

See also priest and chief priest.

Jerusalem

The name that is transliterated as “Jerusalem” in English is signed in French Sign Language with a sign that depicts worshiping at the Western Wall in Jerusalem:


“Jerusalem” in French Sign Language (source: La Bible en langue des signes française )

While a similar sign is also used in British Sign Language, another, more neutral sign that combines the sign “J” and the signs for “place” is used as well. (Source: Anna Smith)


“Jerusalem” in British Sign Language (source: Christian BSL, used with permission)

Translation commentary on 2 Maccabees 3:9

When he had arrived at Jerusalem and had been kindly welcomed by the high priest of the city: The high priest of the city is a peculiar phrase, and some Greek manuscripts as well as several ancient versions read “the high priest and the city,” that is, the high priest and the citizens of Jerusalem. This is preferred by New English Bible, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, Abel, Goldstein, and Tedesche. Good News Bible omits the phrase of the city, presumably considering it redundant. Since nothing is said about the citizens in the following verses, we believe the text as it stands should be accepted. Translators may say “the High Priest of the city” or simply “the High Priest” (Good News Bible). They may even render welcomed by the high priest of the city as “welcomed by the High Priest to the city.” Most translators will find it convenient to treat the first half of this verse as a separate sentence, for example, “When he arrived in Jerusalem, the High Priest welcomed him graciously [or, warmly/kindly] to the city.”

He told about the disclosure that had been made and stated why he had come, and he inquired whether this really was the situation: Translators following the model above must identify the subject here as Heliodorus. The disclosure refers to what Simon had told Apollonius (verse 6), and some may find it helpful to state the content of the disclosure here. Translators may consider the possibility of reversing the clauses he told about the disclosure that had been made and stated why he had come; for example, the last half of this verse may be rendered “Heliodorus told him why he had come. The king had heard that there was great treasure in the Temple, and he was there to find out if this was true.” Another possible model is “Heliodorus told him that the king had heard that there was great treasure in the Temple, and had sent him to find out if this was true.” In languages that prefer direct speech here, Contemporary English Version provides a helpful model, saying “Then Heliodorus explained, ‘I came to the city because someone told me that there is a lot of money in your temple treasury. Is this true?’”

Quoted with permission from Bullard, Roger A. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on 1-2 Maccabees. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here.