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.

Translation commentary on 2 Maccabees 4:13

There was such an extreme of Hellenization and increase in the adoption of foreign ways: Hellenization is the process of adopting Greek customs. Adoption of foreign ways simply stresses that the Jews were adopting foreign customs in the process of Hellenization.

Because of the surpassing wickedness of Jason, who was ungodly and no high priest: It will be better to place this part of the sentence at the beginning of the verse by saying “Jason was extremely wicked. He was an ungodly man who had no right to be High Priest.”

In Greek this verse forms one sentence, which continues to the end of verse 15. Because of the length of the sentence, we suggest dividing it in this verse as in the following models:

• Jason was extremely wicked. He was an ungodly man who had no right to be High Priest. While he was High Priest, the adoption of foreign customs, especially Greek customs, by the Jews reached a high point.

• … While he was High Priest, the Jews became very enamored with [or, eagerly adopted] Greek customs—or foreign customs of any kind.

• … While he was High Priest, the Jews went farther in adopting Greek customs—or any kind of foreign customs—than they ever had before.

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.