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.

complete verse (Acts 19:14)

Following are a number of back-translations of Acts 19:14:

  • Uma: “At that time there were also in Efesus several Yahudi people who were traveling around expelling demons that had entered people. Among them were seven men, all children of a leading priest named Skewa. One time, those seven tried to expel a demon from a person by naming the name of the Lord Yesus. They said: ‘With the name of Yesus whom Paulus carries, you (sing.) leave!'” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “So-then, there were seven brothers who ‘medicined’ like that. Their father was Eskeba, the leading priest of the Yahudi.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “The ones who did this were the seven sons of a Jewish high priest whose name was Sceva.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “There were seven children of Sceva a leader of the priests of the Jews who did that.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “As for those expellers, there were seven of them, all brothers. Their father was a chief of the priests, whose name was Esceva.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Acts 19:14

Nothing further is known of the Sceva mentioned in this verse. It may be that he actually was a Jewish High Priest, or it may be that he knew the sacred name that was mentioned in the holy place of the Jews.

Who were doing this may need to be rendered as “who were commanding evil spirits to come out.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Acts of the Apostles. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1972. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .