Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Latin term or phrase:
Meaning; Gloria in excelsis Deo
English translation:
Glory be to God on high
Added to glossary by
Chris Rowson (X)
Oct 17, 2002 03:11
22 yrs ago
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Latin term
Paula Reed
Meaning; Gloria in excelsis Deo
Non-PRO
Latin to English
Art/Literary
part of a Christian song- Angels We Have Heard on High;
"Gloria in excelsis Deo"
Need English meaning
"Gloria in excelsis Deo"
Need English meaning
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+6
40 mins
Selected
Glory be to God on high
This is the usual translation in the Anglican Church (or was).
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Note added at 2002-10-17 03:56:34 (GMT)
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\"Deo\" is the dative of Deus, representing \"to God\"
\"excelsis\" is actually dative plural of excelsus, so more literally \"in the heights\", with excelsus having implications of high in the spiritual sense more than the physical, e.g. elevated.
Oh, and the \"be\" has to be understood, it isn´t literally there, but Latin likes to do things like this.
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Note added at 2002-10-17 04:41:59 (GMT)
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Errr, technical correction, \"excelsis\" is not dative but ablative (the forms are the same).
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Note added at 2002-10-17 03:56:34 (GMT)
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\"Deo\" is the dative of Deus, representing \"to God\"
\"excelsis\" is actually dative plural of excelsus, so more literally \"in the heights\", with excelsus having implications of high in the spiritual sense more than the physical, e.g. elevated.
Oh, and the \"be\" has to be understood, it isn´t literally there, but Latin likes to do things like this.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-10-17 04:41:59 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Errr, technical correction, \"excelsis\" is not dative but ablative (the forms are the same).
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Comment: "Thanks to all that responded! They were all helpful."
42 mins
Juan Jacob
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico
Literatura, historia, subtitulaje
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Mexican, Latin American) 
, French (Variants: Belgian, Standard-France)
Works in: French to Spanish, Spanish to French, French, and 5 more.
Glory to God in the Highs
Gloria: glory
in exclesis: in the Highs
Deo: God
in exclesis: in the Highs
Deo: God
52 mins
Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Glory be to God on high/Glory to God in the highest
Explanations in LATIN? Sorry, no can do.
I prefer the second of these myself.
Ref. 1.
BWV 191 Gloria in excelsis Deo
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First Day of Christmas.
1. Lk. 2:14 (beginning of the Gloria of the Mass; 2 and 3. the shorter Doxology.
After 1740; Parody: <--- Mass in B Minor, BWV 232/4, 7, 11.
BG 41; NBA I/2.
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First Part(1)
1. Chorus (S, A, T, B)
Glory be to God on high
Ref. 2
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest:
Cantet nunc 'Io'
Chorus angelorum,
Cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria,
Gloria in excelsis Deo:
I prefer the second of these myself.
Ref. 1.
BWV 191 Gloria in excelsis Deo
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Day of Christmas.
1. Lk. 2:14 (beginning of the Gloria of the Mass; 2 and 3. the shorter Doxology.
After 1740; Parody: <--- Mass in B Minor, BWV 232/4, 7, 11.
BG 41; NBA I/2.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Part(1)
1. Chorus (S, A, T, B)
Glory be to God on high
Ref. 2
Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God
In the highest:
Cantet nunc 'Io'
Chorus angelorum,
Cantet nunc aula caelestium:
Gloria,
Gloria in excelsis Deo:
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Chris Rowson (X)
: The "in the highest" translation was only made to add a syllable for singing, it is not really what it says. Ít´s also in fact very awkward to sing. We used to replace it with the original "in excelsis".
40 mins
|
7 hrs
Joseph Brazauskas
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
When You Want It Done Right
Native in: English (Variant: British) , Spanish (Variant: Standard-Spain)
Works in: Latin to English, English to Latin, Greek (Ancient) to English, and 23 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
444
Glory [be] to God in the highest
'Gloria in excelsis Deo' is the standard Vulgate rendering of Luke 2:14, the Greek of which reads: äïîá åí õøéóôïéò èåùé', literally, 'Glory [be] to God in the highest [heavens]. 'Õøéóôïéò' is a dative plural superlative, and hence is justly translated by the English superlative 'highest'. Jerome, who is chiefly responsible for the text of the Vulgate, or some earlier redactor, probably chose 'excelsis' to render the Greek, rather than an equivilent superlative like 'altissimis', because õøéóôïò lacks a positive form and 'excelsus', though its degree is positive, does mean 'height' in its neuter form ('excelsum'), used substantively.
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