Came near: the structure of Revised Standard Version may make it questionable on first reading as to whether they came near to Daniel or near to the king. But the meaning is clearly that they approached the king. So the structure should probably be changed in many languages. The Good News Translation rendering also makes it clearer that their purpose was to accuse Daniel.

Concerning the interdict: this indicates that those who came before the king spoke to him about the order that he had given, forbidding the worship of anything other than himself. Other versions have worded this as follows: “and reminded him of the royal prohibition” (Anchor Bible) or “they talked to him about the law he had made” (New Century Version).

O king: see 2.4. This formal address is repeated later in the verse, but the repetition is omitted by Good News Translation as being stylistically undesirable.

Did you not sign…?: the first part of the discourse of Daniel’s accusers before the king is in the form of a rather long and complicated question which is intended merely to remind the king of what he had done. But in some languages it will be more natural to follow the Good News Translation model and make this a simple declarative statement, but followed by a shorter question like “Is that not so?” or something similar. Another possibility is to begin by saying “We remember that you…” and then concluding with “Is this not true?”

The thing stands fast: the rather vague word translated thing in Revised Standard Version can also mean “word,” “affair,” or “utterance” and refers to the decree prohibiting prayers to any deity or human being other than the king. In most cases it will be desirable to state this in the translation. The verb may be rendered “is firm” or “is rigid” in this context. In addition to the above Good News Translation model, translators may also consider the following: “the decree is absolute” (Anchor Bible), “the decision stands” (New Jerusalem Bible), “the matter has been determined” (Revised English Bible), “the order stands firm” (New Jerusalem Bible). Moffatt says simply “It is true” in answer to the question.

The law of the Medes and Persians: see verse 8.

Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .