Just as you saw …: in many languages it will be clearer to start this verse with something like “That is the meaning of the stone you saw…” (New American Bible) or “This is the meaning of the vision of the rock…” (New International Version).

A stone was cut from a mountain …: see verse 34.

The iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold: here again the order of the elements has been changed. But this time the order seems to be random. Some Greek versions have the same order here as in verses 32-33, but this is probably due to a deliberate correction of the original text. The modified order should probably be retained, unless the translator’s language has strong reasons for requiring something different. Compare verse 35.

A great God: the Revised Standard Version rendering reflects the Aramaic original in that there is no definite article here. However, the context (“the God of heaven” in verse 44) justifies the use of the definite article, which almost all other English versions adopt. In some languages, however, there are no definite articles, and translators may say “God, who is great….”

To the king: that is, “to you” or “to your majesty.” See verse 7.

The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure: the theme of the content and the meaning of the dream is maintained here. Anchor Bible renders these words “this is certainly the dream and its interpretation is trustworthy.” Another way of saying this in some languages may be “This is exactly what you dreamed, and you can be sure that this (what I have told you) is its meaning.” The emphasis is on the absolute certainty of both the form and the meaning of the king’s dream.

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 .