Then: the transition word here may indicate the next in a sequence of events or focus on the result of the king’s command. Bible en français courant makes it more vivid by using “Immediately.”

Were bound: this passive form must be made active in many languages, using “they” as the subject (referring back to the powerful soldiers in the previous verse) or using the full noun phrase again.

Once again the writer gives a list; this time it has to do with the articles of clothing worn by the three men being thrown into the blazing furnace. The first of the three words is repeated in verse 27, but the complete list does not reappear. The table below comparing various English versions clearly indicates that the precise meaning of these articles of clothing is uncertain. What is important is to use words indicating that the men were fully clothed, and that their dress included inner garments, outer garments, and something worn on the head.

The translation of the third term in this list in some versions is perhaps misleading. The words hats or “caps” are generally used in English to refer to something more modern than the contemporaries of Daniel would have worn. Terms like “turbans” (New International Version) or “headdresses” (Revised English Bible) are more appropriate, since they clearly refer to something less modern. But this kind of distinction may be difficult to reflect in some languages which have only one term that refers to anything worn on the head.

The fourth term in Aramaic is usually translated something like their other garments and is probably intended to make clear to the reader that the young men wore all their clothing. In some cases it may be well to translate this “that is, all their clothes.”

Into the burning fiery furnace: see verse 20.

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 .