Strict: the same word is translated “severe” in 2.15. In this context it indicates that the king’s order was firm and uncompromising. Many versions (New International Version, New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version, and New Jerusalem Bible) translate the word “urgent.” In some languages it may be necessary to say “the king’s command was strong.” Another possibility is “the king was very angry when he have his command” (New Century Version).

The flame of the fire: such an expression as this will be seen as redundant in some languages and should be translated simply as “flames” or “fire,” but not both.

Slew: in some cases a more general word such as “kill” will be preferred, but in others the context will require “burned up” or some other expression related to death by fire.

Since this verse begins with a kind of explanation of why the guards were burned up in the fire, it may be more natural to change the order of clauses in some languages. Another way of wording this may be something like “The guards who took the young men to the furnace were burned to death because the king had given very strict orders that the furnace be made extremely hot.” Or it may be advisable to divide the verse into two sentences, as follows: “Following the strict orders of the king, the furnace had been made as hot as possible. Therefore even the soldiers who had been ordered to throw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire were burned up.”

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 .