PERES: this is the singular form of the plural parsin found in verse 25. The word comes from a root meaning “divide,” “dissect,” or “cut in two.” But there is a play on words in this verse, so that it is also related to the Persians mentioned at the end of the verse. While New Jerusalem Bible and Revised English Bible have the plural form, this is not recommended. In fact, with all three terms, it will be better to translate the meaning rather than retain the transliterated form of the Aramaic.

Your kingdom is divided: once again the passive may have to be transformed into an active form with God as the agent: “God has divided…,” or in some languages “God is about to divide…” or “God is dividing….”

And given to the Medes and Persians: if God is made the subject of the verb “divide” in the previous phrase, this one may continue “so that he might give it to…” or “in order to hand it over to….” The two names are actually singular in form in the Aramaic, “the Mede and the Persian,” but they have a collective meaning and should be translated as plurals in most cases. The Aramaic word for “Persian” constitutes a play on words with parsin in verse 25 and peres here. But it is inevitable that the wordplay will be lost if the meaning is translated in verses 25 and 28 instead of being transliterated. If judged indispensable for the reader, this information can be provided in a footnote.

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 .