A stone: the stone in question had to be quite large, since it had to cover the opening through which a person could enter the pit.

Was brought and laid: these passive forms may be made active by using agents such as “they” (indefinite), or “some men,” or “the king’s servants,” as in the earlier references of this kind.

The mouth of the den: this would be like a kind of door or opening to the place where the lions were kept. It is this reference that makes experts believe that the den was actually a kind of cave or hole.

The king sealed it with his own signet: it was common practice to put some clay at the place where the stone met the edge of the entrance to the cave or pit. Then an image would be placed in the fresh clay, using a personal seal. In this case it was the seal of the king himself and those of his noblemen. It is not necessary that this entire process be described in the translation, but the reader should at least be made aware that this was a means of guaranteeing that the stone was not moved. If necessary the details of the procedure can be explained in a footnote.

That nothing might be changed concerning Daniel: or “in order that no one might be able to change Daniel’s situation.” Some consider that the Good News Translation rendering goes too far, but this is clearly the point of sealing the pit. Compare Revised English Bible. The seal of the officials would effectively prevent the king and his close associates from coming in secret to rescue Daniel. But the king’s seal would perhaps also deter the enemies of Daniel from coming in secret to make sure that he was dead, in case the lions did not kill him.

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 .