The king: in some cases it will be clearer to indicate which of the two kings is intended here. Note that Good News Translation has “the king of Syria.”

Shall do according to his will: see verses 3 and 16.

Exalt himself and magnify himself: see 8.4, 8, 11 on magnify; the two verbs are used here as synonyms.

Astonishing things: elsewhere the expression astonishing things may be understood to refer to wonderful and extraordinary events and may have quite positive connotations. In Exo 34.10, for example, the same root word is used to speak of miracles in a very positive sense, as “marvels.” It may, however, also be used in a very negative sense of “abnormal things” that may even be scandalous (see 8.24, “fearful destruction”). The Revised Standard Version translation, and even New International Version “unheard of things” (which is not necessarily negative), are too weak. New American Bible captures the idea with “dreadful blasphemies.” And the same idea is conveyed in more common language by “awful things” (New Jerusalem Bible). New Revised Standard Version revises Revised Standard Version with “horrendous things.”

The God of gods: this certainly refers to the God of Israel, who is considered superior to all other possible gods. The expression does not indicate that the Jews admitted the actual existence of gods other than their own, but they did recognize (on the linguistic level) that other peoples worshiped what they called “gods.” As far as religions can be compared, the Jews affirmed that their God was superior to anything that any other people might consider their “god.” If in the translator’s language the use of the expression “God of gods” will carry the sense of polytheism (the existence of several gods placed in hierarchical order), then a different kind of expression should be used such as “the Supreme God” (Good News Translation) or “the Most High God” (Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). Also, since it is not a good idea to say “the God of idols,” translators may consider a longer expression like “the God over all those (beings, things) that others consider to be gods.”

Till the indignation is accomplished: the word translated indignation in Revised Standard Version is better understood as “divine wrath” (Revised English Bible) or “God’s anger.” This should be made clear in the translation. And because of the passive form, it will have to be restructured in some languages to say something like the Good News Translation rendering, or possibly “until God pours out his anger on him,” or “until the time when God shows his wrath.”

What is determined shall be done: the passive verb should probably be made active, even in many languages where the passive is grammatically possible. It is clearly God who will bring about what he has planned.

This verse begins to paint a striking portrait (in veiled terms) of Antiochus IV. The statement that he shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god is probably a reference to the title “Epiphanes” (see verse 31), which the king bestowed on himself. On the idea of speaking astonishing things against the God of gods, see 7.8, 20, “speaking great things.”

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 .

In the second year: it has been suggested by some scholars that this should read “In the twelfth year…,” because the second year seems to be inconsistent with the information given in 1.5 and 1.18, and it does not seem to allow for the three-years training period. There is, however, no manuscript evidence for this, and so translators are advised to translate the text as it stands.

Of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar: the long, complicated name of the king is mentioned twice in succession in Revised Standard Version, as in the Hebrew text, but it will very likely be more natural to change one or the other into a pronoun in other languages. Translators may say “In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar…” or “In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he….”

Had dreams: literally “dreamed dreams”—the noun and the verb have the same root. While the Hebrew is plural in form, the meaning is probably singular. The focus of the passage is on one particular dream that caused difficulty. Hence the singular is used in Good News Translation, New American Bible, and New Jerusalem Bible. New Jerusalem Bible, on the other hand, highlights the plural by translating “had a series of dreams.” But it is probably better to use the singular form in most languages.

His spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him: the word for spirit is more naturally rendered “mind” in English (see Good News Translation, New International Version, and New English Bible, for example). And the expression his sleep left him is translated by New Jerusalem Bible “he was overcome by sleep,” following one understanding of the traditional Hebrew text. But the meaning of the text is unclear, and most English versions adopt the interpretation “sleep fled from him.” However, this is not the usual way of expressing this idea in English. Rather, people would more naturally say “he couldn’t sleep” (Good News Translation) or “he was losing sleep.”

The relationship between these two clauses is also worthy of attention. They are not two independent facts or separate results of the dream but are very closely related, with the last clause stating the result of the clause before it. For this reason translators may consider the rendering of New English Bible as a possible model to follow: “his mind was so troubled that he could not sleep.” Revised English Bible restructures further, with “… was troubled by dreams he had, so much so that he could not sleep.”

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 .

Here the order of the materials of which the statue was made is modified. It is, in fact, the reverse of what is given in verses 32 and 33, so that the reader now has the impression of looking from bottom to top rather than from top to bottom. Perhaps this is to give a picture of the statue crumbling from the point where it was first struck, “its feet.”

All together: literally “as one.” Some versions translate “all at once” (New American Bible) in the sense of “at the same time” (New International Version). Most have just “all.”

Like the chaff of the summer threshing floors: this image presents numerous difficulties to the translator. In the areas of the world where the seasons of the year do not correspond to those of temperate climates, summer may have to be translated something like “after the harvest.” Or in some cases it may even have to be left out. The threshing floor is the place where people fan the grain in order to get rid of the waste materials that cannot be eaten. The word translated chaff is used figuratively and emphasizes the fineness of the pieces into which the statue was broken. In some cases it may be necessary to do away with this figure altogether and say something like “were crushed into a very fine powder.”

Not a trace of them could be found: the passive here can be adjusted to say “so that no one could find a trace of them” or “until no trace of them remained.” Possibly the Good News Translation model will be helpful in some languages: “leaving not a trace.”

But: the Aramaic has only the common conjunction that may be translated “and” or “but.” In this context it is probably better to retain But, since there seems to be an indication that what follows is unexpected.

Became: New Jerusalem Bible provides a better model for some languages, with “grew into…” (as in New English Bible/Revised English Bible).

Filled the whole earth: the use of the verb “fill” is perhaps not the most precise in this context, since it may give the idea of filling a container. Some other models are “covered the whole earth” (Good News Translation) or “occupying the whole world.”

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 .

Was full of fury: most languages have rather vivid ways of describing a person who becomes uncontrollably angry, and just such an expression is required here. Some English models in addition to Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation above, are “was furious” (New International Version) or “flew into a rage” (New English Bible).

The expression of his face was changed: the Revised Standard Version rendering at this point is rather too mild. The idea is that the extreme anger that is described by full of fury became visible on his face. Moffatt has “his face was distorted with rage.” It may be better in some languages to take these two expressions and combine them in a single phrase that captures the vividness of the original, as in New American Bible: “Nebuchadnezzar’s face became livid with utter rage….”

While there is no transition word in Revised Standard Version (reflecting the original), idiomatic English seems to require something like “So” in Good News Translation. This may also be the case in a number of other languages.

He ordered …: literally “He answered and said”; but in this context the verb “to say” has the force of a command. In many languages it will be necessary to say who it was that the king commanded to carry out his orders. So it will be necessary to say “commanded his servants” or “ordered his men.”

Heated … be heated: these passive forms in English will have to be made active in many languages; but if the translators have already added “his men” or “his servants,” then the whole phrase can be rendered “he commanded the men to heat the furnace … more than they normally heated it.”

Furnace: see verse 6. In this context it may be more natural in some languages to say that “he commanded his men to make the fire burn … hotter,” particularly if an expression including the term “fire” is used as the equivalent for furnace. Even where some term for furnace can be found and used, it may be that the more natural way of expressing this idea will be to say that “he commanded that the fire be increased…” or something similar.

Seven times more than it was wont to be heated: the repetition of the verb “to heat” may be unnatural in some languages, and if so it can be omitted as in Good News Translation. The number seven is more figurative than literal, since there was no thermometer to measure the heat precisely. However, it may be acceptable in many languages to translate it literally here.

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 .

This verse is almost a word-for-word repetition of verse 12 above. However, in place of the verb rendered found shade in verse 12, this verse actually has a more general word meaning “to live” or “to rest” for the beasts. And for the birds, instead of dwelt this verse has a term of slightly different meaning. Note that New Revised Standard Version translates the verb in verse 12 “were fed,” while the verb in this verse is rendered “had nests.” The same sort of meaning difference is distinguished in New International Version. It may or may not be possible to reflect these shades of meaning in the translation. But if it is possible to do so naturally, then it should be done.

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 .

But: in some languages a rather strong contrastive conjunction like this will be required, because there is a contrast between the other “wise men” and Daniel. Moffatt, An American Translation, and Anchor Bible have “However.”

Give interpretations: literally “interpret interpretations,” where the verb and the noun have the same root. This is a common type of construction in Aramaic as in Hebrew, but it should not be imitated in other languages unless it is natural.

Solve problems: although the construction is a bit different from that in verse 12, the same Aramaic words are involved. They speak literally of “untying knots” but are intended in a figurative sense.

You shall be clothed: the three things offered to Daniel are the same as the rewards that would have been given to the other wise men in verse 7, if they had succeeded in explaining the mystery. But once again the passive construction will have to be made active in many languages.

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 .

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 .