The initial question in this verse is extremely awkward because Daniel refers to himself (my lord’s servant) and to the angel (my lord) in the third person. Good News Translation attempts to simplify the structure by separating the question from the servant-master comparison and by expressing that comparison clearly. The first sentence shows Daniel’s understanding of his status relative to the angel with whom he is speaking. Then it has Daniel asking how he can possibly speak with someone whose rank or standing is so different from his own. It would be possible to use a more general expression like “I am completely insignificant in your eyes” or “I am without worth before you,” if the image of the servant does not convey this idea.

My lord: see comments on this term in the previous verse.

No breath remains in me: if a literal rendering of this clause will be understood to refer to death, then it is certainly to be avoided. Translators may have to resort to “I can hardly breathe” (New International Version) or “I am as good as dead.” The Hebrew word translated breath is nefesh, which may be rendered “life,” “soul,” or “desire,” as well as “breath.”

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 .

At the time appointed: compare 8.19 and verse 27 above. The whole of chapter 11 is presented as a prediction of future events. These events are considered fixed in advance by a divine master plan. This explains why this expression is used. It avoids any precise time reference. In translation it is possible to use a very vague statement like “Some time later,” but it is also possible to maintain the notion of a divinely fixed time by saying “In God’s time” or “When (God decided that) the time was right.”

He: in some languages it will be prudent to say clearly here “the king of the north” or “the king of Syria.”

Return and come into the south: the comings and goings of the Syrian king may be made clearer by translating here “travel again to the kingdom in the south” or “go back to the land of Egypt.”

It shall not be this time as it was before: the word before refers to the first incursion into Egypt (verses 25-28), while this time speaks of the second campaign. The expression as a whole indicates a fundamental difference in the two expeditions. The first was a success and the second ended in failure. It is legitimate to translate “but this time he will not be victorious as before,” or “but he will not do as well as he did the first time,” or “but the result will not be the same as his other campaign.” Revised English Bible translates “but he will have less success than he had before.” Further details are given in the following verse.

The second campaign of Antiochus IV against Egypt took place in 168 B.C. It did not go well for him, because the Romans intervened and forced him to leave the country (see verse 30).

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 .

Answered: literally “answered saying” as in verse 5 and other verses.

Wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers: compare verse 2, where the list is slightly different. The first word in this list is the same as wise men in verse 12. The fourth is not used previously in Daniel; however, it does occur again in 4.7; 5.7, 11.

The king: here again Daniel refers to Nebuchadnezzar in the third person (as in verse 10 above), and this is in keeping with what is natural in Aramaic. But translators should make sure that their rendering of this expression is natural in their language. This will probably mean using the second person singular pronoun “you.”

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 is a continuation of the recitation of the royal decree and is almost exactly the same as verse 6, with the exception that the Aramaic adverb for “immediately” has been dropped here. If the option of direct discourse was chosen in the previous verse, it should continue until the end of this verse.

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 .

He cried aloud: or “announced with force.” The same expression is used at the beginning of 3.4.

And said thus: this may easily be omitted as redundant in a number of languages.

Hew down … cut off … strip off … scatter: this series of imperative verb forms may seem to be addressed to the king as he observed the dream. But verse 17 seems to indicate that the angel is speaking to his own companions. In order to avoid confusion, the audience addressed by the angel’s statement may have to be made clearer by introducing these imperatives with “He shouted to his companions….”

Let the beasts flee: this means more than simply allowing the animals to run away. They are to be driven out by chopping down the tree. In some languages a causative verb form will be appropriate here: “Cause the animals to run away….” And it may be better to reverse the order of the last two verb phrases or to show their relationship more clearly. Most English versions, including Good News Translation, make it sound as if the animals were still standing around and the birds still in the branches after the tree had been cut down. This is, of course, contrary to what we know of nature. It will be possible in certain languages to say “Drive the animals and birds away from the tree by cutting it down. Yes, cut it down and chop off the branches. Strip off the leaves and take away its fruit.”

From under it … from its branches: compare verse 12.

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 greatly alarmed: this indicates an increase in the fear that was already strong in the mind of the king in verse 6. Translators may want to say “became even more afraid” or something similar.

His color changed: since the color of the king had already changed in verse 6, it may be more natural to say “changed again” or something similar. Good News Translation attempts to cover this by saying “grew even paler.” Revised English Bible also indicates a greater degree of paleness in this verse by saying “… drove all colour from (his) cheeks.”

His lords: translators should be careful to translate in such a way that the reader knows that this group is the noblemen referred to in verse 1 and not the royal advisors who had been called in later. See also 4.36.

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 .

When Daniel knew: the word translated When in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation may be better rendered as in New American Bible and Anchor Bible, “Even after.” New Revised Standard Version renders it “Although.” If this example is followed, then the verb “to know” is logical; but if the translator follows the majority in translating When, then the subsequent verb is better rendered “learned” (New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible/Revised English Bible) or “heard” (New Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible), or possibly “found out.”

That the document had been signed: the passive will have to be translated “that the king had signed the document” in many languages.

Went to his house: the verb here literally means “entered.” But since Daniel had surely come from his house before the event described here, some languages will require “went back to his house” or “returned home.”

Upper chamber: the idea of an upstairs room such as this may be difficult to communicate in some cultures. In those areas of the world where such multistory construction is traditionally unknown, unconventional expressions have developed. Some examples are “room on top of a room” or “room on top of the house.”

Open toward Jerusalem: the Aramaic verb does not necessarily mean that the windows were actually open when Daniel arrived at the house, but rather that when they were opened it was possible to look out in the direction of Jerusalem. New Jerusalem Bible captures the idea well with “windows made facing Jerusalem.” Compare also New Jerusalem Bible “faced toward Jerusalem” and New English Bible “looking toward Jerusalem.” But it is clear that later, when Daniel was praying, the windows were open, because his enemies could observe him praying. It is important that translators show clearly that Daniel got down upon his knees so that there is obvious physical evidence of his praying that could be observed by others. Certain languages may possibly say something like “assumed the position of prayer.”

Prayed and gave thanks before his God: while neither of the two verbs used here is identical to what is forbidden in verse 8, it is clear that this is taken as a violation of the order. The first word comes from a root meaning to “bow,” and the second conveys the idea of offering praise.

As he had done previously: the Revised Standard Version wording may seem to indicate something that Daniel had done only once or relatively infrequently in the past, but this is not the meaning. It was his usual custom to pray three times a day in this position. Some may wish to say something like “as was his custom” (Revised English Bible) or “as he had the habit of doing.” And in other languages the form of the verb will convey the habitual meaning.

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 .