complete verse (Daniel 10:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 10:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then that person spoke to me, but as I listened to him, I fell on the ground with my face to the ground and fainted.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then I heard the voice speaking to him. As soon as I heard his voice, falling soundly asleep, I lay prostrate on the ground.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then I heard that the man speak. And while he was-speaking, I fainted and fell on the ground.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “I saw a man there, and when I heard him speak, I fell to the ground. I fainted/became unconscious, and I lay there with my face on the ground.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 10:9

The structure of the first part of this verse is awkward in English, and the two occurrences of the phrase I heard the sound of his words may easily be reduced to one as in Good News Translation and translated simply “I heard his voice.”

Fell on my face in a deep sleep: literally “I had become entranced on my face, with my face to the ground.” In this context the “fall” is clearly unintentional and in contrast with 2.46 and 8.17, where it is voluntary. In fact, the verb “to fall” is not actually found in the original here, but most readers of the Hebrew would supply it. New Jerusalem Bible avoids it by saying “overcome by sleep, I lay prostrate on the ground.” Another way of saying it is “I fainted and lay unconscious with my face to the earth.” On the idea of the deep sleep, see comments at 8.18.

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 .