Daniel

The term that is transliterated as “Daniel” in English means “judge of God (i.e., one who delivers judgment in the name of God,” “my judge is God.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In American Sign Language it is translated with the sign for the letter D and for “lion,” referring to the story in Daniel 6. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Daniel” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that refers to Daniel being cast into the lions’ den. (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)


“Daniel” in Hungarian Sign Language (source )

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “prayer” that illustrates Daniel’s close relationship with God.


“Daniel” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

The following is a stained glass window depicting Daniel by Endre Odon Hevezi and Gyula Bajo from 1965 for the Debre Libanos Monastery, Oromia, Ethiopia:

Photo by Timothy A. Gonsalves, hosted by Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

See also Daniel.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Daniel in the Lions’ Den and Daniel .

complete verse (Daniel 1:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 1:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then, Daniel responded to the servant whom Ashpenaz had chosen to care for them saying,” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then Daniel said to the person whom Ashpenaz had appointed to care for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then Daniel said to the guard that Ashpenaz had-put/placed to take-care of him and Hanania, Mishael, and Azaria,” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Ashpenaz had ordered a guard to watch me, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 1:11

Then: again the Hebrew text has the very common conjunction that may be translated in a variety of ways according to the context. While most versions give the idea of a sequence of events by using Then as in Revised Standard Version, it is translated “But” in Anchor Bible and Moffatt. Good News Translation has “So,” and New Jerusalem Bible leaves it out altogether. It is probably best to translate “Then,” giving the idea that what follows is next in a sequence of events. Having failed to get Ashpenaz to agree to his proposal, Daniel goes to a lesser official.

Steward: the word used here is somewhat doubtful, but it is probably related to an Akkadian word that means “overseer.” Most modern English versions translate it “guard” (Good News Translation, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, and New Revised Standard Version). Revised English Bible has “the attendant.” But it will be possible in some languages to say simply “the person in charge of the young men.” King James Version has what looks like a proper name here, “Melzar,” but this is an erroneous translation, since the word has the definite article before it both here and in verse 16. It is important that the translation make it clear that this is not the same person as the chief official named Ashpenaz.

The chief of the eunuchs: see verses 3, 7, and 8 above. Here the proper name Ashpenaz is used by Good News Translation in place of the descriptive title.

Over Daniel …: the second mention of Daniel in this verse may be considered unnatural in some languages. Instead of mentioning all four names again in this verse, it may be better to follow the Good News Translation model and say something like “over him and his three friends” or “over the four young men.”

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 .