complete verse (Daniel 11:21)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 11:21:

  • Kupsabiny: “A ruthless one will follow, who will not be worthy/supposed to become a king. He will come unexpectedly through crafty means until he takes over the kingdom/leadership.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then in his place will come a very despicable person. At first, he will not have the respect that a king would have. But he will come in unawares country time of peace and by plots and schemes he will take the country.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘He one-who-will-replace/succeed him as king is a person who (is) an object-of-scorn, and (who) does not have the right to reign. The people never at-all expect, just suddenly he will-take-by-force the ruling in the kingdom through deception.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The next King of Syria will be an evil man who, because he will not be the son of the previous king, will not have the right to become king. But he will come when people do not expect it, and he will become king by tricking the people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 11:21

Since this is the beginning of a new section in Good News Translation, the translators decided to remind the reader who the speaker is, by adding “The angel went on to explain:….” This renews the information originally given in 10.11 and repeated (by Good News Translation) at verse 2 of this chapter. This will be a helpful model for many other languages.

In his place shall arise: this expression is exactly the same as the beginning of verse 20. It again speaks of the successor to the throne of Syria.

A contemptible person: literally “a despised one.” The word “person” does not appear in the original. Some models may be “a wretch” (New Jerusalem Bible), “a vile creature” (Knox), “despicable creature” (Moffatt and Revised English Bible).

To whom royal majesty has not been given: literally “to whom they (indefinite) did not give royal honor.” The passive form of Revised Standard Version will have to be avoided by some translators. This idea is simply that the person in question had no legitimate claim to the throne. Translators may say “people did not show him the honor due to a king.”

Come in: the verb used here may be better translated “invade” or “attack” in certain languages.

Without warning: this has been understood by some as meaning “in time of peace” (Bible en français courant), but the meaning “when least expected” conveyed by Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation is to be preferred. Compare 8.25.

Obtain the kingdom by flatteries: the word translated flatteries comes from a root meaning “to be smooth.” Revised English Bible renders it “smooth dissimulation.” In this context it clearly refers to “trickery” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “intrigue” (New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version, and New English Bible). New American Bible has “stealth and fraud.” Many languages have idiomatic ways of expressing the sense of this term: “smooth talk,” “sweet talk,” “greasing people up,” “pulling people’s thinking,” and so on.

Seleucus IV had a son named Demetrius who should have succeeded him, but Antiochus IV, the brother of Seleucus IV, seized the royal power when his brother was assassinated. Later Antiochus IV took the name of Epiphanes.

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 .