complete verse (Daniel 11:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 11:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “He shall deceive other communities through the alliances they make and he will grow stronger though his kingdom is small.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “With deceitful promises, he will make various alliances. Even though only a few people help [him], he will become strong.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Other nations will-make-an-alliance with him, but later on he will-deceive them. He will-become powerful even though his kingdom (is) just small.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “By making treaties/alliances with the rulers of other nations, he will deceive them, and he will become very powerful, even though he rules a nation that does not have a lot of people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 11:23

The structure of the beginning of this verse is very different in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. A more literal rendering of this is “And after coming together with him….” But the idea of coming together is in the sense of a military alliance. This explains the rendering of Revised Standard Version as well as “treaties” in Good News Translation. But Good News Translation gives the impression that it is by means of the treaties that he deceives other nations, while Revised Standard Version seems closer to the meaning of the original. It is after agreements are reached with other nations that this ruler proves to be cunning and dishonest.

An alliance is made with him: the passive formulation can easily be rendered actively by saying “he will make treaties with other nations.” The idea of treaties or alliances found here comes from the same root as in verse 6.

He shall act deceitfully: on the idea of “deceit” see 8.25 and comments.

With a small people: it is much better to read this “with few people,” to avoid giving the impression that the physical size of the individual people is in view. Translators may consider saying “in spite of the fact that he rules over few people,” or negatively, “although he does not rule over many people.” The Syrian kingdom was significantly reduced at the end of the reign of Antiochus III, but it is difficult to speak of it as having “few people.” It is perhaps better, with Bible en français courant, to say something like “he had few followers (among the people of Israel).” Compare Revised English Bible “although only a few people are behind him,” and New Revised Standard Version “with a small party.”

The possible historical references of this verse are too vague to be able to identify them with any degree of certainty. The interpretation of Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, which speaks here of “the holy city” falling into his power, is too specific and should be avoided.

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 .