complete verse (Daniel 12:11)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 12:11:

  • Kupsabiny: “From the day the daily sacrifices stopped, and when God’s house was shamed by placing there that abominable thing, is one thousand, two hundred and ninety days.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “From the time that the daily offering is stopped and the dreadful and repulsive idol is set up in the temple there will be 1290 days.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘1,290 days will-pass from the time of the cessation/stopping of daily offerings and the setting-up of the detestable things that become the reason of the desolation of the temple until the end comes.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But I can tell you that before everything ends, there will be 1,290 days, from the time that people are prevented from offering sacrifices each day, that is, from the time that the abominable/disgusting thing is put in the temple.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

large numbers in Angguruk Yali

Many languages use a “body part tally system” where body parts function as numerals (see body part tally systems with a description). One such language is Angguruk Yali which uses a system that ends at the number 27. To circumvent this limitation, the Angguruk Yali translators adopted a strategy where a large number is first indicated with an approximation via the traditional system, followed by the exact number according to Arabic numerals. For example, where in 2 Samuel 6:1 it says “thirty thousand” in the English translation, the Angguruk Yali says teng-teng angge 30.000 or “so many rounds [following the body part tally system] 30,000,” likewise, in Acts 27:37 where the number “two hundred seventy-six” is used, the Angguruk Yali translation says teng-teng angge 276 or “so many rounds 276,” or in John 6:10 teng-teng angge 5.000 for “five thousand.”

This strategy is used in all the verses referenced here.

Source: Lourens de Vries in The Bible Translator 1998, p. 409ff.

See also numbers in Ngalum and numbers in Kombai.

Translation commentary on Daniel 12:11

This verse is contained in parentheses in New Jerusalem Bible. This is perhaps because many commentators consider this verse a later addition to the book of Daniel. But translators are not advised to follow this as a model.

The continual burnt offering is taken away: that is, “halted” or “stopped.” See 8.11-13; 11.31, and comments.

And: in order to avoid giving the impression that the termination of the sacrifices and the setting up of the Awful Horror are two distinct and unrelated events, this transition word is translated “that is” in Good News Translation.

The abomination that makes desolate: see 9.27; 11.31, and comments.

There shall be: in many languages a verb appropriate to the passing of time will be required in this context. Translators may consider “(… days) will go by” or “shall pass” (Moffatt).

A thousand two hundred and ninety days: this corresponds to the “three and a half years” in 7.25 and in verse 7 above. But here it is probably better to retain the numbering in days, in keeping with the apocalyptic nature of the book.

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 .