Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 12:12:
Kupsabiny: “Blessed is the person who will persevere until one thousand three hundred and thirty five days are fulfilled.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Blessed are the people who wait and remain faith until the 1335 days are finished.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Blessed [is] the one-who-waits for the end and remains until 1,335 days have-passed.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “God will be pleased with those who remain faithful until 1,335 days are ended.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
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.
Blessed: this word corresponds to the one that begins each of the Beatitudes in Matt 5. In some languages the most natural equivalent will be an idiomatic expression containing the idea “to have a sweet liver (or stomach)…” or something similar.
He who waits: this expression is singular in form but clearly does not refer to just one male individual. For this reason it should probably be made plural in the translation: “those who” (New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, as well as Good News Translation). The verb waits should not be understood in the sense of waiting passively in desperation. The idea is rather that of waiting confidently. It is for this reason that Good News Translation translates “remain faithful.” In Anchor Bible the verb is rendered “has patience.”
Comes to: the idea seems to be that of surviving or arriving (alive) at the conclusion of the time period given. Revised English Bible translates the two verbs “who wait and live to see.” Another way of rendering this is “remains firm (or steadfast).”
The thousand three hundred and thirty-five days: this corresponds to three and half years (or the 1,290 days mentioned in the previous verse) plus an additional 45 days. It should not be converted into weeks or months in the translation.
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 .
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