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 2:13)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 2:13:

  • Kupsabiny: “So the decree/news was issued out that all the wise men should be killed. People were told to go and look for Daniel and his friends so that they could be killed.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Since it was like that, the order went out to kill all the wise men. [They] also sent to search to kill Daniel and his friends.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When- the decree to kill all the wise men -came-out, Daniel and his friends were-sought-out in-order to-be-killed also.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “And because of what the king commanded, they sent some men to find me and my three friends, to execute us also.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 2:13

So … and: the structure of this verse has been changed in some English versions to begin with “When the decree was issued…” (New American Bible) or “On publication of the decree…” (New Jerusalem Bible).

The decree went forth: in some languages wording like that of Revised Standard Version is unnatural. It may even give the impression that the decree had a will of its own. The idea, of course, is that the decree was published, which probably means that it was read out in public; but the agent who makes this happen will have to be expressed in many cases. Translators may consider “when the king made known his will…,” “when they (indefinite) announced the decision of the king…,” or “when messengers announced the king’s decree….”

The wise men: again this refers to all the experts mentioned earlier (verses 2 and 10). This should be made clear, as in Good News Translation “all of them.”

Be slain: it is quite likely that what is planned here is the gathering and mass execution in public of the all the wise men of the kingdom in a spectacular fashion. It is possible to understand the text as meaning “were being put to death.” This would indicate that the executions had already begun, but this is less probable. Once again the passive may have to be rendered as active: “that they should die” or “that the executioners should kill them.”

They sought: this is an indefinite form that gives a passive idea: “Daniel and his friends were sought.” But it may be possible to say “some men went out and found Daniel and his friends” or “… went to get….” Revised English Bible has “a search was made….”

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 .