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 2:17)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 2:17:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Daniel returned to their house and told those his three friends those words/matters.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After that Daniel went back home and reported the whole matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “The king agreed, so Daniel went-home immediately and told his companions who were Hanania, Mishael and Azaria of what-happened.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then I went home, and I told my friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, what had happened.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 2:17

Then … and …: it will be more natural in some languages to change the first part of this verse into a subordinate clause, saying something like “When Daniel got home…,” or “After Daniel arrived at home…,” or “Having gone back home, Daniel….”

Made the matter known: this is the same expression as in verse 15, where Arioch explains the situation to Daniel. In this case Daniel passes the information on to his friends.

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 .