The term that is transliterated as “Nebuchadnezzar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the signs for “king” and one signifying a wavy beard, referring to the common way of wearing a beard in Mesopotamia (see here ). (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“Nebuchadnezzar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting “idol in my image,” referring to Daniel 3:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)
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)
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 )
Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 2:46:
Kupsabiny: “Then, king Nebuchadnezzar bowed and knelt in honor of Daniel and said that a sacrifice be made for Daniel and burned for him those things that smell sweet.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
Newari: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar honoring Daniel, fell prostrate on the ground. Then he ordered that an offering and incense be sacrificed to him.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
Hiligaynon: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed-down to Daniel to-honor him. After-that he commanded to offer and burn incense to Daniel.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
English: “Then King Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself in front of me in great respect. He commanded his people that they burn incense and burn an offering of grain to honor me.” (Source: Translation for Translators)
Some languages do not have a concept of kingship and therefore no immediate equivalent for the Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin that is translated as “king” in English. Here are some (back-) translations:
Ninia Yali: “big brother with the uplifted name” (source: Daud Soesilio in Noss 2007, p. 175)
Nyamwezi: mutemi: generic word for ruler, by specifying the city or nation it becomes clear what kind of ruler (source: Pioneer Bible Translators, project-specific translation notes in Paratext)
Ghomála’: Fo (“The word Fo refers to the paramount ruler in the kingdoms of West Cameroon. He holds administrative, political, and religious power over his own people, who are divided into two categories: princes (descendants of royalty) and servants (everyone else).” (Source: Michel Kenmogne in Theologizing in Context: An Example from the Study of a Ghomala’ Christian Hymn))
Faye Edgerton retells how the term in Navajo (Dinė) was determined:
“[This term was] easily expressed in the language of Biblical culture, which had kings and noblemen with their brilliant trappings and their position of honor and praise. But leadership among the Navajos is not accompanied by any such titles or distinctions of dress. Those most respected, especially in earlier days, were their headmen, who were the leaders in raids, and the shaman, who was able to serve the people by appealing for them to the gods, or by exorcising evil spirits. Neither of these made any outward show. Neither held his position by political intrigue or heredity. If the headman failed consistently in raids, he was superceded by a better warrior. If the shaman failed many times in his healing ceremonies, it was considered that he was making mistakes in the chants, or had lost favor with the gods, and another was sought. The term Navajos use for headman is derived from a verb meaning ‘to move the head from side to side as in making an oration.’ The headman must be a good orator, able to move the people to go to war, or to follow him in any important decision. This word is naat’áanii which now means ‘one who rules or bosses.’ It is employed now for a foreman or boss of any kind of labor, as well as for the chairman of the tribal council. So in order to show that the king is not just a common boss but the highest ruler, the word ‘aláahgo, which expresses the superlative degree, was put before naat’áanii, and so ‘aláahgo naat’áanii ‘anyone-more-than-being around-he-moves-his-head-the-one-who’ means ‘the highest ruler.’ Naat’áanii was used for governor as the context usually shows that the person was a ruler of a country or associated with kings.”
Fell upon his face: as in Hebrew, the Aramaic verb “fall” in this context does not indicate an involuntary movement as it does in many languages. Rather it is used of a conscious and deliberate action from a higher to a lower position in order to show submission. For this reason the verb in this phrase is often rendered “bowed down” or “prostrated himself,” or something similar.
Did homage to Daniel: or “praised Daniel,” or “gave honor to Daniel.” New Revised Standard Version translates “worshiped Daniel.” The Aramaic word carries the idea of the humble status of one who bows before a superior to show his submission and obedience. When used with the previous verb (“fall down”), it is not a simple alternative for the physical gesture of bowing down, but adds to it the idea of “doing homage” to a person. Translators are advised to retain the two different verbs whenever possible, with the first focusing on the physical act and the second on the attitude of the person. In certain cases it is possible to use an idiomatic expression. For example, in certain areas there is the practice of taking a bit of earth in the hand and rubbing it on the body after bowing down in order to show submission.
Commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him: the text speaks of “offerings” in the plural. But the Aramaic word used here does not necessarily mean the sacrifice of an animal. It is also used of a cereal offering (compare Lev 2.2). But it certainly involves things that were eaten, in contrast with incense, which was a kind of perfume or sweet-smelling element.
To him: that is, “to Daniel,” as indicated in Good News Translation. If the pronoun is retained, translators should make certain that it is understood to refer to Daniel and not to the king himself.
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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