human head hair

The Greek, Aramaic, and Hebrew that is translated as “hair” in English is translated in Tzeltal as stsotsil sjol (Tzeltal de Oxchuc y Tenejapa) / stsotsel sjol (Tzeltal Bachajón): “blanket for the head.” (Source: Slocum / Watkins 1988, p. 35)

See also hair (body hair) and hairy (like Esau).

complete verse (Daniel 3:27)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 3:27:

  • Kupsabiny: “All the leaders of that nation/country gathered there together with the councilors/advisers of the king. When they looked, the fire had not burned the three men, neither their hair nor their clothes had been burnt and they were not even smelling of smoke.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then the district officers, administrators, governors, and people who advised the king gathered around to look at the four bodies. They discovered that the fire had not done any harm to their bodies, and their hair was not even singed [lit.: eaten by fire]. Their clothing had not been burned, and they did not even smell of fire.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “Then the governors, mayors, commissioners, and other officials of the king gathered around them. And they saw that they (were) not harmed by the fire. Even their hair or clothes (were) not burned at-all, and not even the bad-smell of smoke.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then all the king’s officials crowded around them. They saw that the flames had not harmed them. The flames had not even singed any of the hair on their heads or scorched any of their clothes! There was not even any smell of smoke on them!” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 3:27

Satraps … prefects … governors …: see verse 2.

Counselors: see verse 24.

Gathered together: the verb used here should not give the impression of an official or formal gathering. It was rather a very informal coming together as a result of general curiosity. Good News Translation makes clear the purpose of their gathering: “to look at the three men.”

That the fire had not had any power over the bodies …: that is, “that their bodies were not harmed by the fire.” This is spelled out in greater detail in the remainder of the verse, with particular reference to their hair and their clothing, since these would be the first things the fire would be expected to consume.

No smell of fire: this combination may sound absurd in some languages. It is much more natural in English to say “no smell of smoke” as in Good News Translation. In some cases it may be more natural to say “not even the smell of fire (or smoke)” or “none of them smelled like smoke (or fire).” Possibly what is meant is that there was no smell of human flesh being burned.

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 .