vision

The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek that is translated as “vision” in English is translated in a variety in the following languages:

  • Chol: “as if in a dream” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Obolo: ilaak ọkpọchieen̄ or “dreaming awake” (source: Enene Enene)
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “a showing like dreams”
  • Desano: “see in a dream what God will send”
  • Rincón Zapotec: “see what God shows”
  • Mayo: “see things from God as in a dream”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “dream how it is going to be”
  • Chuj: “like dreaming they see”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “understand what they see as if in a dream”
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “see that which will happen” (source for this and seven above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Tagbanwa: “being caused to dream by God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Chichewa: azidzaona zinthu m’masomphenya: “they will see things as if face-to-face” (interconfessional translation, publ. 1999) (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 69)
  • Mandarin Chinese: yì xiàng (异象 / 異象), lit. “different (or: strange) appearance.” (Source: Zetzsche)

The Greek in the books of Revelation and Acts is translated as obq-rmwible: “look-dream” in Natügu. Brenda Boerger (in Beerle-Moor / Voinov, p. 162ff.) tells the story of that translation: “In the book of Revelation, the author, John, talks about having visions. Mr. Simon [the native language translator] and I discussed what this meant and he invented the compound verb obq-rmwible ‘look-dream’ to express it. Interestingly, during village testing no one ever had to ask what this neologism meant.”

See also see a vision.

self-referencing pronoun for king or queen

In Malay, the pronoun beta for the royal “I” (or “my” or “me”) that is used by royals when speaking to people of lower rank, subordinates or commoners to refer to themselves in these verses. This reflects the “language of the court because the monarchy and sultanate in Malaysia are still alive and well. All oral and printed literature (including newspapers and magazines) preserve and glorify the language of the court. Considering that the language of the court is part of the Malaysian language, court language is used sparingly where appropriate, specifically with texts relating to palace life.” (Source: Daud Soesilo in The Bible Translator 2025, p. 263ff.)

complete verse (Daniel 4:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 4:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “But a dream came to me while sleeping in which I saw terrible things.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Suddenly, seeing a dream I was frightened and unable to sleep. While I was lying in my bed, the thoughts that came to my mind and the visions that I saw terrified me.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “But I had a dream that terrifies/scares me and visions that disturbs me while I was asleep.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “But one night I had a dream that caused me to be very afraid. I saw visions that terrified me as I lay on my bed.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 4:5

Although there is no conjunction in Revised Standard Version or in the Aramaic, there is a clear need in most languages for a transition word that shows a contrast with what has just been stated. This is why Good News Translation begins with “But,” as does Revised English Bible. Another way to begin this verse is “And then…” (Knox) or “Then one night….” In some languages a shift verb form may also be appropriate here.

This verse is yet another example of parallelism (“a dream” = “the fancies and the visions”; “made me afraid” = “alarmed me”). One way of avoiding giving the impression that two different events are in view is to introduce the second part of the parallel structure with something like “in fact…” or “indeed…” or “that is to say….”

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 .