complete verse (Daniel 5:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 5:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “MENE means that God has counted the days of your reign and they are over.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Here is the meaning of these words —
    MENE — God has counted the days of your reign and has brought it to an end.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “This is what its meaning:
    Mene means that God has- already -numbered/counted the remaining days of your (sing.) reign, because he will-end this/them.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)

Translation commentary on Daniel 5:26

MENE: although the first word was apparently written twice, it is explained only once. The cryptic word meaning “number,” “measure,” or “count” is explained in greater detail by Daniel. It is taken as a verb with God as the subject. What has been numbered, measured, or counted is the days from the beginning to the end of Belshazzar’s rule.

And brought it to an end: the use of the past tense here reflects the writer’s conviction that an unchangeable decision has already been made, even if it has not yet been fully accomplished. The grammar of some languages will make it impossible to use a past tense here, but a present progressive may convey the same idea.

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 .