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 5:29)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 5:29:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then Belshazzar called his servants to dress Daniel in purple robes and a golden neck ring/chain. It was proclaimed that Daniel had been promoted to the third leadership position in the kingdom.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then, at Belshazzar’s order Daniel was clothed in purple robes. On his neck a gold chain was put as a garland. And he was given the third highest rank in the country.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After Daniel said this, Belshazar then ordered to have- Daniel -dressed a kingly robe and wear- a gold -necklace. Daniel was- then -proclaimed the third highest official in the kingdom of Babilonia.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then Belshazzar did what he had promised. He put on me a purple robe like the one he himself wore. He put a gold chain around my neck. And he proclaimed that there would be only two others who would be more important than me in his kingdom.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 5:29

Then: see comments on this same transition word in verse 13. Here Good News Translation translates “Immediately.”

Commanded …: since many languages will require an object following this verb, it will be good to follow the model of Good News Translation and clearly say “his servants.”

Was clothed: if “servants” have been clearly mentioned as the object of the previous verb, the pronoun “they” can be used as the subject of this one and will refer back to the servants: “and they dressed Daniel…”; or in other cases the Good News Translation use of the infinitive may be a good model.

Purple, a chain of gold: see verses 7 and 16.

Proclamation was made: the implied agent of this action is clearly King Belshazzar. Where necessary this may be made explicit. Since the king has already been mentioned by name in the verse, a simple pronoun, or possibly “the king” (without the proper name), will be adequate in most languages.

The discrepancy between Daniel’s statement that he would not accept the rewards (verse 17) and his eventual acceptance of them can probably be explained by the insistence of King Belshazzar. But this should not concern the translator.

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 .