Note that verses 9 and 10 are in poetic format in Revised Standard Version/New Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New English Bible/Revised English Bible, and New American Bible.

As I looked: in Aramaic these words are the same as those translated “I looked” in verse 6 and “I saw” in verse 7.

Thrones were placed: here the Aramaic verb form reverts to the perfect tense in contrast with the use of participles in verses 2-8. The passive construction may be rendered “someone put thrones in place” or “they (indefinite) arranged some thrones.” But the thrones involved were intended as seats for judges. According to Jewish tradition the holy ones of God have the privilege of sitting in judgment at his side (compare Matt 19.28; Luke 22.30; Rev 3.21; 20.4). Although the level of Moffatt‘s rendering is above the common language, it carries the meaning well: “I watched until an Assize was held.” Translators may consider “I looked on as they (indefinite) prepared places for the judges to sit” or something similar.

Ancient of days: this expression designates an aged person and one who is therefore, in the biblical culture, considered especially wise. In the language of the vision this “old person” is clearly God himself. But the style of the vision would be betrayed if this were clearly stated in the text (as in Living Bible). This information may be given in a footnote. Some other nonliteral renderings of this expression are “the (or an) Ancient One” (New American Bible and New Revised Standard Version), “the Ancient in Years” (Revised English Bible), “a primeval Being” (Moffatt), “The Venerable One” (An American Translation), “The-One-Who-Endures” (Lacocque). Some languages will have a similar expression that can be used to refer to God without using his name.

White as snow: the figure of snow will, of course, be meaningless where snow is unknown. Since this is clearly figurative language, it is possible to change the figure of snow to one that is commonly used to describe whiteness in the translator’s language; for example, “white as egret feathers” or “white as white clouds.” But it is probably preferable to drop the image altogether and translate the idea by using a more general expression such as “extremely white” or “very, very white.” Compare some other references where “snow” is used as a figure to describe whiteness: Exo 4.6; Num 12.10; 2 Kgs 5.27; Psa 51.7; Isa 1.18. In the New Testament compare Matt 28.3 and Rev 1.14.

The hair of his head: in languages that have a special word for the hair on top of the head as opposed to that on the rest of the body, the words of his head are redundant and unnecessary in the translation.

Like pure wool: these words have been variously translated as “lamb’s wool” (New Jerusalem Bible and Revised English Bible), “cleanest wool” (New English Bible), and “white like wool” (New International Version). Most English versions focus on the purity of the wool. However, since the wool is being compared with the hair of the being in the vision, it is quite possible that its whiteness is more in focus than its purity.

His throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire: in some languages it may be necessary to establish the fact that the judgment seat had wheels before stating the fiery nature of the wheels. And it may also be more natural to change the metaphors to similes, using the words for “like,” “resembled,” or “appeared as.” The fire suggests the idea of bright light shining out from the one seated on the throne. Compare the visions in Ezek 1 and 10.

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 .