power / strength

The Hebrew that is typically translated in English as “power” or “might” or “force” is translated in the English translation by Goldingay (2018) as energy or energetic.

complete verse (Daniel 8:24)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 8:24:

  • Kupsabiny: “That king shall become so powerful/firm but not because of his (own) strength alone. He will devastate/destroy many things and he becomes successful in everything he does. He will destroy people who are famous and those (people) of God.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He will be very strong, but not by his own power. And he will inflict fearful destruction on people, and he will succeed in all the work he does. He will destroy strong people and holy people.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He will-become powerful, but not as powerful as the king before him. The people will-be-amazed at the destruction that he will-do, and will-become victorious/successful whatever he will-do. He will-destroy the powerful people and the chosen people of God.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He will become very powerful, but it will not be because of what he himself does. He will terribly destroy things in many places, and he will succeed in doing everything that he wants to. He will get rid of many powerful men, and also some of God’s people.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 8:24

His power shall be great: Revised Standard Version adds a footnote indicating that it follows the Greek text at this point, but that the Hebrew repeats “but not with his power” from the end of verse 22 (see Good News Translation). And many modern versions include these words in translation. Their interpretation, however, is the subject of much debate. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch interprets the whole passage as meaning “his strength … will not be as great as that of his predecessors,” but this is unlikely to be the intended meaning. The writer may be attempting to state that the power of the ruler in question, Antiochus Epiphanes, does not rest in himself, but that he is under the authority of God, whether he likes it or not. Moffatt translates parenthetically “by no force of arms shall he gain his great power.” The interpretation of Living Bible (“but it will be satanic strength and not his own”) is hardly intended by the author of the text, as the Living Bible footnote would have its readers believe. Translators are advised to formulate a rendering that gives the following idea: “he will gain strength, but not through any power of his own” or “he will become more and more powerful, although it will not be because of his own actions.”

He shall cause fearful destruction: or “he will cause amazing devastation.” However, New Jerusalem Bible slightly alters the text and understands it to mean “he will plot incredible schemes.”

Shall succeed in what he does: some other models for this expression are “will be able to do all the things he wants to do” or “anything he starts to do he will complete.”

The people of the saints: a veiled reference to the persecution of the Jewish people. See 7.25, 27 and comments. Of the saints does not mean “who belong to the saints” but “who are the saints.” Note that in this case there is no mention of “the Most High” as in chapter 7. This phrase has been joined more closely to the previous one in the New Century Version rendering: “he will destroy powerful people and even God’s people.”

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 .