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 9:22)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 9:22:

  • Kupsabiny: “He said to me, ‘Daniel, I have come to help/rescue you so that you understand the meaning of what was said.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He Explained to me, "O Daniel, I have come to you to give you wisdom, and insight to understand, and help.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He caused- me -to-understand, he said, ‘Daniel, I came here to caused- you (sing.) -to-understand about the prophecy.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He said to me, ‘Daniel, I have come to you to enable you to understand clearly the message that God gave to Jeremiah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 9:22

He came and he said: literally “he explained (caused to understand) and he spoke to me and he said.” This series of three verbs having almost the same meaning in the Hebrew is reduced to two in the ancient Greek and Syriac versions, where the object pronoun is also lacking. New Jerusalem Bible, like Revised Standard Version, indicates in a note that it follows these ancient versions. But such a redundant expression can be simplified for translation reasons without recourse to textual decisions. Some languages, however, will definitely require the object pronoun.

O Daniel: the use of the proper name marks the beginning of the interpretation provided by Gabriel.

Come out: this verb has been translated in a variety of ways: “come down” (New Jerusalem Bible); “come forth” (New Jerusalem Bible and Anchor Bible); “now come” (New American Bible and New International Version). There is no special emphasis on movement from inside to outside, as the Revised Standard Version rendering may suggest. But if it is necessary to say where the angel comes from, translators can say “from heaven.”

Wisdom and understanding: the context makes it clear that this does not refer to general knowledge and discernment. It refers in particular to enlightenment concerning the prophecy of Jeremiah mentioned in verse 2 above. Note that Good News Translation makes this clear.

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 .