complete verse (Daniel 9:23)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 9:23:

  • Kupsabiny: “When you started praying, a response/answer was given. God loves you, therefore I have come to show/explain to you what he has said. So listen attentively.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “As soon as you prayed, he answered you, because you are very precious to God. So I have come to give you God’s answer. Now listen well while I cause [you] to understand the meaning of that vision.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “For God already revealed something when you (sing.) started praying, and I came here in-order to tell you (sing.) this, for God loves you (sing.). So you (sing.) listen and understand what I will-explain to you (sing.):” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “When you began to plead with God, he gave me a message to pass on to you. He loves you very much, so he has sent me to tell you what he said to me. So now pay attention/listen carefully in order that you may understand the meaning of what he revealed to Jeremiah.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

word / command (of God) (Japanese honorifics)

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Like a number of other East Asian languages, Japanese uses a complex system of honorifics, i.e. a system where a number of different levels of politeness are expressed in language via words, word forms or grammatical constructs. These can range from addressing someone or referring to someone with contempt (very informal) to expressing the highest level of reference (as used in addressing or referring to God) or any number of levels in-between.

One way to do this is through the usage (or a lack) of an honorific prefix as shown here in the widely-used Japanese Shinkaiyaku (新改訳) Bible of 2017. When the referent is God, the “divine” honorific prefix mi- (御 or み) can be used, as in mi-kotoba (みことば) or “word (of God)” in the referenced verses.

(Source: S. E. Doi, see also S. E. Doi in Journal of Translation, 18/2022, p. 37ff. )

Translation commentary on Daniel 9:23

At the beginning of your supplications: or “When you started to pray,” or better, “As soon as you began your petition” (Anchor Bible). In many languages it will be appropriate to indicate that the pleading or petition was made “to God.”

A word went forth: this literal rendering of the Hebrew does not really convey the meaning of the text. The meaning is rather “an answer (to the supplications) was given” (New American Bible and New International Version). Others may say “a message was sent out.” In order to avoid a passive construction, translators may say “he (God) gave an answer.”

I have come to tell it to you: Hebrew Old Testament Text Project/Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament recommends a Hebrew text that does not include the object pronoun, to you. But both Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation (as well as New International Version) include it. It is worthy of note that Traduction œcuménique de la Bible, which is normally very close to the recommendations of Hebrew Old Testament Text Project/Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament, has the object pronoun in this case. In the some languages such a pronoun may be required for the sake of naturalness regardless of the textual decision.

You are greatly beloved: literally “you are preciousness.” The Hebrew word carries the idea of affection or profound attachment of someone to another person or thing. To avoid a passive formulation it may be better to say “he (God) loves you very much.” Or it will not be too far from the meaning to say “you are like a precious treasure (to God).”

Consider the word: the word here is God’s word, or answer, earlier in this verse (a word went forth), which was given to explain the prophecy of Jeremiah. The meaning of this expression is something like “pay attention to the answer,” or “listen carefully the response that God has given,” or taken together with the words understand the vision, which is parallel, “make an effort to understand the answer.”

The vision: while the prophecy of Jeremiah is not normally considered a vision, it is a kind of revelation from God, and the use of this word here indicates that for Daniel it was in the same category as the visions. It was the means by which God revealed something to Daniel. It may legitimately be translated “revelation” (Anchor Bible).

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 .