Daniel

Daniel front

Introduction to Daniel

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of Daniel

1. Daniel and his friends in the court of Nebuchadnezzar (1:1–21)
2. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream (2:1–49)
3. Daniel’s friends delivered from the fiery furnace (3:1–30)
4. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (4:1–37)
5. Belshazzar’s feast and the writing on the wall (5:1-31)
6. Daniel in the den of lions (6:1–28)
7. Daniel’s vision of four beasts (7:1–28)
8. Daniel’s vision of a ram and a goat (8:1–27)
9. Daniel prays and Gabriel answers (9:1–23)
10. Daniel’s vision of seventy weeks (9:24–27)
11. Daniel’s vision of a man (10:1–11:1)
12. The kings of the south and north (11:2–20)
13. An evil king exalts himself (11:21-39)
14. The time of the end (11:40–12:13)

What is the Book of Daniel about?

The first part of the Book of Daniel (chapters 1–6) is a narrative about Daniel and his friends. They were young men from Jerusalem who were taken to Babylon as prisoners. These chapters tell how they were faithful to Yahweh while living in a pagan land serving a pagan king. And it tells how God rewarded them because they were faithful.

The rest of the Book of Daniel is a series of prophetic visions. Chapters 7 and 8 deal with images representing the kingdoms and kings of the major nations. Chapters 9–11 are prophecies and visions about wars and a type of the great enemy of God appearing. Chapter 12 is a vision that describes end times.

How should the title of this book be translated?

The traditional title of this book is “The Book of Daniel” or just “Daniel.” Translators may call it “The Book About Daniel” or “The Book About the Deeds and Visions of Daniel.” (See: How to Translate Names)

Who wrote the Book of Daniel?

Daniel was a Jew who became a Babylonian government official during the exile. He may have written the book himself. Or he may have written the parts of the book and someone else put the parts together at a later time.

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

Is there a missing week in Daniel’s prophecy?

Scholars disagree about what may appear to be a missing week in 9:24-27. It is best for translators to allow apparent mysteries such as this to remain in the text. (See: INVALID translate/writing-apocalypticwriting)

When did the seventy weeks begin?

The seventy weeks in 9:24-27 began when a decree was issued to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. But there were several decrees that allowed this to happen. Translators do not need to understand how prophecies were or will be fulfilled to translate the text.

Who was Darius the Mede?

Darius the Mede was a Babylonian king who sent Daniel into a den of lions. People have not found his name in history outside of the Book of Daniel. Scholars have tried to explain who Darius was, but they are not certain.

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

How does Daniel use the word “king”?

Many kings are in the Book of Daniel, but not all of the kings ruled over all of Babylon or Persia. Some of the kings may have ruled over regions or cities.

How many chapters does Daniel have?

Daniel has twelve chapters. Some Bible versions include stories called “Bel and the Dragon” and “The Prayer of Azariah.” However, few people think that these stories have the same authority as the rest of scripture. Therefore, there is no need to translate them.

Daniel 1

Daniel 1 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Training for government jobs

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were chosen to be trained for service in the Babylonian kingdom. It was not unusual for foreigners to be given positions in the Babylonian government as advisors or cultural ambassadors.

Special concepts in this chapter

Food laws

The food from the king included things the Jews were not allowed to eat according to the law of Moses. Daniel requested permission not to eat the king’s food. He proved to the king that this food was not necessary for good health. (See: law, law of Moses, law of Yahweh, law of God)

Daniel 1:1

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Quote: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

This refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his soldiers, not only to Nebuchadnezzar. Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia and his soldiers” (See: Synecdoche)

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Quote: to cut off all supplies to it (0)

Alternate translation: “to stop the people from receiving any supplies”

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Quote: Jehoiakim king of Judah (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

This refers to Jehoiakim and his soldiers, not only to Jehoiakim. Alternate translation: “the army of Jehoiakim king of Judah” (See: Synecdoche)

Daniel 1:2

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Quote: gave Nebuchadnezzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

This refers to Nebuchadnezzar and his soldiers, not only to Nebuchadnezzar. Alternate translation: “gave Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia and his soldiers” (See: Synecdoche)

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Quote: he gave him (0)

Jehoiakim gave Nebuchadnezzar

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Quote: He brought & he placed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Although Nebuchadnezzar did not do these things alone, it may easier for the reader to retain the singular pronouns. Alternate translation: “They brought … they placed” (See: Synecdoche)

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Quote: He brought them (0)

Here “them” probably refers to Jehoiakim and other prisoners, as well as the sacred objects.

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Quote: in his god’s treasury (0)

This was an act of devotion to his god.

Daniel 1:3

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Quote: The king spoke (0)

This refers to Nebuchadnezzar.

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Quote: Ashpenaz (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the chief official. (See: How to Translate Names)

Daniel 1:4

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Quote: without blemish (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes

These two negative words together emphasize a positive idea. Alternate translation: “with perfect appearance” (See: Litotes)

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Quote: filled with knowledge and understanding (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is an idiom. This means they knew much and could organize and use that information. (See: Idiom)

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Quote: king’s palace (0)

This is the large house or building where the king lives.

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Quote: He was to teach them (0)

Alternate translation: “Ashpenaz was to teach them”

Daniel 1:5

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Quote: The king counted out for them (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

The king’s officials did this task for him. Alternate translation: “The king’s officials counted out for them” (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: his delicacies (0)

the special, rare, good foods that the king ate

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Quote: These young men were to be trained (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Ashpenaz was to train these young men” (See: Active or Passive)

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Quote: trained (0)

Alternate translation: “taught skills”

Daniel 1:6

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Quote: Among these (0)

Alternate translation: “Among the young men from Israel”

Daniel 1:7

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Quote: The chief official (0)

This refers to Ashpenaz who was King Nebuchadnezzar’s highest official.

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Quote: Belteshazzar & Shadrach & Meshach & Abednego (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

These are all men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

Daniel 1:8

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Quote: Daniel intended in his mind (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “mind” refers to Daniel himself. Alternate translation: “Daniel decided to himself” (See: Synecdoche)

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Quote: pollute himself (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

To “pollute” something is to make is unclean. Some of the food and drink of the Babylonians would make Daniel ceremonially unclean according to God’s law. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “make himself unclean according to God’s law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

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Quote: delicacies (0)

This refers to the special, rare, good foods that the king ate. See how you translated this in Daniel 1:3.

Daniel 1:10

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Quote: Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men of your own age? (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion

The official uses this question to explain what he thought would happen. It can be a statement. Alternate translation: “He does not want to see you looking worse than the other young men of your own age.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

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Quote: The king might have my head (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “The king might cut off my head” or “The king might kill me” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 1:13

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Quote: compare our appearance with the appearance (0)

Daniel asked the steward to see if he and his friends looked worse than the other young men. Alternate translation: “compare our appearance to see if it is worse than the appearance”

Daniel 1:14

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Quote: tested them (0)

tested Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah

Daniel 1:15

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Quote: their appearance & they were (0)

The pronouns refer to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

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Quote: nourished (0)

This means to have been made healthy from what you have eaten.

Daniel 1:16

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Quote: their delicacies & their wine & gave them (0)

All of these pronouns refer to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.

Daniel 1:17

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Quote: God gave them knowledge and insight (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns

This can be reworded so that the abstract nouns “knowledge” and “insight” can be expressed as the verbs “learn” and “understand.” Alternate translation: “God gave them the ability to learn and understand clearly” (See: Abstract Nouns)

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Quote: in all literature and wisdom (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole

Here “all” is a generalization to show that they had a very good education and understanding. Alternate translation: “in many things that the Babylonians had written and studied” (See: Hyperbole)

Daniel 1:19

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Quote: The king spoke with them (0)

The king spoke with the “four young men” (Daniel 1:17).

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Quote: among the whole group there were none to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes

This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah pleased him much more than anyone else in the whole group” (See: Litotes)

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Quote: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (0)

These are the names of men. See how you translated these names in Daniel 1:6.

Daniel 1:20

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Quote: ten times better (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole

Here “ten times” is an exaggeration representing great quality. Alternate translation: “much better” (See: Hyperbole)

Daniel 1:21

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Quote: the first year of King Cyrus (0)

Alternate translation: “the first year that King Cyrus ruled Babylon”

Daniel 2

Daniel 2 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in Daniel’s prayer in 2:20-23.

Special concepts in this chapter

The king’s dream

Daniel told the king’s dream and what the dream meant. In the ancient Near East, it was believed that only people in touch with the gods could interpret dreams. (See: god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry)

How Daniel knew the dream

Daniel gave Yahweh the honor for having told him the dream and its meaning in answer to the prayers of the four men.

Daniel 2:1

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Quote: In the second year (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“In year two” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

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Quote: he had dreams (0)

Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar had dreams”

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Quote: His mind was troubled (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “mind” refers to his thoughts. Alternate translation: “His thoughts disturbed him” (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: and he could not sleep (0)

His troubled thoughts prevented him from sleeping. Alternate translation: “so that he could not sleep”

Daniel 2:2

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Quote: Then the king summoned the magicians (0)

Alternate translation: “Then the king called the magicians”

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Quote: the dead (0)

Alternate translation: “people who had died”

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Quote: they came in (0)

Alternate translation: “they came into the palace”

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Quote: stood before (0)

Alternate translation: “stood in front of”

Daniel 2:3

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Quote: my mind is anxious (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “mind” refers to the king himself. Alternate translation: “I am anxious” (See: Synecdoche)

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Quote: anxious (0)

Alternate translation: “troubled”

Daniel 2:4

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Quote: Aramaic (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the language that people in Babylon spoke. (See: How to Translate Names)

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Quote: King, live forever! (0)

The men probably said this to show the king that they were loyal to him. Alternate translation: “King, we hope you will live forever!”

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Quote: us, your servants (0)

The men called themselves the king’s servants to show him respect.

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Quote: we will reveal (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive

Here the word “we” refers to the men that the king is speaking to and does not include the king. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

Daniel 2:5

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Quote: This matter has been settled (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I have already decided what to do about this matter” (See: Active or Passive)

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Quote: your bodies will be torn apart and your houses made into rubbish heaps (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I will command my soldiers to tear your bodies apart and to make your houses into rubbish heaps” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:6

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Quote: you will receive gifts from me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I will give you gifts” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:7

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Quote: Let the king tell us (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

The wise men addressed the king in the third person as a sign of respect. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

Daniel 2:8

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Quote: you see how firm my decision is about this (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

A decision that will not be changed is spoken of as something firm. Alternate translation: “you see that I will not change my decision about this” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 2:9

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Quote: there is only one sentence for you (0)

Alternate translation: “there is only one punishment for you”

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Quote: false and deceptive words (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These two words mean approximately the same thing and emphasize that these are “lies intended to deceive.” (See: Doublet)

Daniel 2:10

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Quote: great and powerful (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These two words mean basically the same thing and emphasize the greatness of the king’s power. Alternate translation: “most powerful” (See: Doublet)

Daniel 2:11

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Quote: there is no one who can tell it to the king except the gods (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes

This is stated in negative form for emphasis. It can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “only the gods can tell this to the king” (See: Litotes)

Daniel 2:12

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Quote: angry and very furious (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words mean basically the same thing and emphasize the intensity of his anger. Alternate translation: “incredibly angry” (See: Doublet)

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Quote: all those in Babylon (0)

Alternate translation: “all the men in Babylon”

Daniel 2:13

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Quote: So the decree went out (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

The decree is spoken of as if it was alive and able to go out by itself. Alternate translation: “So the king issued a command” or “So the king gave a command” (See: Personification)

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Quote: all those who were known for their wisdom were to be put to death (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the soldiers were to kill all of the men who were known for their wisdom” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: so they could be put to death (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “in order to kill them” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:14

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Quote: prudence and discretion (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These two words mean basically the same thing and emphasize the greatness of his prudence. Alternate translation: “caution and careful judgment” (See: Doublet)

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Quote: Arioch (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the name of the king’s commander. (See: How to Translate Names)

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Quote: bodyguard (0)

This is a group of men whose job is to protect the king.

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Quote: who had come to kill (0)

Alternate translation: “who the king had sent out to kill”

Daniel 2:16

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Quote: Daniel went in (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Daniel probably went to the palace. Alternate translation: “Daniel went to the palace” or “Daniel went to talk with the king” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

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Quote: requested an appointment with the king (0)

Alternate translation: “asked for a set time to meet with the king”

Daniel 2:17

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Quote: his house (0)

This is referring to Daniel’s house.

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Quote: what had happened (0)

Alternate translation: “about the king’s decree”

Daniel 2:18

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Quote: He urged them to seek mercy (0)

Alternate translation: “He begged them to pray for mercy”

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Quote: so that he and they might not be killed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “so that the king would not kill them” or “so that the king’s bodyguard would not kill them” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:19

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Quote: That night the mystery was revealed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “That night God revealed the mystery” (See: Active or Passive)

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Quote: the mystery (0)

This is referring to the king’s dream and its meaning.

Daniel 2:20

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Quote: Praise the name of God (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “name” refers to God himself. Alternate translation: “Praise God” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 2:21

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Quote: General Information: (0)

General Information:

These verses are also part of Daniel’s prayer.

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Quote: he removes kings (0)

Alternate translation: “he takes away kings’ authority to rule”

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Quote: places kings on their thrones (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here being on the “throne” refers to ruling over a kingdom. Alternate translation: “makes new kings rule over their kingdoms” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 2:22

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Quote: the light lives with him (0)

Alternate translation: “the light comes from where God is”

Daniel 2:23

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Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

This verse is also part of Daniel’s prayer. He stops addressing God in the third person and switches to the more personal second person. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

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Quote: made known to me what we asked of you (0)

Alternate translation: “told me what my friends and I asked you to tell us”

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Quote: made known to us the matter that concerns the king (0)

Alternate translation: “told us what the king wants to know”

Daniel 2:24

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Quote: Arioch (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the name of the king’s commander. See how you translated this name in Daniel 2:14. (See: How to Translate Names)

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Quote: everyone who was wise (0)

Alternate translation: “the wise men”

Daniel 2:26

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Quote: Belteshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This was the name the Babylonians gave to Daniel. See how you translated this name in Daniel 1:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

Daniel 2:27

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Quote: The mystery that the king has asked about & not by astrologers (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Those who have wisdom, those who claim to speak with the dead, magicians, and astrologers cannot reveal the mystery about which the king has asked” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The mystery that the king has asked about (0)

This phrase refers to the king’s dream.

Daniel 2:29

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the one who reveals mysteries (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This phrase refers to God. Alternate translation: “God, who reveals mysteries” or “God, who makes mysteries known” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 2:30

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: this mystery was not revealed to me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God did not reveal this mystery to me” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: This mystery was revealed to me so that you (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “He revealed the mystery to me so that you” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: know the thoughts deep within you (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

This phrase is using the word “you” referring to the person’s mind. Alternate translation: “know the thoughts deep inside your mind” (See: Synecdoche)

Daniel 2:32

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Quote: was made of fine gold (0)

Alternate translation: “was of fine gold” or “was fine gold”

Daniel 2:33

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Quote: were made partly of iron and partly of clay (0)

Alternate translation: “were partly of iron and partly of clay” or “were partly iron and partly clay”

Daniel 2:34

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a stone was cut out, although not by human hands, and it (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can be stated in active form if it is divided into two sentences. Alternate translation: “someone cut a stone from a mountain, but it was not a human who cut it. The stone” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:35

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Quote: like the chaff of the threshing floors in the summer (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

This phrase is comparing the pieces of the statue to small and light things which could be blown away by the wind. Alternate translation: “like dry pieces of grass blowing away in the wind” (See: Simile)

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Quote: there was no trace of them left (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes

This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “they were completely gone” (See: Litotes)

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Quote: filled the whole earth (0)

Alternate translation: “spread over the whole earth”

Daniel 2:36

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Quote: Now we will tell the king (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-pronouns

Here “we” refers only to Daniel. He may have used to plural form in humility to avoid taking credit for knowing the meaning of the dream that God had revealed to him. (See: Pronouns)

Daniel 2:37

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: king of the kings (0)

Alternate translation: “the most important king” or “a king who rules over other kings”

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Quote: the power, the strength (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words mean basically the same thing. (See: Doublet)

Daniel 2:38

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Quote: He has given into your hand the place (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “hand” refers to control. Alternate translation: “He has given you control over the place” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the place where the human beings live (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

The place is used to represent the people who live there. Alternate translation: “the people of the land” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He has given over the animals & into your hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “hand” refers to control. Alternate translation: “He has given you control over the animals of the fields and the birds of the heavens” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: birds of the heavens (0)

Here “heavens” is used in the sense of “skies.”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: You are the statue’s head of gold (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

In the king’s dream the statue’s head represents the king. Alternate translation: “The golden head symbolizes you” or “The golden head is a symbol of you and your power” (See: Symbolic Language)

Daniel 2:39

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: another kingdom will arise (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

In the king’s dream his kingdom is gold so an inferior kingdom would be silver. Alternate translation: “another kingdom, which is of silver, will arise” or “another kingdom, which is represented by the silver parts of the statue, will arise” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: yet a third kingdom of bronze (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

This is symbolic language where the bronze of parts of the statue represent a future kingdom. Alternate translation: “then still another kingdom, which is represented by the bronze parts of the statue” (See: Symbolic Language and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a third kingdom (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“kingdom number three” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

Daniel 2:40

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: There will be a fourth kingdom (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“There will be a kingdom number four” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: strong as iron (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

The fourth kingdom is spoken of as being as strong as iron. (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It will shatter all these things and crush them (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

This symbolic language means the fourth kingdom will defeat and replace the other kingdoms. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all these things (0)

Alternate translation: “the previous kingdoms”

Daniel 2:41

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Just as you saw (0)

Nebuchadnezzar saw that the feet consisted of clay and iron. He did not see the process of making the feet.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: were partly made of baked clay and partly made of iron (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “were a mixture of baked clay and iron” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:43

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they will not stay together (0)

Alternate translation: “they will not remain united”

Daniel 2:44

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: In the days of those kings (0)

Here “those kings” refers to the rulers of the kingdoms symbolized by the different parts of the statue.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: that will never be destroyed, nor will it be conquered by another people (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “that no one will ever destroy, and that another people never conquer” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:45

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a stone was cut out of the mountain, but not by human hands (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone cut a stone from the mountain, but it was not a human who cut it” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: reliable (0)

trustworthy and correct

Daniel 2:46

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fell on his face (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

This symbolic act showed that the king was honoring Daniel. Alternate translation: “lay down with his face on the ground” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: an offering be made and that incense be offered up to him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “his servants make an offering and offer up incense to Daniel” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 2:47

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Truly your God (0)

Alternate translation: “It is true that your God”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the God of gods, the Lord of kings (0)

Alternate translation: “greater than all the other gods, and King over all other kings”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the one who reveals mysteries (0)

Translate “the one who reveals mysteries” as in Daniel 2:29.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to reveal this mystery (0)

Alternate translation: “to reveal the mystery of my dream”

Daniel 2:48

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He made him ruler (0)

Alternate translation: “The king made Daniel the ruler”

Daniel 2:49

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Shadrach & Meshach & Abednego (0)

These were the Babylonian names of the three Jewish men who were brought to Babylon with Daniel. See how you translated these names in Daniel 1:7

Daniel 3

Daniel 3 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

The king’s new idol

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship the new idol. In the ancient Near East, refusing to worship the king was a sign of rebellion against the king. It was often considered the crime of treason. (See: sign, proof, reminder)

The furnace

There was a fourth person with them in the furnace, and because of this they were not hurt. Most scholars believe this to be Jesus before he was born.

Daniel 3:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue & He set it up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to do this work, he did not do the work himself. Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to make a gold statue … They set it up” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: sixty cubits tall and six cubits wide (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-bdistance

A cubit is 46 centimeters. Alternate translation: “about 27 meters tall and almost 3 meters wide” (See: Biblical Distance)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Plain of Dura (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is a location within the kingdom of Babylon. (See: How to Translate Names)

Daniel 3:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: provincial governors & regional governors & local governors (0)

These are officials who have authority over different sizes of territory.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: treasurers (0)

These officials are in charge of money.

Daniel 3:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the provincial governors, regional governors, & officials of the provinces (0)

See how you translated this list in Daniel 3:2.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had set up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to do this work, he did not do the work himself. Alternate translation: “the statue that Nebuchadnezzar’s men had set up” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: herald (0)

This person is an official messenger for the king.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: You are commanded (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. “The king commands you” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: peoples, nations, and languages (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “nations” and “languages” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. Alternate translation: “people from different nations and who speak different languages” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: zithers (0)

These are musical instruments similar to harps. They are shaped like triangles and have four strings.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fall down (0)

Here “fall down” means “quickly lie down”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrate yourselves to (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

“stretch yourselves out on the ground face down in worship of” (See: Symbolic Action)

Daniel 3:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Whoever does not fall down and worship, at that very moment, will be thrown into a blazing furnace (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The soldiers will throw into a blazing furnace anyone who does not fall down and worship the statue at the very moment they hear the music” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fall down (0)

Here “fall down” means “quickly lie down”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: blazing furnace (0)

This is a large room filled with a hot fire.

Daniel 3:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all the peoples, nations, and languages (0)

Here “all” that means all the people who were present.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: peoples, nations, and languages (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “nations” and “languages” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:4. Alternate translation: “people from different nations and who spoke different languages” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the horns, flutes & and pipes (0)

These are musical instruments. See how you translated these words in Daniel 3:5.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fell down (0)

Here “fell down” means “quickly lay down”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrated themselves to (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

They did this to worship the statue. Alternate translation: “stretched themselves out on the ground face down in worship of” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to do this work, he did not do the work himself. Alternate translation: “the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar’s men had set up” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:8

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Now (0)

This word is used to mark a break in the main story line. Here the writer tells about some new people in the story.

Daniel 3:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: King, live forever (0)

This was a common greeting to the king.

Daniel 3:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the horns, flutes & and pipes (0)

These are musical instruments. See how you translated these words in Daniel 3:5.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fall down (0)

Here “fall down” means “quickly lie down”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrate himself to (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

The people would do this to worship the statue. Alternate translation: “stretch himself out on the ground face down in worship of” (See: Symbolic Action)

Daniel 3:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Whoever does not fall down and worship must be thrown into a blazing furnace (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Soldiers must throw into a blazing furnace anyone who does not lie down on the ground and worship” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fall down (0)

Here “fall down” means “quickly lie down”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: blazing furnace (0)

This is a large room filled with a hot fire. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:6.

Daniel 3:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: affairs (0)

matters having to do with government

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Shadrach & Meshach & Abednego (0)

These are the Babylonian names of the three Jewish friends of Daniel. See how you translated these names in Daniel 1:7.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: pay no attention to you (0)

Alternate translation: “do not pay attention to you”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrate themselves (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

They would do this to worship the statue. Alternate translation: “stretch themselves out on the ground face down in worship” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the golden statue you have set up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to do this work, he did not do the work himself. Alternate translation: “the golden statue your men have set up” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: filled with anger and rage (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Nebuchadnezzar’s anger and rage were so intense that they are spoken of as if they had filled him up. Here “anger” and “rage” mean about the same thing and are used to emphasize how upset the king was. Alternate translation: “extremely angry” (See: Metaphor and Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (0)

These are the Babylonian names of the three Jewish friends of Daniel. See how you translated these names in Daniel 1:7.

Daniel 3:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Have you made your minds up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “mind” refers to deciding. To “make up your mind” is an idiom that means to firmly decide. Alternate translation: “Have you firmly decided” (See: Metonymy and Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrate yourselves to (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

The three men would not do this to worship the statue. Alternate translation: “stretch yourselves out on the ground face down in worship of” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the golden statue that I have set up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to do this work, he did not do the work himself. Alternate translation: “the golden statue that my men have set up” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the horns, flutes & and pipes (0)

These are musical instruments. See how you translated this list in Daniel 3:5.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fall down (0)

Here “fall down” means “quickly lie down”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrate yourselves to (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

stretch yourselves out on the ground face down in worship of” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all will be well (0)

Alternate translation: “there will no longer be a problem” or “you will be free to go”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the statue that I have made (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to do this work, he did not do the work himself. Alternate translation: “the statue that my men have made” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: you will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “my soldiers will immediately throw you into a blazing furnace” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: blazing furnace (0)

This is a large room filled with a hot fire. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:6.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Who is the god & my hands? (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion

The king does not expect an answer. He is threatening the three men. Alternate translation: “No god is able to rescue you from my power!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: out of my hands (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “hands” refers to power to punish. Alternate translation: “from my punishment” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: blazing furnace (0)

This is a large room filled with a hot fire. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:6.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: out of your hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “hand” refers to power to punish. Alternate translation: “from your punishment” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: But if not, let it be known to you, king, that (0)

Alternate translation: “But king, we must let you know that even if our God does not rescue us”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrate ourselves to (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

People would do this to worship their gods. Alternate translation: “stretch ourselves out on the ground face down in worship of” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the golden statue you set up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Nebuchadnezzar commanded his men to do this work, he did not do the work himself. Alternate translation: “the golden statue your men set up” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 3:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The king was so angry that rage is spoken of as if it were filling him up. Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar became extremely angry” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was normally heated (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here “seven times hotter” is an idiom that means to make it very much hotter. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “He commanded his men to make the furnace very much hotter than they normally make it” (See: Idiom and Active or Passive)

Daniel 3:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: turbans (0)

A turban is a head covering made of wrapped cloth.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: blazing furnace (0)

This is a large room filled with a hot fire. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:6.

Daniel 3:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Because the king’s command was strictly followed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Because the men did exactly what the king commanded” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 3:24

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Did we not throw three men tied up into the fire (0)

Alternate translation: “We threw three men tied up into the fire, right”

Daniel 3:25

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The brilliance of the fourth is like a son of the gods (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

The gods were believed to shine brightly with light. Alternate translation: “Man four is shining brightly with light as a son of the gods would shine” (See: Ordinal Numbers and Simile)

Daniel 3:27

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The provincial governors, regional governors, other governors (0)

These are officials who have authority over different sizes of territory. See how you translated these in Daniel 3:2.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the hair on their heads was not singed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the fire had not singed the hair on their heads” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: was not singed (0)

Alternate translation: “was not burned even a little”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: their robes were not harmed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the fire did not harm their robes” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: there was no smell of fire on them (0)

Alternate translation: “they did not smell like fire”

Daniel 3:28

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they set aside my command (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Not obeying the king’s command is spoken of as if they had physically moved it away from them. Alternate translation: “they ignored my command” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they gave up their bodies (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This phrase refers to the three men’s willingness to die for what they believed. Alternate translation: “they were willing to die” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrate themselves to (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

People would do this to worship their gods. Alternate translation: “stretch themselves out on the ground face down in honor of” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: any god except their God (0)

Alternate translation: “any other god except their God”

Daniel 3:29

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: any people, nation, or language & must be torn apart, and that their houses must be made into rubbish heaps (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “my servants will tear apart any people, nation, or language … and make their houses into piles of garbage” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: any people, nation, or language that speaks (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “nations” and “language” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. See how you translated a similar phrase in Daniel 3:4. Alternate translation: “any people from any nation, or those who speak any language that says” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: speaks anything against the God (0)

Alternate translation: “speaks words that do not respect the God”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: must be torn apart (0)

Alternate translation: “must have their bodies torn apart”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: there is no other god who is able to save like this (0)

This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “only their God is able to save like this”

Daniel 4

Daniel 4 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 4:3 and 4:34-35.

Special concepts in this chapter

The king becomes insane

The king became insane until he realized that Yahweh was the ruler over everyone, including him.

Daniel 4:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In this chapter, Nebuchadnezzar tells what God did to him. In verses 1-18, Nebuchadnezzar describes in the first person his vision from God. Verses 19-33 switch to the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. Verses 34-37 change back to first person as Nebuchadnezzar describes his response to God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: King Nebuchadnezzar sent (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This phrase is referring to the king’s messenger as the king himself. Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar sent his messengers with” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: peoples, nations, and languages (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “nations” and “languages” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:4. Alternate translation: “people from different nations and who speak different languages” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who lived on the earth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole

Kings would often exaggerate how wide their kingdom was. Nebuchadnezzar did rule over most of the known world at the time this book was written. Alternate translation: “who lived in the kingdom of Babylon” (See: Hyperbole)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: May your peace increase (0)

This is a common greeting.

Daniel 4:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: signs and wonders (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words share similar meanings and refer to the amazing things that God had done. (See: Doublet)

Daniel 4:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: How great are his signs, and how mighty are his wonders! (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

Both of these phrases have the same meaning and are used to emphasize how great God’s signs and wonders are. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: His kingdom is & generation to generation (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

Both of these phrases have the same meaning and are repeated to emphasize how God’s reign is forever. (See: Parallelism)

Daniel 4:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 1-18, Nebuchadnezzar describes in the first person his vision from God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: was living happily & was enjoying prosperity (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases are parallel and mean the same thing. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my house & my palace (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These two phrases mean basically the same thing. (See: Doublet)

Daniel 4:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a dream & the images & the visions (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These phrases mean basically the same thing. (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: made me afraid & troubled me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These phrases are parallel and they mean the same thing. (See: Parallelism)

Daniel 4:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all the men of Babylon who had wisdom (0)

Alternate translation: “all the wise men of Babylon”

Daniel 4:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 1-18, Nebuchadnezzar describes in the first person his vision from God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

Daniel 4:8

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who is named Belteshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “who I named Belteshazzar” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belteshazzar (0)

This was the name the Babylonians gave to Daniel. See how you translated this name in Daniel 1:7.

Daniel 4:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: no mystery is too difficult for you (0)

The can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “you understand the meaning of every mystery”

Daniel 4:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 1-18, Nebuchadnezzar describes in the first person his vision from God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: sights (0)

things that you see

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: its height was very great (0)

Alternate translation: “it was very tall”

Daniel 4:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Its top reached to the heavens & it could be seen to the ends of the whole earth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

This is symbolic language that exaggerates how tall and how well-known the tree was. Alternate translation: “It seemed that its top reached up to the sky and that everyone in the world could see it” (See: Symbolic Language and Hyperbole)

Daniel 4:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: its fruit was abundant (0)

Alternate translation: “there was a lot of fruit on the tree”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: was food for all (0)

Alternate translation: “was food for all people and animals”

Daniel 4:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 1-18, Nebuchadnezzar describes in the first person his vision from God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I saw in my mind (0)

This refers to seeing a dream or vision. Alternate translation: “I saw in my dream”

Daniel 4:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He shouted and said (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

It can be made clear that the holy messenger was speaking to more than one person. Alternate translation: “He shouted to some people and said” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Let the animals flee & from its branches (0)

Alternate translation: “The animals will flee from under it and the bird will fly away from its branches”

Daniel 4:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: stump of its roots (0)

This is the part of the tree that is left above the ground after a tree is cut down.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: dew (0)

the moisture on the ground that is found in the mornings

Daniel 4:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Let his mind be changed & seven years pass by (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-pronouns

Since the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar, the masculine pronouns “his” and “him” in verse 16 refer to the same tree as the neuter pronoun “it” in verse 15. Alternate translation: “The man’s mind will change from a man’s mind to an animal’s mind for a period of seven years” (See: Pronouns)

Daniel 4:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 1-18, Nebuchadnezzar describes in the first person his vision from God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It is a decision made by the holy ones (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The holy ones have made this decision” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the holy ones (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This phrase probably refers to angels. Alternate translation: “the holy angels” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: those who are alive (0)

Alternate translation: “every living person” or “everyone”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: gives them (0)

Alternate translation: “gives the kingdoms”

Daniel 4:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belteshazzar (0)

This was the name the Babylonians gave to Daniel. See how you translated this name in Daniel 1:7.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: you are able to do so (0)

Alternate translation: “you are able to interpret it”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the spirit of the holy gods (0)

Nebuchadnezzar believed that Daniel’s power came from the false gods that Nebuchadnezzar worshiped. These are not the same as “the holy ones” in verse 17. See how you translated this phrase in Daniel 4:8.

Daniel 4:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who was also named Belteshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “who I also named Belteshazzar” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: was greatly upset for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Daniel’s understanding of the meaning of the vision is what alarmed him. This can be explicitly stated. Alternate translation: “did not say anything for some time because he was very worried about the meaning of the dream” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: may the dream be for those who hate you; may its interpretation be for your enemies (0)

Daniel is expressing his wish that the dream was not about Nebuchadnezzar, even though he knew that it really was about the king.

Daniel 4:20

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar (See: First, Second or Third Person). Many terms in this verse are almost the same as in Daniel 4:11. See how you translated that verse.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to the heavens & to the ends of the whole earth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole

These phrases are exaggerations to emphasize that everyone everywhere knew how great Nebuchadnezzar was. (See: Hyperbole)

Daniel 4:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)

General Information:

Many terms in this verse are almost the same as Daniel 4:12. See how you translated that verse.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: whose fruit was abundant (0)

Alternate translation: “which bore a great amount of fruit”

Daniel 4:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: this tree is you, king (0)

Alternate translation: “this tree represents you, king”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Your greatness has grown & your authority reaches (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases mean similar things. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Your greatness has grown (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

This phrase is using the word “grown” as a way of saying the king’s greatness has increased. Alternate translation: “Your greatness has increased” (See: Personification)

Daniel 4:23

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

This verse is almost the same as Daniel 4:13-14 and Daniel 4:15-16. See how you translated those verses. Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the stump of its roots (0)

This is the part of the tree that is left above ground after a tree is cut down.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: in the middle of the tender grass of the field (0)

Alternate translation: “surrounded by the tender grass of the field”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: dew (0)

the moisture that settles on the ground in the mornings

Daniel 4:24

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: that has reached you (0)

Alternate translation: “that you have heard”

Daniel 4:25

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: You will be driven from among men (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Men will drive you away from them” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: You will be made to eat grass (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “You will eat grass” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 4:26

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: heaven rules (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “heaven” refers to God who lives in heaven. Alternate translation: “God in heaven is the ruler of all” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 4:27

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: let my advice be acceptable to you (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “please accept my advice” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Turn away from your iniquities (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here rejecting iniquity is spoken of as turning away from it. Alternate translation: “Reject your iniquities” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the oppressed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-nominaladj

This nominal adjective refers to people who are oppressed. Alternate translation: “people who are oppressed” (See: Nominal Adjectives)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: it may be that your prosperity will be extended (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God may extend your prosperity” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 4:28

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

Daniel 4:29

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Twelve months (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“12 months” (See: Numbers)

Daniel 4:30

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Is this not the great Babylon & for the glory of my majesty? (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion

Nebuchadnezzar asks this question to emphasize his own glory. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this question as a statement. Alternate translation: “This is the great Babylon … for the glory of my majesty!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: for the glory of my majesty (0)

Alternate translation: “to show people my honor and my greatness”

Daniel 4:31

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: While the words were still on the lips of the king (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This idiom means the king was still in the act of speaking. Alternate translation: “While the king was still speaking” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a voice came from heaven (0)

Alternate translation: “he heard a voice from heaven”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: King Nebuchadnezzar & has been taken away from you (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “King Nebuchadnezzar, a decree went out against you that this kingdom no longer belongs to you” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 4:32

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: You will be driven away from people (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “People will chase you away from them” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: anyone he wishes (0)

Alternate translation: “whoever he chooses”

Daniel 4:33

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

Verses 19-33 use the third person to describe the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: This decree against Nebuchadnezzar was carried out immediately (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “This decree against Nebuchadnezzar happened immediately” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He was driven away from people (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “People chased him away from them” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his nails became like birds’ claws (0)

Alternate translation: “his fingernails looked like birds’ claws”

Daniel 4:34

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 34-37 Nebuchadnezzar speaks in the first person to describe his response to God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: At the end of the days (0)

This refers back to the seven years in Daniel 4:32.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my sanity was given back to me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “my sanity came back to me” or “I became sane again” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I praised & and I honored (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

The two phrases refer to the same action. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: For his reign is an everlasting reign & his kingdom endures from all generations to all generations (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases mean basically the same thing and are used to emphasize how God’s reign never ends. Alternate translation: “He rules forever and his kingdom will never end” (See: Parallelism)

Daniel 4:35

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 34-37 Nebuchadnezzar speaks in the first person to describe his response to God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: All the earth’s inhabitants are considered by him to be as nothing (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “He considers all the earth’s inhabitants as nothing” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: All the earth’s inhabitants (0)

Alternate translation: “All the people on the earth”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the army of heaven (0)

Alternate translation: “the angel armies in heaven”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: whatever suits his will (0)

Alternate translation: “whatever satisfies his purpose” or “anything he wants to do”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: No one can stop him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

It may be helpful to add additional detail. Alternate translation: “When he decides to do something, no one can stop him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: No one can say to him, ‘Why have you done this?’ (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-quotations

This can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: “No one can question what he does.” (See: Direct and Indirect Quotations)

Daniel 4:36

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

General Information:

In verses 34-37 Nebuchadnezzar speaks in the first person to describe his response to God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my sanity returned to me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

Here his sanity is spoken of as if it was able to return by its own power. Alternate translation: “I became sane again” (See: Personification)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my majesty and splendor returned to me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

Here his majesty and splendor are spoken of as if they were able to return by their own power. Alternate translation: “I regained my majesty and my splendor again” (See: Personification)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: majesty and splendor (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words mean basically the same thing and emphasize the greatness of his glory. (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my noblemen sought my favor (0)

Alternate translation: “my noblemen requested my help again”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I was brought & greatness was given to me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “throne” refers to his authority to rule. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I returned to rule my kingdom again, and I received even more greatness” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

Daniel 4:37

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: praise, extol, and honor (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

All three of these words have basically the same meaning and emphasize how greatly he praised God. (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who walk in their own pride (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This phrase uses “walk” to refer to the person who acts proud. Alternate translation: “who are proud” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 5

Daniel 5 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

The writing on the wall

God told the new king that he had failed and God was replacing him, showing that God is the real ruler over everything, even kingdoms that do not worship him.

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin

These are words in Aramaic. Daniel “transliterates” these words by writing them with Hebrew letters, and then he explains their meanings. In the ULT and UST they are written with English letters. Translators are encouraged to write them using the letters of the target language alphabet.

Daniel 5:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the son of Nebuchadnezzar who became king after his father. (See: How to Translate Names)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: for a thousand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“for 1,000” (See: Numbers)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he drank wine in front of (0)

Alternate translation: “he drank wine in the presence of”

Daniel 5:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the containers made of gold or silver (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the gold or silver containers that the Israelites had made” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: containers (0)

These were cups and other items that were small enough for a person to hold and to drink from them.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “Nebuchadnezzar” refers to Nebuchadnezzar’s army. Alternate translation: “his father Nebuchadnezzar’s army” or “the army of Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 5:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the gold containers that had been taken out of the temple (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the gold containers that the army of Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: out of the temple, the house of God (0)

“out of God’s temple.” The phrase “the house of God” tells us something more about the temple.

Daniel 5:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: At that moment (0)

Alternate translation: “As soon as they did that” or “Suddenly”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: plaster (0)

cement or mud that is spread on walls or ceilings to give them a smooth hard surface when it dries

Daniel 5:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the king’s face changed (0)

“his face became pale.” This was caused by his fear.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his limbs (0)

Alternate translation: “his legs”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his knees were knocking together (0)

This was the result of his extreme fear.

Daniel 5:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: those known for their wisdom in Babylon (0)

This refers back to those who claimed to speak with the dead, the wise men, and the astrologers.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Whoever explains this writing and its meaning will be clothed with purple and will have a gold chain around his neck (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I will give purple clothes and a gold neck chain to whoever explains this writing and its meaning” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: clothed with purple (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Purple cloth was rare and reserved for royal officials. Alternate translation: “dressed in royal clothing” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the third highest ruler (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“the number three ruler” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

Daniel 5:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the son of Nebuchadnezzar who became king after his father. See how you wrote this name in Daniel 5:1. (See: How to Translate Names)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the look on his face changed (0)

“his face became even more pale.” The face of the king grew even more pale than in Daniel 5:6.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: perplexed (0)

unable to understand, confused

Daniel 5:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the queen (0)

Some modern versions understand this to be a reference to the queen mother, that is, to the king’s mother. The queen mother received much honor in ancient Babylon.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: King, live forever! (0)

This was a normal way to greet the king.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Do not let the look on your face change (0)

Alternate translation: “There is no need for your face to look so pale”

Daniel 5:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the spirit of the holy gods (0)

The queen believed that Daniel’s power came from the false gods that Nebuchadnezzar worshiped. See how you translated this phrase in Daniel 4:8.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: In the days of your father (0)

Alternate translation: “When your father was ruling”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “he had light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: King Nebuchadnezzar, your father the king (0)

Alternate translation: “Your father, King Nebuchadnezzar”

Daniel 5:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: these qualities were found in this man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “this same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, had all of these qualities” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: what has been written (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

“what has been written on the wall.” If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “what the hand wrote on the wall” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 5:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Then Daniel was brought before the king (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Then they brought Daniel before the king” or “Then the soldiers brought Daniel before the king” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: whom my father the king brought out of Judah (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

In this phrase “father” is being used to represent all of the soldiers. Alternate translation: “whom my father’s soldiers brought out of Judah” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 5:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the spirit of the gods (0)

Belshazzar believed that Daniel’s power came from the false gods that Belshazzar worshiped. See how you translated a similar phrase in Daniel 4:8.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “you have light and understanding and excellent wisdom” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 5:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Now the men known & have been brought in before me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Now the men known … have come in before me” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: make known to me (0)

Alternate translation: “tell me”

Daniel 5:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: you will be clothed with purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “I will give you purple clothes and a gold neck chain” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: clothed with purple (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Purple cloth was rare and reserved for royal officials. Alternate translation: “dressed in royal clothing” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the third highest ruler (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“the number three ruler” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

Daniel 5:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Let your gifts be for yourself, and (0)

Alternate translation: “I do not want your gifts, so”

Daniel 5:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all peoples, nations, and languages (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole

This phrase uses the word “all” as a generalization that represents a large number. Alternate translation: “a great number of people, of different nations and languages” (See: Hyperbole)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: peoples, nations, and languages (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “nations” and “languages” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:4. Alternate translation: “people from different nations and who speak different languages” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: trembled and feared him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words mean basically the same thing and emphasize the intensity of the fear. Alternate translation: “were very afraid of him” (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He put to death those he wanted to die (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This phrase does not mean King Nebuchadnezzar put people to death himself, but rather those he commanded. Alternate translation: “Nebuchadnezzar commanded his soldiers to kill those he wanted to die” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He raised up those he wanted (0)

Alternate translation: “He raised up those he wanted to raise up”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: wanted & wished (0)

These words here mean the same thing.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he humbled those he wished (0)

Alternate translation: “he humbled those he wished to humble”

Daniel 5:20

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his heart was arrogant (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “heart” refers to the king himself. Alternate translation: “the king was arrogant” (See: Synecdoche)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his spirit was hardened (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “spirit” refers to the king himself. His stubbornness is spoken of as if he were hardened. Alternate translation: “the king became stubborn” (See: Synecdoche and Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: presumptuously (0)

rudely and overly confident

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he was brought down from his kingly throne (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “throne” refers to his authority to rule. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the people took away his kingdom” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

Daniel 5:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He was driven away from humanity (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The people chased him away from them” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he had the mind of an animal (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “mind” represents his thoughts. Alternate translation: “he thought as an animal thinks” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: dew (0)

the moisture on the ground that is found in the mornings

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: anyone he wishes (0)

Alternate translation: “whomever he chooses”

Daniel 5:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the son of Nebuchadnezzar who became king after his father. See how you wrote this name in Daniel 5:1. (See: How to Translate Names)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: have not humbled your heart (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “heart” refers to Belshazzar himself. Alternate translation: “have not humbled yourself” (See: Synecdoche)

Daniel 5:23

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: You have lifted yourself up against the Lord (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

To rebel against God is spoken of as raising oneself up against him. Alternate translation: “You have rebelled against the Lord” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: From his house (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

What and where “his house” is can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “From his temple in Jerusalem” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: God who holds your breath in his hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “breath” refers to life and “hand” refers to power or control. Alternate translation: “God who gives you breath” or “God who has control over your entire life” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all your ways (0)

Alternate translation: “everything you do”

Daniel 5:24

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: this writing was done (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “it wrote this message” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 5:25

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: This is the writing that was done (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “This is the message that the hand wrote” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Pharsin (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-transliterate

These are the Aramaic words that were written on the wall. Spell these words with the sounds that fit your language. (See: Copy or Borrow Words)

Daniel 5:26

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: ‘Mene,’ ‘God has numbered (0)

Alternate translation: “‘Mene’ means ‘God has numbered”

Daniel 5:27

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: ‘Tekel,’ ‘you are weighed (0)

Alternate translation: “‘Tekel’ means ‘you are weighed”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: you are weighed in the scales and are found lacking (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Judging the worthiness of the king to rule is spoken of as weighing him. This means that the king is not worthy to rule. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God has examined your worthiness to rule, and he has found that you are not worthy” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Daniel 5:28

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: ‘Peres,’ ‘your kingdom (0)

Alternate translation: “‘Peres’ means ‘your kingdom.”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Peres (0)

This is the singular form of “Pharsin” in 5:25.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your kingdom is divided and is given to the Medes and Persians (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God has divided your kingdom and given it to the Medes and Persians” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 5:29

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belshazzar (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This is the son of Nebuchadnezzar who became king after his father. See how you wrote this name in Daniel 5:1. (See: How to Translate Names)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: A chain of gold was put around his neck (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “They put a chain of gold around his neck” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the third highest ruler (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“the number three ruler” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

Daniel 5:31

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: received the kingdom (0)

Alternate translation: “became the ruler of the kingdom”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: when he was about sixty-two years old (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“when he was about 62 years old” (See: Numbers)

Daniel 6

Daniel 6 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set the content of letters farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text. The ULT does this with the letter in 6:25-27.

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in the letter in 6:26-27.

Special concepts in this chapter

Daniel and the lions

Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den for praying to Yahweh, but Yahweh protected him and the lions did not hurt him at all.

Daniel 6:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Connecting Statement: (0)

Connecting Statement:

The events in this chapter take place after the Persians conquered the Babylonians and Darius the Mede began to rule in Babylon.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It pleased Darius (0)

Alternate translation: “King Darius decided”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: 120 provincial governors (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“one hundred and twenty provincial governors” (See: Numbers)

Daniel 6:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Over them (0)

The word “them” refers to the 120 provincial governors.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: so that the king should suffer no loss (0)

Alternate translation: “so that nothing should be stolen from the king” or “so that no one would steal anything from the king”

Daniel 6:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: was distinguished above (0)

Alternate translation: “excelled above” or “was more capable than”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he had an extraordinary spirit (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “spirit” refers to Daniel. It means he had was unusually capable. Alternate translation: “he was and exceptional person” (See: Synecdoche)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: extraordinary spirit (0)

spirit that made him do better than the others

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to put him over (0)

Alternate translation: “to give him authority over” or “to put him in charge of”

Daniel 6:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Then the other chief administrators and the provincial governors & for the kingdom (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

The other administrators were jealous of Daniel. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “Then the other chief administrators and the provincial governors became jealous. So they looked for mistakes in the work Daniel did for the kingdom” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: No mistakes or negligence was found in him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “They could find no mistakes or negligence in his work” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: negligence (0)

overly looking your responsibilities

Daniel 6:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to complain against this Daniel (0)

Alternate translation: “to complain about Daniel”

Daniel 6:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: brought a plan before the king (0)

Alternate translation: “presented a plan to the king”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: may you live forever! (0)

This was a normal way to greet a king.

Daniel 6:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: for thirty days (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“for 30 days” (See: Numbers)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: whoever makes a petition (0)

Alternate translation: “whoever makes a request”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: that person must be thrown into the den of lions (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “your soldiers must throw that person into the den of lions” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: den of lions (0)

This may refer to a room or pit where lions were kept.

Daniel 6:8

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Connecting Statement: (0)

Connecting Statement:

In verse 8, the administrators continue to speak to the king.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: as directed by the laws (0)

Alternate translation: “according to the laws”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: cannot be repealed (0)

Alternate translation: “cannot be canceled”

Daniel 6:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: making the decree into a law (0)

Alternate translation: “making the order into a law”

Daniel 6:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: When Daniel learned that the document had been signed into law (0)

It is important to the story to state clearly that Daniel knew about the new law before he prayed to God.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: now his windows were open in his upper room toward Jerusalem (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background

This is background information that explains how Daniel’s enemies knew he was praying to God. (See: Background Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: gave thanks before his God (0)

Alternate translation: “gave thanks to his God”

Daniel 6:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: plot (0)

a plan with evil intent

Daniel 6:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Did you not make a decree & lions? (0)

They asked this question to make the king confirm that he had made the decree.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who makes a petition (0)

Alternate translation: “who makes a request”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: den of lions (0)

This may refer to a room or pit where lions were kept. See how you translated this in Daniel 6:7.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: as directed by the law (0)

Alternate translation: “according to the law”

Daniel 6:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: That person Daniel (0)

This is not a respectful way of referring to Daniel. They intentionally used this phrase to avoid giving Daniel the respect he was due as a chief administrator.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who is one of the people of the exile from Judah (0)

Alternate translation: “who is an immagrant from Judah”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: pays no attention to you (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This idiom means he ignores the king. Alternate translation: “does not obey you” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 6:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he applied his mind (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “mind” refers to his thinking. Alternate translation: “he thought very hard about how” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He labored (0)

This refers to mental labor, rather than to physical labor.

Daniel 6:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: no decree & can be changed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

The men were implying that since no decree or statute of the king can be changed, Daniel must be thrown into the pit of lions. This can be stated clearly if needed. Alternate translation: “no decree … can be changed. They must throw Daniel into the pit of lions” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 6:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they brought in Daniel (0)

Alternate translation: “his soldiers went and got Daniel”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: lions’ den (0)

This may refer to a room or pit where lions were kept. See how you translated this in Daniel 6:7.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: May your God & rescue you (0)

The king is expressing his desire for God to save Daniel.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: rescue you (0)

Alternate translation: “save you from the lions”

Daniel 6:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: den (0)

This may refer to a room or pit where lions were kept. See how you translated this in Daniel 6:7.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles & concerning Daniel (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

The function of the signet ring can be stated clearly. The king and the noblemen pressed their rings into a seal made of wax. Alternate translation: “the king pressed his signet ring into a wax seal, the nobles did this too. No one was allowed to break the seal and help Daniel” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: nothing might be changed concerning Daniel (0)

Alternate translation: “no one could help Daniel”

Daniel 6:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he went through the night fasting (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

This symbolic act showed that the king was worried about Daniel. (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: No entertainment was brought before him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “He did not have anyone entertain him” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: sleep fled from him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

Sleep is spoken of as if it could run away from the king. Alternate translation: “he did not sleep at all that night” (See: Personification)

Daniel 6:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: lions’ den (0)

This may refer to a room or pit where lions were kept. See how you translated this in Daniel 6:7.

Daniel 6:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: For I was found blameless (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “He knows that I have done nothing wrong” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I have done you no harm (0)

Alternate translation: “I have not harmed you at all”

Daniel 6:23

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: den (0)

This may refer to a room or pit where lions were kept. See how you translated this in Daniel 6:7.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: No harm was found on him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “They did not find any wounds on Daniel” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 6:24

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Before they reached the floor (0)

Alternate translation: “Before they reached the floor of the lions’ den”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: broke all their bones to pieces (0)

Alternate translation: “crushed their bones”

Daniel 6:25

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: peoples, nations, and languages (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “nations” and “languages” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:4. Alternate translation: “people from different nations and who spoke different languages” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: in all the earth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole

King Darius wrote his message to his entire kingdom which was huge. Here it says “all the earth” as a generalization to emphasis how large his kingdom was, though it did not include everyone on the earth. Alternate translation: “in his kingdom” (See: Hyperbole)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: May peace increase for you (0)

This is a form of greeting that is used to wish someone well in all areas of life.

Daniel 6:26

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Connecting Statement: (0)

Connecting Statement:

This continues to state the message that Darius sent to everyone in his kingdom.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: tremble and fear (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These two words are similar and can be combined. Alternate translation: “shake with fear” (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the God of Daniel (0)

Alternate translation: “the God that Daniel worships”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he is the living God and lives forever (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

The two phrases “the living God” and “lives forever” express the same concept, that God lives forever. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his kingdom shall & his dominion shall (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases are parallel, emphasizing how God’s kingdom will never end. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his kingdom shall not be destroyed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “no one will destroy his kingdom” or “his kingdom will last forever” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his dominion shall be to the end (0)

Alternate translation: “he will rule forever”

Daniel 6:27

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he has kept Daniel safe from the strength of the lions (0)

Alternate translation: “he has not allowed the strong lions to hurt Daniel”

Daniel 6:28

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian (0)

Cyrus the Persian was the king who ruled after Darius.

Daniel 7

Daniel 7 General Notes

Structure and formatting

Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 7:9-10, 13-14, and 23-27.

Special concepts in this chapter

The four beasts

There will be four successive kingdoms before Yahweh sets up his eternal kingdom. (See: eternity, everlasting, eternal, forever)

The Son of Man

God will give the Son of Man an eternal kingdom and he will judge people from the books. (See: Son of Man, son of man and judge, judgment)

Daniel 7:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

Chapters 7 and 8 are not in chronological order. They happened while Belshazzar was still the king, before the rule of Darius and Cyrus that was discussed in chapter 6. In Daniel’s vision, he saw animals that were symbols of other things. Later in the vision someone explains the meaning of those symbols. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belshazzar (0)

This was the name of Nebuchadnezzar’s son, who became king after him. See how you wrote this name in Daniel 5:1.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a dream and visions (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

The words “dream” and “visions” both refer to the same dream that is described in this chapter. Alternate translation: “visions while he was dreaming” (See: Doublet)

Daniel 7:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the four winds of heaven (0)

Alternate translation: “winds from everywhere” or “strong winds from all four directions”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: stirring up (0)

Alternate translation: “whipped up” or “agitated” or “caused high waves in”

Daniel 7:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The first was like a lion but had eagle’s wings (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

This was a symbolic creature, and not an animal that exists. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground and made to stand on two feet, like a man (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone tore off its wings and lifted it up from the ground and made it stand on two feet like a human being” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The mind of a man was given to it (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “mind” refers to thinking. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Someone gave it the ability to think like a human being” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a second animal, like a bear (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

This was not an actual bear, but a symbolic animal that was similar to a bear. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: ribs (0)

large curved bones of the chest that connect to the spine

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It was told (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Someone told it” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: another animal, one that looked like a leopard (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

This was not an actual leopard, but a symbolic animal that was similar to a leopard. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: four wings & four heads (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

The four wings and four heads are symbols, but their meaning is unclear. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: it had four heads (0)

Alternate translation: “the animal had four heads”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It was given authority to rule (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “Someone gave it authority to rule” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a fourth animal & it had ten horns (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

This is also not an actual animal. It is a symbolic creature. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: trampled underfoot (0)

Alternate translation: “walked on and crushed”

Daniel 7:8

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the horns (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Translators may write a footnote like this: “Horns are a symbol of power and represent powerful leaders.” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Three of the first horns were wrenched out by the roots (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The little horn tore out three of the first horns” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a mouth that was boasting about great things (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here the horn was boasting, using its mouth to do so. Alternate translation: “the horn had a mouth and boasted about doing great things” (See: Synecdoche)

Daniel 7:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

Most of the text of verses 9-14 is symbolic language with parallel lines that have similar meaning. For this reason, the ULT and UST present them in poetic form. (See: Symbolic Language and Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: thrones were set in place (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “someone set thrones in their places” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the Ancient of Days (0)

This is a title for God that means he is eternal. Alternate translation: “the One Who Has Lived Forever” or “the One Who Has Always Lived”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: took his seat & His clothing & the hair of his head (0)

This passage describes God as sitting down, with clothing and hair like a person. This does not mean that God really is like this, but it is how Daniel saw God in a vision.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: took his seat (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is an idiom that means he sat down. Alternate translation: “sat down on his throne” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: His clothing was as white as snow (0)

His clothing is compared to snow to show that it was very white. Alternate translation: “His clothing was very white”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the hair of his head was like pure wool (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

Something about God’s hair looked like pure wool. This could mean: (1) it was very white or (2) it was thick and curly. (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: pure wool (0)

Alternate translation: “clean wool” or “wool that is washed”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: His throne was flames & its wheels were burning fire (0)

This describes the throne of God and its wheels as if they were made of fire. The words “flames” and “burning fire” mean basically the same thing and can be translated the same way.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: its wheels (0)

It is unclear why God’s throne is described as having wheels. Thrones normally do not have wheels, but the text clearly states that this throne has some kind of wheels. Use a general term for “wheels” if possible.

Daniel 7:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: A river of fire flowed out from before him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The quick way in which fire came from the presence of God is spoken of as if it was water flowing in a river. Alternate translation: “Fire poured out in front of him like water in a river” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: before him (0)

The word “him” refers to God, the Ancient of Days from Daniel 7:9.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: millions (0)

This probably refers to a large group rather than to a precise number. Alternate translation: “thousands of thousands” or “great numbers of people”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: one hundred million (0)

This probably refers to a large group rather than to a precise number. Alternate translation: “tens of thousands times tens of thousands” or “uncountable numbers of people”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The court was in session (0)

This means that God, the judge, was ready to investigate the evidence and make his judgment. Alternate translation: “The judge was ready to judge” or “The judge was seated”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the books were opened (0)

These are the books that contain the evidence to be used in court. Alternate translation: “the books of evidence were opened”

Daniel 7:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the animal was killed & to be burned up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “they killed the fourth animal, destroyed its body, and gave it to someone to burn it up” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the animal was killed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

The animal was killed because the judge determined that it was guilty. Alternate translation: “they executed the animal” or “the judge commanded and they killed the animal” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the animal (0)

This refers to the fourth animal that had the ten horns and the horn that spoke boastfully. Alternate translation: “the most frightening animal” or “the animal that had the boastful horn”

Daniel 7:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the rest of the four animals (0)

It may be helpful to your readers to say, “the other three animals.”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: their authority to rule was taken away (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the judge took away their authority to rule” or “their authority to rule ended” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: their lives were prolonged for a period of time (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “they continued to live for a period of time” or “the judge let them live a little longer” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

Most of the text of verses 9-14 is symbolic language with parallel lines that have similar meaning. For this reason, the ULT presents them in poetic form. (See: Symbolic Language and Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I saw one coming & like a son of man (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

The person that Daniel saw was not a normal man, but had a human figure like a man. “I also saw that night someone coming who resembled a son of man, that is, he had a human figure” (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: with the clouds of heaven (0)

Alternate translation: “with the clouds of the sky”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the Ancient of Days (0)

This refers to God who is eternal. See how you translated this title in Daniel 7:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: was presented before him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “they presented this son of man to the Ancient of Days” or “he stood before him” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Authority to rule and glory and royal power were given to him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The one who looked like a son of man received authority to rule, glory, and royal power” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: royal power (0)

This, here, refers to “authority.”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: peoples, nations, and languages (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “nations” and “languages” represent people from different nations who speak different languages. See how you translated this in Daniel 3:4. Alternate translation: “people from different nations and who speak different languages” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will not pass away & will never be destroyed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases mean the same thing. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: that will never be destroyed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “that no one will ever destroy” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my spirit was grieved inside of me & the visions I saw in my mind troubled me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases describe how Daniel was feeling. The second one gives more information about the first one, explaining about his grieved spirit. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my spirit was grieved inside of me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “my spirit” refers to Daniel himself. Alternate translation: “I was very sad inside” (See: Synecdoche)

Daniel 7:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: one of them standing there (0)

This is one of the heavenly beings who were standing before God’s throne. This could mean: (1) these are angels, spirits who serve God (2) these are people who have died and are now in heaven.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to show me (0)

Alternate translation: “to tell me” or “to explain to me”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: these things (0)

Alternate translation: “the things I had seen”

Daniel 7:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: These large animals, four in number, (0)

Alternate translation: “These four large animals”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: are four kings (0)

Alternate translation: “represent four kings”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: four kings that will arise from the earth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here “from the earth” means they are real people. Alternate translation: “four kings who will come to power on the earth” or “four men who will rise up from among the people of the earth and become kings” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 7:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they will possess it (0)

Alternate translation: “they will rule over it”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: forever and ever (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

This repetition of ideas emphasizes that this kingdom will never come to an end. (See: Doublet)

Daniel 7:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: very horrifying (0)

Alternate translation: “very frightening”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: trampled on (0)

Alternate translation: “walked on and crushed”

Daniel 7:20

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the ten horns on its head (0)

Alternate translation: “the ten horns on the head of the fourth animal”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: grew up, and before which the three horns fell down (0)

Alternate translation: “grew up, and about the three horns that fell down in front of it” or “grew up, and about the three horns that fell down because of it”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: before which the three horns fell down (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism

Here “fell down” is a euphemism that means they were destroyed.” Alternate translation: “which destroyed the three horns” (See: Euphemism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the mouth that boasted (0)

Alternate translation: “its mouth that boasted” or “the mouth of the new horn, that boasted”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: that seemed greater than its companions (0)

the horn with the eyes and a mouth seemed to be greater than the other horns

Daniel 7:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: this horn (0)

“this fourth horn.” This refers to the horn that is described in Daniel 7:20.

Daniel 7:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: until the Ancient of Days came, and justice was given (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “until the Ancient of Days came and brought justice” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Ancient of Days (0)

This is a title for God that emphasizes that he is eternal. See how you translated this title in Daniel 7:9.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the holy people received the kingdom (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God gave his kingdom to his holy people” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:23

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

Most of the text of verses 23-27 is symbolic language. For this reason, the ULT presents them in poetic form. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: This is what that person said (0)

This is the person that Daniel approached in Daniel 7:16.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: that person said (0)

Alternate translation: “that person answered”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: As for the fourth animal (0)

Alternate translation: “Concerning the fourth animal” or “Now, about the fourth animal”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It will devour & it into pieces (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This does not mean the fourth kingdom will destroy the planet, but that it will brutally attack, conquer, and destroy all other kingdoms on earth. (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 7:24

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: As for the ten horns (0)

Alternate translation: “Concerning the ten horns” or “Now, about the ten horns”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: out of this kingdom ten kings will arise (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

They will rule one after the other. This can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: “ten kings will rule over this fourth kingdom, one after another” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: another will arise after them (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This other king is not one of the ten. It may be helpful to refer to him as “the eleventh king.” Alternate translation: “after that an eleventh king will become powerful” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He will be different from the previous ones (0)

Alternate translation: “He will be different from the other ten kings”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will conquer the three kings (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

He will defeat three of the original ten kings. It may be helpful to state that those three kings are represented by the three horns that were pulled out. Alternate translation: “he will defeat the three kings that were represented by the three horns that were pulled out” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 7:25

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He will speak words against the Most High (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This means that the newest king will openly disagree with and say bad things about the Most High. (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He will try & into his hand (0)

The words “He” and “his” refer to the newest king, not the Most High.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the holy people (0)

Alternate translation: “God’s holy people”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: change the festivals and the law (0)

Both terms refer to the law of Moses. The festivals were an important part of the religion of Israel in the Old Testament.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: These things will be given into his hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “his hand” refers to his control. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “The newest king will control the religous festivals and laws” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: one year, two years, and half a year (0)

This means “three and half years.” This is not the normal way the Israelites counted. Try to translate it in a way that preserves this way of counting. Alternate translation: “one year plus two years plus six months”

Daniel 7:26

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the court will be in session (0)

This means that the judge will be ready to investigate evidence and make his judgment. Alternate translation: “the judge will judge” or “The judge will sit down”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they will take his royal power away (0)

Alternate translation: “the members of the court will take the royal power away from the newest king”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: royal power (0)

This, here, refers to “authority.” See how you translated this in Daniel 7:14.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to be consumed and destroyed at the end (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “and consume and destroy it in the end” or “and completely destroy his royal power in the end” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 7:27

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The kingdom and the dominion & will be given to the people (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God will give the kingdom and the dominion … to the people” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The kingdom and the dominion (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These two terms mean basically the same thing and emphasize that this will concern all forms of official authority. (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the greatness of the kingdoms (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word greatness, you can express the same idea with an adjective such as “great.” Alternate translation: “everything that is great about the kingdoms” (See: Abstract Nouns)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: of the kingdoms under the whole heaven (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

The idiom “under the whole heaven” refers to the kingdoms on earth. Alternate translation: “of all the kingdoms on earth” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: His kingdom (0)

Alternate translation: “The kingdom of the Most High”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: an everlasting kingdom (0)

Alternate translation: “a kingdom that will exist forever” or “a kingdom that will never end”

Daniel 7:28

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Here is the end of the matter (0)

This means that Daniel has finished describing the vision. Alternate translation: “That is what I saw in my vision” or “This is the end of the description of what I saw in my vision”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my face changed in appearance (0)

Alternate translation: “my face became pale”

Daniel 8

Daniel 8 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

The vision of the ram and the male goat

Although specific interpretation of this vision is not given, most scholars believe Daniel saw Greece overthrowing Media-Persia before breaking up into four kingdoms. One of these kingdoms stopped the temple worship for a while and then it was restored. (See: temple, house, house of God and restore, restoration)

Daniel 8:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

Chapters 7 and 8 are not in chronological order. They happened while Belshazzar was still the king, before the rule of Darius and Cyrus that was discussed in chapter 6. In Daniel’s vision, he saw animals that were symbols of other things. Later in the vision someone explains the meaning of those symbols. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: In the third year (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“In year three” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Belshazzar (0)

This is the son of Nebuchadnezzar who became king after his father. See how you translated this name in Daniel 5:1.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: had a vision appear to me (after the one & first) (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background

This is background information to remind the reader that this is Daniel’s second vision. Alternate translation: “had a second vision appear to me” (See: Background Information)

Daniel 8:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fortress (0)

a walled city that was guarded and protected

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Susa & Elam & Ulai Canal (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Canal (0)

A canal is a narrow man-made waterway.

Daniel 8:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a ram with two horns (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

It is normal for rams to have two horns. These horns, however, have symbolic meaning. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but the longer & passed up in length by it (0)

Alternate translation: “but the longer one grew more slowly than the shorter one, and the shorter one grew to be even longer than it”

Daniel 8:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I saw the ram charging (0)

Alternate translation: “I saw the ram rushing” or “I saw the ram running very quickly”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to rescue anyone out of his hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Rams do not have hands. Here “hand” refers to the ram’s power. Alternate translation: “to rescue anyone from him” or “to rescue anyone from his power” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 8:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: across the surface of the whole earth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-hyperbole

The phrase “the whole earth” is an exaggeration that means he came from far away. Alternate translation: “from far away across the surface of the land” (See: Hyperbole)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The goat had a large horn between his eyes (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Goats have two horns on the sides of their heads. This image should be explained. Alternate translation: “The goat had a single large horn in the center of his head” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 8:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: in a powerful rage (0)

Alternate translation: “and it was very angry”

Daniel 8:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: trampled (0)

to crush something by stepping on it

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the ram from his power (0)

Alternate translation: “the ram from the goat because of his power”

Daniel 8:8

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the goat became very large (0)

Alternate translation: “the goat became very large and strong”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the large horn was broken (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “something broke off the large horn” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: toward the four winds of the heavens (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here “the four winds of heaven” is an idiom that refers to the four main directions (north, east, south, west) from which the winds blow. Alternate translation: “in four different directions” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 8:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but which became very large (0)

Alternate translation: “but it became very large”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: in the south, in the east, and in the land of beauty (0)

This probably means it pointed in those directions. This can be stated. Alternate translation: “and pointed toward the south and then toward the east and then toward the beautiful land of Israel”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the land of beauty (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is a reference to the land of Israel. (See: Idiom)

Daniel 8:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It became so large as to engage in war (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

Here the horn is given qualities of a person and is engaging in war. (See: Personification)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Some of that army & thrown down to the earth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: The horn threw some of that army and some of the stars down to the earth” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: it trampled on them (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

Here the horn is given qualities of a person that tramples on the stars and on the army. (See: Personification)

Daniel 8:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

General Information:

The horn is given qualities of a person. (See: Personification)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Connecting Statement: (0)

Connecting Statement:

Daniel continues describing his vision of the horn (Daniel 8:9).

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the commander of the army (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This refers to God himself, who is the leader of the angel army. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It took away from him the regular burnt offering (0)

Here “took away” means the horn stopped the offering. Here “him” refers to God, the commander of the army. Alternate translation: “It stopped the people from making their regular burnt offering to him”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the place of his sanctuary was polluted (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “it defiled his sanctuary” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 8:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The horn will throw truth down to the ground (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The horn ignoring truth and godliness is spoken of as if it will throw truth to the ground. Alternate translation: “The horn will reject the truth” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 8:13

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Quote: holy one (0)

Alternate translation: “angel”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the handing over of the sanctuary (0)

Alternate translation: “the surrender of the sanctuary”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: heaven’s army being trampled on (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the horn trampling on heaven’s army” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 8:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: 2,300 evenings and mornings (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“Two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings.” Here “evenings and mornings” is a merism that refers to everything in between, which means full days. Alternate translation: “2,300 sunsets and sunrises” or “2,300 days” (See: Numbers and Merism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the sanctuary will be put right (0)

Alternate translation: “the temple will be purified and set in order again”

Daniel 8:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a man’s voice calling between the banks of the Ulai Canal (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here a man is being referred to by his voice. Alternate translation: “a man calling from the Ulai Canal” (See: Synecdoche)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Ulai Canal (0)

A canal is a narrow man-made waterway. See how you translated this name in Daniel 8:2.

Daniel 8:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prostrated myself on the ground (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

This is an act of worship in which someone lies flat on the ground. (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the time of the end (0)

“the final days” or “the end of the world.” This does not refer to the final moment in time, but rather to the events that will happen immediately before the end.

Daniel 8:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a deep sleep (0)

This is a type of sleep when someone is sleeping heavily and does not wake up easily.

Daniel 8:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the time of wrath (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This refers to the time when God will judge. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “the time when God judges in anger” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the appointed time for the end (0)

Alternate translation: “the time when the world will end”

Daniel 8:20

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

In these verses, the angel explains to Daniel the symbolic meaning of the things he saw in his vision. The animals and horns actually represent human rulers and kingdoms. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: two horns—they are (0)

Alternate translation: “two horns—they represent”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the kings of Media and Persia (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This could mean: (1) this refers to the kings of Media and Persia or (2) this is a metonym in which the kings represents the kingdoms of Media and Persia. Alternate translation: “the kingdoms of Media and Persia” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 8:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the king of Greece (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This could mean: (1) this refers to the king of Greece or (2) this is a metonym in which the king represents the kingdom of Greece. Alternate translation: “the kingdom of Greece” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The large horn between his eyes is (0)

Alternate translation: “The large horn between his eyes represents”

Daniel 8:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

In these verses, the angel explains to Daniel the symbolic meaning of the things he saw in his vision. The animals and horns actually represented human rulers or kingdoms. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: As for the horn that was broken & four others arose (0)

Alternate translation: “Where the large horn was broken off, four others arose”

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Quote: four kingdoms will arise from his nation (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

The four horns represent the four new kingdoms. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “they represent the four kingdoms into which the kingdom of the first king will be divided” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but not with his great power (0)

Alternate translation: “but they will not have as much power as the king represented by the large horn”

Daniel 8:23

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: At the latter time of those kingdoms (0)

Alternate translation: “As those kingdoms approach their end”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: shall have reached their limit (0)

Alternate translation: “have reached their full” or “have run their course”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: grim-faced (0)

This means someone who looks defiant, or like he will refuse to obey.

Daniel 8:24

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-symlanguage

General Information:

In these verses, the angel explains to Daniel the symbolic meaning of the things he saw in his vision. The animals and horns actually represented human rulers or kingdoms. (See: Symbolic Language)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but not by his own power (0)

Alternate translation: “but someone else will give him his power”

Daniel 8:25

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will make deceit prosper (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

Here “deceit” is spoken of as if it is a person who will prosper. Alternate translation: “the amount of deception will increase” (See: Personification)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: under his hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “hand” refers to his rule. Alternate translation: “under his rule” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: King of kings (0)

This refers to God.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will be broken (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “he” refers to his power. Alternate translation: “his rule will end” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: not by any human hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “hand” refers to power. This can be also stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “not by any human power” or “by divine power” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 8:26

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: seal up the vision (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The angel speaks about the vision as if it were a scroll that could be closed with a wax seal. This prevented anyone from seeing the contents until the seal was broken. Alternate translation: “close and seal up what you have written about the vision” or “do not tell anyone about the vision now” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 8:27

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: was overcome and lay weak for several days (0)

Alternate translation: “was exhausted and lay in bed sick for several days”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: went about the king’s business (0)

Alternate translation: “did the work that the king had assigned to me”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I was appalled by the vision (0)

Alternate translation: “I was dismayed by the vision” or “I was very confused by the vision”

Daniel 9

Daniel 9 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Daniel told the future

Gabriel told Daniel a prophecy that Jerusalem would be rebuilt. Then later an anointed person would be killed and the worship at the temple stopped. (See: prophet, prophecy, prophesy, seer, prophetess and anoint, anointed, anointing and temple, house, house of God)

The unusual expression of numbers in 9:24-26

This passage uses the expressions “seventy sevens of years,” “seven sevens and sixty-two sevens,” and “sixty-two sevens of years” to denote ““490 years,” “49 years and then 434 years,” and “434 years,” respectively. The original language uses the idea of a “week” to express the idea of a group of sevens, but these numbers are clearly meant to denote years, not weeks. Most translators should use the ways normal in their languages to express these numbers.

Daniel 9:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)

General Information:

Chapters 7 and 8 were not in chronological order. They happened while Belshazzar was still the king. Chapter 9 now returns to the events of the reign of Darius who became king in chapter 6.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: It was Ahasuerus who had been made king over the realm of the Babylonians (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/writing-background

This is background information about who Ahasuerus was. The UST places this in parentheses to make that clear. (See: Background Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who had been made king over the realm of the Babylonians (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “who became king over the realm of the Babylonians” or “who conquered the Babylonians” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: over the realm (0)

Alternate translation: “over the country” or “over the kingdom”

Daniel 9:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Yahweh (0)

This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: there would be seventy years until Jerusalem’s abandonment would end (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“from the time Jerusalem was destroyed, it would remain in ruins for 70 years” (See: Numbers)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: abandonment (0)

this means no one would help or rebuild Jerusalem during that time

Daniel 9:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I turned my face to the Lord God (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “face” represents Daniel’s attention. Alternate translation: “I focused my attention on the Lord God” or “I directed my thoughts toward the Lord God” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to seek him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Those who want to know Yahweh and please him are spoken of as if they are literally seeking to find Yahweh. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

These are symbolic acts of repentance and sorrow. (See: Symbolic Action)

Daniel 9:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I made confession of our sins (0)

Alternate translation: “I confessed our sins”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: you are the one who keeps the covenant and is faithful to love those (0)

Alternate translation: “you do what you said you would do in your covenant, and you faithfully love those”

Daniel 9:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: We have sinned and have done what is wrong (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases express one idea in two different ways for emphasis. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: We have acted wickedly and we have rebelled (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two phrases express one idea in two different ways for emphasis. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your commands and decrees (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

The words “commands” and “decrees” share similar meanings and refer to the whole law. (See: Doublet)

Daniel 9:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: We have not listened to your servants (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “not listened” means they did not obey their message. Alternate translation: “We have not obeyed the message of your prophets” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: spoke in your name (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “name” refers to God’s authority. Alternate translation: “spoke with your authority” or “spoke as your representative” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the people of the land (0)

Here “land” refers to Israel. Alternate translation: “the Israelite people”

Daniel 9:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: To you, Lord, belongs righteousness (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Being righteous is spoken of as if “righteousness” were an object that belongs to Yahweh. If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word righteousness, you can express the same idea with a verbal form such as “righteous.” Alternate translation: “Lord, you are righteous” (See: Metaphor and Abstract Nouns)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: To us today, however, belongs shame on our faces—for the people (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Being ashamed is spoken of as if “shame” were an object that belongs to people. If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word shame, you can express the same idea with a verbal form such as “ashamed.” Alternate translation: “But as for us, we are ashamed of what we have done—the people” (See: Metaphor and Abstract Nouns)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: To us today (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive

The word “us” includes Daniel and the Israelites, but it does not include God. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: belongs shame on our faces (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This idiom means their shame is visible to all. (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: because of the great treachery that we committed against you (0)

Alternate translation: “because we greatly betrayed you” or “because we were very unfaithful to you”

Daniel 9:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Having these traits is spoken of as if they belonged to the Lord. Alternate translation: “The Lord our God is compassionate and forgives” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 9:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: We have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “voice” refers to the commands that Yahweh spoke. Alternate translation: “We have not obeyed what Yahweh told us to do” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 9:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: turned aside (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

The words “turned aside” mean that Israel stopped obeying God’s laws. (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: that are written in the law of Moses (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “that Moses wrote about in the law” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: have been poured out on us (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The abundance of the curse and the oath are spoken of as if they were poured out like water. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “you have brought upon us” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Daniel 9:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: For under the whole of heaven (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “For in the whole world” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: there has not been done anything (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

“nothing has been done.” If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “nothing has happened” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: what has been done to Jerusalem (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “what you have done to Jerusalem” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 9:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: As it is written in the law of Moses (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “As Moses wrote in the law” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: turning away from our iniquities (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here stopping evil activity is spoken of as turning away from them. Alternate translation: “stopping our evil actions” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 9:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Yahweh has kept the disaster ready (0)

Alternate translation: “Yahweh has prepared this disaster”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: we have not obeyed his voice (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “voice” refers to the things that Yahweh commanded. Alternate translation: “we have not done what he told us to do” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 9:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: with a mighty hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “mighty hand” is a metonym for strength. Alternate translation: “with great strength” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: you have made a famous name for yourself, as in this present day (0)

Alternate translation: “you caused people to know how great you are, as you still do today”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: still we sinned; we have done wicked things (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

These two clauses mean basically the same thing and are used together to emphasize how bad sin is. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: we sinned; we have done wicked things (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive

Daniel and Israel sinned and did wicked things, but “we” does not include God. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

Daniel 9:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your anger and your wrath (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

The words “anger” and “wrath” mean basically the same thing and emphasize how terrible God’s anger is when he acts on it. (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your holy mountain (0)

This mountain may be holy because God’s temple is there. Alternate translation: “the mountain where your holy temple is”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: our sins & our ancestors (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-exclusive

Here “our” refers to Daniel and Israel, but not to God. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive ‘We’)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: an object of scorn (0)

Alternate translation: “a target of disrespect”

Daniel 9:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Now (0)

This does not mean “at this moment”, but it is a way to show that the next phase in Daniel’s prayer is about to start.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your servant & his pleas for mercy (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-123person

The words “your servant” and “his” here refer to Daniel. He speaks about himself in the third person as a sign of respect for God. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: pleas for mercy (0)

Alternate translation: “requests for mercy”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: make your face shine on (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The writer speaks of Yahweh acting favorably as if Yahweh’s face shone a light. Alternate translation: “act kindly toward” or “act with favor toward” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your sanctuary (0)

This refers to the temple in Jerusalem.

Daniel 9:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: open your ears and listen (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

To “open the ears” is an idiom that means to listen. These two phrases means the same thing and emphasize Daniel’s desire for God to listen to his prayer. Alternate translation: “please listen” (See: Idiom and Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: open your eyes and see (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

To “open the eyes” is an idiom that means to see. These two phrases means the same thing and emphasize Daniel’s desire for God to pay attention to his prayer. Alternate translation: “notice us” or “pay attention” (See: Idiom and Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: is called by your name (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “name” represents ownership. Alternate translation: “is your city” or “belongs to you” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 9:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: do not delay (0)

This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “act quickly”

Daniel 9:20

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my people Israel (0)

Alternate translation: “the people of Israel to whom I belong”

Daniel 9:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the man Gabriel (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This is the same angel Gabriel who appeared in the form of a man in Daniel 8:16. Alternate translation: “Gabriel, who appeared as a man” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: in the vision at the first (0)

This may refer to the first vision that Daniel had while he was awake. Alternate translation: “in the previous vision” or “in the vision I saw before” or “in a vision before”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: flew down to me in rapid flight (0)

Alternate translation: “flew down to me quickly”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: at the time of the evening sacrifice (0)

The Jewish people sacrificed to God each evening just before the sun went down.

Daniel 9:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: insight and understanding (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

The words “insight” and “understanding” mean the same thing and emphasize that Gabriel will help Daniel to understand the message completely. (See: Doublet)

Daniel 9:23

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the order was given (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God gave the order” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: consider this word (0)

Alternate translation: “think about this message”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the revelation (0)

This refers back to the prophesy of Jeremiah in Daniel 9:2.

Daniel 9:24

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to (0)

God decreed that he would do the things in this verse for the people and the holy city.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Seventy sevens (0)

This is not the normal way the Israelites counted. If possible, try to translate in a way that preserves this use of the number seven. Alternate translation: “Seventy times seven years”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your people and your holy city (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-you

The word “your” here refers to Daniel. The people are the Israelites and the holy city is Jerusalem. (See: Forms of You)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to end the guilt and put an end to sin (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-parallelism

The idea is repeated to emphasize how certain it is that this will happen. (See: Parallelism)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to carry out the vision (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here “carry out” is an idiom that means to accomplish. Alternate translation: “to accomplish the vision” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the vision and the prophecy (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words in this context mean the same thing. They ensure Daniel that Jeremiah’s vision was indeed a prophecy. (See: Doublet)

Daniel 9:25

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: and sixty-two sevens (0)

This is not the normal way the Israelites counted. If possible, try to translate in a way that preserves this use of the number seven. Alternate translation: “seven times seven years … and sixty-two times seven years”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Know and understand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words are used together to make the importance clear. Alternate translation: “You must clearly understand” or “You must know for sure” (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the anointed one (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-symaction

Anointing is a symbolic act to show that someone is chosen. Alternate translation: “the person that God anoints” or “the person that God chooses” (See: Symbolic Action)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: seven sevens & and sixty-two sevens (0)

These added together are 69 of the 70 sevens spoken of in verse 24.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Jerusalem will be rebuilt (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “People will rebuild Jerusalem” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: moat (0)

a deep ditch around a city or building, usually with water in it

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the times of distress (0)

Alternate translation: “a time of great trouble”

Daniel 9:26

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: sixty-two sevens (0)

This is not the normal way the Israelites counted. If possible, try to translate in a way that preserves this use of the number seven. See how you translated this number in Daniel 9:25. Alternate translation: “sixty-two times seven”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the anointed one will be destroyed and will have nothing (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “people will destroy the anointed one and he will have nothing” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the anointed one (0)

Anointing is a symbolic act to show that someone is chosen. See how you translated this title in Daniel 9:25. Alternate translation: “the person that God anoints” or “the person that God chooses”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a coming ruler (0)

This is a foreign ruler, not “the anointed one.” Alternate translation: “a foreign ruler who will come” or “a powerful ruler who will come”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Its end will come with a flood (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The army will destroy the city and the holy place just as a flood destroys things. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Desolations have been decreed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God has decreed ruin for the city and sanctuary” or “God has declared that the enemy army will destroy everything” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 9:27

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Quote: He will & he will (0)

This refers to the coming ruler who will destroy the anointed one.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: one seven & In the middle of the seven (0)

Here “seven” is used to refer to a period of seven years. Alternate translation: “seven years … Halfway through the seven years”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: put an end to (0)

Alternate translation: “stop” or “halt”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the sacrifice and the offering (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These words basically mean the same thing. The repetition is to show that the ruler will prevent all types of sacrifices. Alternate translation: “all forms of sacrificing” or “every type of offering” (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the wing of abominations (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This may refer to the defensive structures on top of the walls of the temple, which are called “abominations” because they are full of idols. Alternate translation: “the walls of the temple that are full of abominations” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: someone who makes desolate (0)

Alternate translation: “a person who completely destroys”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: A full end and destruction are decreed to be poured out (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “God has decreed that he will pour out a full end and destruction” (See: Active or Passive and Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: A full end and destruction (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

These two words or expressions are basically the same. They emphasize how serious and complete the destruction will be. Alternate translation: “Complete destruction” (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the one who has made the desolation (0)

Alternate translation: “the person who caused the destruction”

Daniel 10

Daniel 10 General Notes

Structure and formatting

This chapter begins a section where Daniel is given a prophecy about the future from an angel. This section continues for the remainder of the book. (See: prophet, prophecy, prophesy, seer, prophetess)

Daniel 10:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the third year of Cyrus king of Persia (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“year 3 of the rule of Cyrus the king of Persia” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a message was revealed to Daniel (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can also be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “God revealed a message to Daniel” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: insight (0)

the ability to understand more than what can be seen

Daniel 10:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: delicacies (0)

These are expensive or rare kinds of food. Alternate translation: “fancy foods”

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Quote: until the completion of three entire weeks (0)

Alternate translation: “until the end of three entire weeks”

Daniel 10:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: On the twenty-fourth day of the first month (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-hebrewmonths

This is the first month of the Hebrew calendar. The twenty-fourth day is near the middle of April on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

Daniel 10:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: with a belt around his waist (0)

Alternate translation: “and he was wearing a belt”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Uphaz (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

Uphaz is a place. Its location is not known (See: How to Translate Names)

Daniel 10:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: His body was like topaz (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

His body gleamed with blue or yellow light as if it were made of topaz. Alternate translation: “his body gleamed like topaz” (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: topaz (0)

a blue or yellow gemstone, also known as beryl, peridot, or chrysolite

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his face was like lightning (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

His face shone brightly as a bolt of lightning shines. Alternate translation: “his face shone with light as bright as the flash of lightning” (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: His eyes were like flaming torches (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

His eyes were bright with light as if they were flaming torches. Alternate translation: “his eyes were so bright that it seemed they had torches burning inside them” (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his arms and his feet were like polished bronze (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

His arms and feet were as shiny as if they were made of polished bronze. Alternate translation: “his arms and feet shone like polished bronze that reflects the light around it” (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The sound of his words was like the sound of a great crowd (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

His voice was so loud that it was as if a crowd of people were all talking loudly. Alternate translation: “his voice was as loud as a huge crowd all calling out together” (See: Simile)

Daniel 10:8

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: So I was left alone and saw (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. “No one was with me, and I saw” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my bright appearance was turned into a ruined look (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. “my bright appearance turned into looking ruined” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: my bright appearance (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This describes the face of someone who is healthy. Alternate translation: “my healthy-looking face” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a ruined look (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Someone’s unhealthy, pale face is spoken of as if it were a ruined building. Alternate translation: “pale” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 10:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I fell on my face in deep sleep (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Possible meanings are: (1) Daniel was so scared by what he saw that he deliberately laid on the ground, where he then fainted or (2) Daniel fainted and then fell forward onto the ground. (See: Idiom)

Daniel 10:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: A hand touched me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here a person’s hand represents that person, probably the man whom Daniel saw in Daniel 10:5. Alternate translation: “Someone touched me with his hand” (See: Synecdoche)

Daniel 10:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Daniel, man greatly treasured (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Daniel, you whom God greatly treasures” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: greatly treasured (0)

much valued and loved

Daniel 10:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: you set your mind to understand (0)

Alternate translation: “you determined to understand the vision”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your words were heard (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “God heard your words” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 10:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: prince (0)

Here this refers to a spirit who has authority over a human nation. Alternate translation: “spirit prince”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the kings of Persia (0)

This probably refers to the various kings who ruled over nations in the Persian Empire, and who had to obey the king of Persia.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Michael, one of the chief princes (0)

Alternate translation: “Michael, on of the chief angels” or “Michael, one of the archangels”

Daniel 10:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I turned my face toward the ground (0)

“I looked at the ground.” Daniel may have done this to show humble reverence, or because he was afraid.

Daniel 10:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: One who was like the sons of man (0)

This may refer to the one who had just spoken to Daniel. However, some versions interpret it as referring to a different person. Alternate translation: “This one, who looked like a human”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: like the sons of man (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here this expression refers to human beings in general. Alternate translation: “like a human being” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: agony (0)

severe emotional suffering

Daniel 10:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I am your servant. How can I talk with my master? (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-rquestion

Daniel asks this question meaning that he cannot speak to the angel because he is not the angel’s equal. These sentences can be combined. Alternate translation: “I am not able to answer you because I am only your servant” (See: Rhetorical Question)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: there is no breath left in me (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This idiom refers to breathing. Alternate translation: “I cannot breathe” or “it’s very hard to breathe” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 10:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the one with an appearance of a man (0)

Alternate translation: “the one who looked like a human”

Daniel 10:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Be strong now, be strong (0)

The words “be strong” are repeated for emphasis.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: man greatly treasured (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “you whom God greatly treasures” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: I was strengthened (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “I became strong” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 10:20

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the prince of Persia (0)

Here “prince” refers to a spirit who rules and guards a human nation. See how you translated a similar phrase in Daniel 10:13. Alternate translation: “the spirit prince of Persia”

Daniel 10:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: But I will tell you (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This implies that the angel will tell Daniel about this immediately, before he goes away. Alternate translation: “But first I will tell you” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: what is written in the Book of Truth (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “what the Book of Truth says” or “what someone wrote in the Book of Truth” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who shows himself to be strong (0)

Alternate translation: “who proves himself to be strong”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: There is no one who shows himself to be strong with me against them, except Michael your prince (0)

Alternate translation: “Michael your prince is the only one to show himself strong with me against them” or “Michael your prince is the only one who helps me against them”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Michael your prince (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-you

The word “your” is plural. It refers to Daniel and the rest of the people of Israel. Alternate translation: “Michael, the prince of your people” (See: Forms of You)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Michael your prince (0)

“Michael your guardian angel.” Translate “prince” when it refers to Michael as you did Daniel 10:13.

Daniel 11

Daniel 11 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The final prophecy continues in this chapter. The kings of the North and of the South will fight many wars against each other. The king of the South is probably a reference to Egypt. (See: prophet, prophecy, prophesy, seer, prophetess)

Daniel 11:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)

General Information:

In Daniel 11:1 through 12:4, the one who was speaking to Daniel in chapter 10 tells him what is written in the book of truth. This is as he said he would do in Daniel 10:21.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: In the first year of Darius (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Darius was the King of the Medes. “The first year” refers to the first year that he was king. Alternate translation: “In the first year of the reign of Darius” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 11:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Three kings will arise in Persia (0)

Alternate translation: “Three kings will rule over Persia”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a fourth will be far richer than all the others (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-ordinal

“after them a fourth king will come into power who will have more money than the three before him” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: power (0)

This could mean: (1) authority or (2) military power.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will stir up everyone (0)

Alternate translation: “he will cause everyone to want to fight”

Daniel 11:3

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: A mighty king will rise up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The idea of rising up or standing is often used for someone who becomes powerful. Alternate translation: “A mighty king will begin to reign” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: who will rule a very great kingdom (0)

This could mean: (1) that the size of this kingdom would be very great, or (2) that the king would rule his kingdom with very great power.

Daniel 11:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his kingdom will be broken and divided (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “his kingdom will break apart and divide” or “his kingdom will break apart into pieces” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the four winds of heaven (0)

See how you translated this in Daniel 7:2.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but not to his own descendants (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-ellipsis

The idea of not being divided and shared out is implied here. Alternate translation: “but it will not be divided for his own descendants” or “but it will not be shared by his own descendants” (See: Ellipsis)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: his kingdom will be uprooted for others besides his descendants (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

The kingdom is spoken of as if it were a plant that someone destroyed by uprooting it. This idea can be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “another power will uproot and destroy his kingdom and others who are not his descendants will rule over it” (See: Active or Passive and Metaphor)

Daniel 11:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will rule his kingdom with great power (0)

A commander of the king of the South will become the king of the North.

Daniel 11:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they will make an alliance (0)

The king of the South will make an alliance with the king of the North. This alliance would be a formal agreement that both nations are required to follow. Alternate translation: “the king of the South and the king of the North will promise to work together”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The daughter of the king of the South will come & to confirm the agreement (0)

The king of the South will give his daughter in marriage to the king of the North. The marriage will confirm the agreement between the two kings.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: her arm’s strength & his arm (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “arm” stands for power. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: She will be abandoned (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This appears to refer to a plot to kill her and those who made the alliance. This phrase may be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “They will abandon her” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a branch from her roots (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This family is spoken of as if it were a tree. The roots represent ancestors, and the branch represents a descendant. Alternate translation: “a descendant of her ancestors” or “one of her descendants” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: her roots (0)

The word “her” refers to the daughter of the king of the South in Daniel 11:6.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He will attack the army (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

The word “he” refers to her descendant, and here it also refers to his army. Alternate translation: “He and his army will attack the army of the king of the North” (See: Synecdoche)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He will fight them (0)

Here “them” represents the soldiers of the enemy army. Alternate translation: “He will fight the enemy soldiers”

Daniel 11:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but he will withdraw (0)

The word “he” refers to the king of the North.

Daniel 11:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: His sons (0)

Alternate translation: “The sons of the king of the North”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: assemble a great army (0)

Alternate translation: “gather together many men who can fight in battles”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will flood everything (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

The way the large army covers the land will be like a flood of water. Alternate translation: “will be so great in number that they will cover all the land” (See: Simile)

Daniel 11:11

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will raise up a great army (0)

Alternate translation: “will assemble a great army”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the army will be given into his hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

Here “hand” represents the control of the king of the South. Alternate translation: “the king will surrender the army to the king of the South” (See: Active or Passive and Metaphor)

Daniel 11:12

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The army will be carried off (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This may be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “The king of the South will capture the army of the North” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will be lifted up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Being lifted up represents the idea of becoming very proud. Alternate translation: “will become very proud” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will make tens of thousands to fall (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here falling represents dying in battle. Alternate translation: “will have his army kill many thousands of his enemies” or “will kill many thousands of his enemies” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: tens of thousands (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“many thousands” (See: Numbers)

Daniel 11:13

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a great army supplied with much equipment (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “a great army that has much equipment” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:14

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: many will rise against the king (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here the idea of rising up represents rebelling. Alternate translation: “many people will rebel against the king” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Sons of the violent (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This expression stands for violent people. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: they will stumble (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here stumbling represents failing. Alternate translation: “they will not succeed” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 11:15

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: The king of the North will come (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

Here “king of the North” includes his army also. Alternate translation: “The army of the king of the North will come” (See: Synecdoche)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: pour out earth for siege mounds (0)

This refers to the piling up of earth in order for soldiers to reach the height of city walls in order to attack them. Soldiers and slaves would put loose earth in baskets, carry them to the right place, and pour it out in order to raise the mounds.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: fortifications (0)

walls and other things built to defend a city or fort from enemy soldiers

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will not be able to stand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here standing represents the ability to fight. Alternate translation: “will not be able to keep fighting against them” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 11:16

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the one who comes will act according to his desires against him (0)

Alternate translation: “the invading king will do whatever he wants against the other king”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He will stand in (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here standing represents ruling. Alternate translation: “The king will begin to rule” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the land of beauty (0)

This refers to the land of Israel. See how you translated this in Daniel 8:9.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: destruction will be in his hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “destruction” represents the power to destroy. Also, the power to destroy is spoken of as if it were something that someone could hold in his hand. Alternate translation: “he will have power to destroy anything” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 11:17

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: set his face (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is an idiom for a person deciding to do something and not being willing to change his mind. Alternate translation: “decide” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: come with the strength of his entire kingdom (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This probably refers to military power. Alternate translation: “come with the force of all his army” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a daughter of women (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is an elegant way of saying “a woman.” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 11:18

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will end his arrogance (0)

Alternate translation: “will make the king of the North stop being arrogant”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will cause his arrogance to turn back upon him (0)

Alternate translation: “will cause the king of the North to suffer because he was arrogant toward others”

Daniel 11:19

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will pay attention (0)

Alternate translation: “the king of the North will pay attention”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will not be found (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This is a way of saying that he will die. This idea can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “he will disappear” or “he will die” (See: Idiom and Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:20

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: someone will rise up in his place (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Rising up in a king’s place represents becoming king in place of the previous king. Alternate translation: “another man will become king of the North instead of that king” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: will make a tax collector pass through (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

The tax collector will go through the land forcing people to pay taxes. Alternate translation: “will send someone to make the people pay taxes” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will be broken (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “he” refers to the new king. Being broken represents dying. Alternate translation: “the new king will die” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but not in anger (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This could mean: (1) no one was angry at the king, or (2) that the occasion and cause of the king’s death were kept secret. (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 11:21

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a despised person to whom the people will not have given the honor of royal power (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

The people will refuse to acknowledge him as king because he is not a descendant of kings. Alternate translation: “a person whom the people will despise and will not honor as king” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:22

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: An army will be swept away like a flood from before him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

Being swept away represents being destroyed. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “His army will completely destroy a great army as a flood destroys everything in its path” (See: Active or Passive and Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Both that army and the leader of the covenant will be destroyed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “He will destroy that army and the leader of the covenant” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the leader of the covenant (0)

“the leader of the priests.” This phrase refers to the person who filled the most important religious position that God required in his covenant, that of the high priest.

Daniel 11:23

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Quote: From the time an alliance is made with him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can also be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “When other rulers make a peace treaty with him” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:24

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Quote: will spread among his followers (0)

Alternate translation: “will distribute to his followers”

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Quote: the booty, the plunder, and the wealth (0)

Alternate translation: “the valuable things that he and his army take from the people they defeat”

Daniel 11:25

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Quote: He will wake up his power and his heart (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-personification

Power and heart (that is, courage) are spoken of as if they were people whom someone could wake up in order to make them act. Alternate translation: “He will make himself powerful and will become courageous” (See: Personification)

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Quote: heart (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here this represents courage. (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: with a great army (0)

Alternate translation: “with a great army that he will assemble”

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Quote: will wage war (0)

Alternate translation: “will fight against him”

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Quote: he will not stand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Not standing represents being defeated. Alternate translation: “the king of the South will be defeated” or “his army will be defeated” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 11:26

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Quote: those who eat his fine food (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This refers to the king’s advisers. It was usual for a king’s most trusted advisers to eat meals with him. Alternate translation: “the king’s best advisers” (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: His army will be swept away like a flood (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here the severe defeat of an army is spoken of as a flood of water that completely sweeps it away. Alternate translation: “The enemy will completely defeat his army” or “His enemy will completely destroy his army as a flood destroys everything in its path” (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: many of them will fall killed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here “fall” is an idiom that refers to dying in battle, so “fall” and “killed” mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: “many of his soldiers will die in battle” (See: Idiom and Doublet)

Daniel 11:27

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Quote: with their hearts set on evil against each other (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “heart” represents a person’s desires. Desires are spoken of here as if they were an object that someone could set or place in a certain position. Alternate translation: “each determined to do evil to the other” (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: will sit at the same table (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Sitting at the same table represents the act of talking to each other. (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: but it will be of no use (0)

Alternate translation: “but their talking will not help them”

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Quote: For the end will come at the time that has been fixed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This tells why their meetings will not be successful. Alternate translation: “The result of their actions will only come at the time that God has fixed” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:28

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Quote: riches, with his heart set against the holy covenant (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “heart” represents the mind or thoughts of a person. The idiom “his heart set against” means to be determined to oppose something. This can be stated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: “riches. He will be determined to oppose the holy covenant” (See: Metonymy and Idiom)

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Quote: with his heart set against the holy covenant (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

The king’s desire to act against the holy covenant represents his desire to stop the Israelites from obeying that covenant. Alternate translation: “determined to stop the Israelites from obeying the holy covenant” (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: the holy covenant (0)

Here “holy” describes God’s covenant with Israel. It implies that the covenant should be honored and obeyed because it comes from God himself. Alternate translation: “God’s covenant, which all the Israelites should obey”

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Quote: He will act (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This implies that the king will do certain actions in Israel. Alternate translation: “He will do what he wants to in Israel” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 11:30

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Quote: ships of Kittim will come against him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

The ships represent the army coming in those ships. Alternate translation: “an army will come from Kittim in ships in order to fight his army” (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: Kittim (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

This may refer to a settlement on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean Sea. (See: How to Translate Names)

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Quote: He will be furious against the holy covenant (0)

Alternate translation: “He will hate the holy covenant”

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Quote: will show favor to those (0)

Alternate translation: “will act in favor for those” or “will help those”

Daniel 11:31

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Quote: His forces will rise up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

“His army will appear” or “His army will come.” The word “His” refers to the king of the North. (See: Idiom)

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Quote: the fortress sanctuary (0)

Alternate translation: “the sanctuary that the people use as a fortress”

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Quote: They will take away the regular burnt offering (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Taking away the offering represents preventing people from offering it. Alternate translation: “They will stop the priests from presenting the regular burnt offering” (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: the abomination that causes desolation (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This refers to an idol that will make the temple desolate, that is, that will cause God to leave his temple. Alternate translation: “the disgusting idol that will cause God to abandon the temple” or “the disgusting thing that will make the temple unclean” (See: Idiom)

Daniel 11:32

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Quote: acted wickedly against the covenant (0)

Alternate translation: “wickedly disobeyed the covenant”

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Quote: corrupt them (0)

Alternate translation: “persuade them to do evil”

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Quote: who know their God (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “know” means “be faithful.” Alternate translation: “who are faithful to their God” (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: will be strong and will take action (0)

Alternate translation: “will be firm and resist them”

Daniel 11:33

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Quote: they will stumble by the sword and by flame (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “stumble” is a metaphor that represents experiencing a disaster of one kind or another, including death itself. Here “sword” represents battles and warfare, and “flame” represents fire. Alternate translation: “they will die in battle and by burning to death” (See: Metaphor and Metonymy)

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Quote: they (0)

This refers to the wise persons among the Israelites.

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Quote: they will stumble into captivity and into being robbed for days (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “stumble” is a metaphor that represents experiencing a disaster of one kind or another, including death itself. The phrase “being robbed” can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “they will become slaves and their enemies will rob them of their possessions for days” (See: Metaphor and Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:34

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Quote: they will be helped with a little help (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This may be put into active form. Alternate translation: “others will give them a little help” (See: Active or Passive)

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Quote: In hypocrisy many will join themselves with them (0)

This refers to other people who will pretend to help the wise persons, but not because they truly wish to help them.

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Quote: will join themselves (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “join themselves” represents “come to help.” Alternate translation: “will come to help them” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 11:35

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Quote: Some of the wise will stumble & until the time of the end (0)

This suffering will continue until the time when God has decided that it will end.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Some of the wise will stumble (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “stumble” represents experiencing a disaster of one kind or another, including death itself. (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: so that refining will happen to them (0)

Here “so that” means “with the result that.” Alternate translation: “with the result that refining will happen to them”

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Quote: refining will happen to them, and cleansing, and purifying (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns

These three activities are expressed here as if they were things. However, they may be expressed as actions, either in passive form or in active form. Alternate translation: “they will be refined, cleansed, and purified” or “their suffering will refine, cleanse, and purify them” (See: Abstract Nouns and Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: refining (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This refers to the purifying of metal by melting it in a fire. When God makes his people more faithful to himself, this is spoken of as if they were metal that a worker was making more pure by putting it into fire. (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: cleansing (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This refers to making people, places, or objects suitable for God’s use by separating them from sin and other forms of evil. It speaks of evil as if it were physical dirtiness that could be removed by washing. (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: purifying (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This idea is very similar to refining, discussed earlier. Metal that is refined can also be said to be purified. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: time of the end (0)

“the final days” or “the end of the world.” See how you translated this in Daniel 8:17.

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Quote: the appointed time is still to come (0)

Here “appointed time” implies that God has set the time. This can be put into active form. Alternate translation: “Yahweh has set the time in the future”

Daniel 11:36

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Quote: The king will act according to his desires (0)

Alternate translation: “The king will do whatever he wants”

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Quote: The king (0)

This refers to the king of the North.

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Quote: lift himself up and make himself great (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-doublet

The phrases “lift himself up” and “make himself great” mean the same thing and indicate that the king will become very proud. (See: Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: lift himself up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here this represents becoming very proud. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: make himself great (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here this represents pretending to be very important and powerful. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the God of gods (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This refers to the one true God. Alternate translation: “the supreme God” or “the only true God” (See: Idiom)

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Quote: astonishing things (0)

Alternate translation: “terrible things” or “shocking things”

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Quote: until the wrath is completed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This phrase pictures God as storing up his wrath until his storeroom is completely full of it and he is ready to act according to it. Alternate translation: “until God is completely angry with him” or “until God is angry enough to take action against him” (See: Metaphor)

Daniel 11:37

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Quote: the god desirable to women (0)

This seems to refer to the pagan god named Tammuz.

Daniel 11:38

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Quote: the god of fortresses (0)

The king probably believed that this false god would help him to attack other people’s fortresses and keep his own. Alternate translation: “the god that controls fortresses”

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Quote: instead of these (0)

The word “these” refers to the gods mentioned in Daniel 11:37.

Daniel 11:39

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Quote: he will divide up the land as a reward (0)

This could mean: (1) “he will give the land to his followers as a reward” or (2) “he will sell land to his followers”

Daniel 11:40

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the time of the end (0)

“the final days” or “the end of the world.” See how you translated this in Daniel 8:17.

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Quote: the king of the South & The king of the North (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-synecdoche

These phrases stand for the kings and their armies. Alternate translation: “the king of the South and his army … The king of the North and his army” (See: Synecdoche)

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Quote: will storm against him (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Violently attacking with an army is spoken of as if a storm happened. Alternate translation: “will attack him like a violent storm” or “will violently attack him” (See: Metaphor)

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Quote: flood them (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

When an army overruns a country, it is spoken of as if a flood occurred. See how you translated this in Daniel 11:10. (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: pass through (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Nothing will stop the army. Alternate translation: “will pass through the lands with no one to stop him” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 11:41

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Quote: the land of beauty (0)

This refers to the land of Israel. See how you translated this in Daniel 8:9 and Daniel 11:16.

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Quote: will fall (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here falling represents the action of dying. Alternate translation: “will die” (See: Metonymy)

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Quote: But these will escape from his hand (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “hand” represents power. Alternate translation: “But these will escape from his power” or “But he will not be able to destroy these nations” (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 11:42

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Quote: General Information: (0)

General Information:

This is still about the king of the North.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: He will extend his hand into lands (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

Here “hand” represents power and control. Alternate translation: “He will extend his control over various lands” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: into lands (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

Here the idea is many lands or various lands. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the land of Egypt will not be rescued (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This can be put into active form. Alternate translation: “the land of Egypt will not escape” (See: Active or Passive)

Daniel 11:43

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the Libyans and the Cushites will be in his footsteps (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here “footsteps” represent submission. Alternate translation: “the Libyans and the Cushites will have to serve him” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the Libyans and the Cushites (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-names

“the people of Libya and Cush.” Libya is a country west of Egypt, and Cush is a country south of Egypt. (See: How to Translate Names)

Daniel 11:44

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)

General Information:

This is still about the king of the North.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: he will go out with great rage (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-abstractnouns

If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind the word rage, you can express the same idea with another word such as “angry.” It can be stated clearly that he would go out with his army. Alternate translation: “he will be very angry and will go out” or “he will become very angry and will go out with his army” (See: Abstract Nouns and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: go out (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

To “go out” represents the action of attacking the enemy. (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: to set many apart for destruction (0)

Alternate translation: “to destroy many people”

Daniel 11:45

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Quote: the tent of his royal residence (0)

This refers to the king’s luxurious tents that he lived in when he was with his army in time of war.

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Quote: between the seas and the mountain of the beauty of holiness (0)

This probably refers to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the mountain of the beauty of holiness (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

This refers to the hill in Jerusalem where God’s temple was. See how you translated somewhat similar phrases in Daniel 9:16 and Daniel 9:20. (See: Metonymy)

Daniel 12

Daniel 12 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The final prophecy concludes in this chapter. It tells about the future resurrection of the dead and the final judgment. (See: resurrection and day of judgment)

Daniel 12:1

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Michael, the great prince (0)

Michael is an archangel. Here he is also given the title “great prince.”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Michael & will rise up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

Here “rise up” is an idiom that means to appear. Alternate translation: “Michael … will appear” (See: Idiom)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: your people will be saved (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. You can also make it clear that God will save the people. Alternate translation: “God will save your people” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: whose name is found written in the book (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. You can also make it clear that God writes names in the book. Alternate translation: “whose name God has written in the book” (See: Active or Passive and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 12:2

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: those who sleep in the dust of the earth will rise up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism

The phrase “sleep in the dust of the earth” is another way of referring to those who have died. Here “rise up” is an idiom that means to come back to life. Alternate translation: “those who have died will come back to life” (See: Euphemism and Idiom)

Daniel 12:3

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Quote: Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the sky above (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

This refers to God’s people who will share their wisdom with those around them. (See: Simile)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: those who turn many to righteousness (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

This refers to those who help others understand that they are separated from God, as if they were changing the direction in which they were going. Alternate translation: “those who teach others to live righteously” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: those who turn & are like the stars forever and ever (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-simile

These people are compared to the stars that shine. Alternate translation: “those who turn … will shine brightly like the stars forever and ever” (See: Simile)

Daniel 12:4

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: close up these words; keep the book sealed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy

Here “words” represents the book. Alternate translation: “close this book and keep it sealed” (See: Metonymy)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: time of the end (0)

“the final days” or “the end of the world.” See how you translated this in Daniel 8:17.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Many will run here and there, and knowledge will increase (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

This seems to happen before “the time of the end” during which time the book is sealed. This can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “Before that happens, many people will travel here and there, learning more and more about many things” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Daniel 12:5

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: General Information: (0)

General Information:

Daniel goes on to tell what he saw next in this vision that began in Daniel 10:1.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: there were two others standing (0)

Alternate translation: “there were two other angels standing”

Daniel 12:6

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the man clothed in linen (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

This refers to the angel who appeared to Daniel in Daniel 10:5, not to one of the angels who is standing beside the river. If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the man who was wearing linen clothes” or “the angel who was wearing linen clothes” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: upstream along the river (0)

This could mean: (1) the angel clothed in linen was above the river or (2) the angel was further upstream along the river.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: How long will it be to the end of these amazing events? (0)

“How long will these amazing events last?” This refers to the time from the beginning to the end of the events.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: these amazing events (0)

At the time when the angel spoke to Daniel, none of the events in this vision had happened. This definitely refers to the events in Daniel 12:1-4, and may possibly also include the events in the vision from chapter 11.

Daniel 12:7

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the man clothed in linen (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “the man who was wearing linen clothes” or “the angel who was wearing linen clothes” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the one who lives forever (0)

Alternate translation: “God, who lives forever”

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: it would be for a time, times, and half a time (0)

It is best to leave it ambiguous as to when this begins. If you must choose a starting point, the three and a half years probably start with the events of Daniel 12:1-4.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: a time, times, and half a time (0)

“three and a half years.” These “times” are generally understood to refer to years. One and two and a half equal three and a half.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all these things will be completed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: “all these things will have happened” (See: Active or Passive)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: all these things (0)

At the time when the man clothed in linen spoke to Daniel, none of the events in this vision had happened. This refers to the events in Daniel 12:1-4, and may include the events in the vision from chapter 11.

Daniel 12:8

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: My master (0)

Daniel refers to the angel clothed in linen as “My master” to show respect to the angel.

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: of all these things (0)

At the time when the angel clothed in linen spoke to Daniel, none of the events in this vision had happened. This definitely refers to the events in Daniel 12:1-4, and may possibly also include the events in the vision from chapter 11.

Daniel 12:9

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: for the words are shut up and sealed (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor

The vision that was given to Daniel was not to be explained. The book was sealed and no one could access it. Alternate translation: “for you are to close up and seal the words you have written” (See: Metaphor)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: the time of the end (0)

“the final days” or “the end of the world.” See how you translated this in Daniel 8:17.

Daniel 12:10

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive

Yahweh does the purifying. These three terms mean basically the same thing. Alternate translation: “Yahweh will purify, cleanse, and refine many people” (See: Active or Passive and Doublet)

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: refined (0)

purified by removing anything that does not belong in them

[GL Quote Not Found!]

Quote: but the wicked will act wickedly (0)

The evil people will do evil or sinful things.

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Quote: None of the wicked will understand (0)

The evil people can not understand spiritual knowledge.

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Quote: but those who are wise will understand (0)

Alternate translation: “but those who obey Yahweh are wise and will understand”

Daniel 12:11

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Quote: the regular burnt offering is & is set up (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit

The king of the north is the one who stops the temple sacrifices. Alternate translation: “the king of the North takes away the regular burnt offering and sets up the abomination that causes complete desolation” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

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Quote: the abomination that causes complete desolation (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-idiom

This refers to an idol that will make the temple desolate, that is, that will cause God to leave his temple. See how you translated this in Daniel 11:31. Alternate translation: “the disgusting idol that will cause God to abandon the temple” or “the disgusting thing that will make the temple unclean” (See: Idiom)

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Quote: 1,290 days (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“one thousand two and hundred ninety days” or “twelve hundred and ninety days.” Here “days” refers to a period of time. Most commonly rendered as days, but can also imply years. (See: Numbers)

Daniel 12:12

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Quote: Blessed is the one who waits (0)

Alternate translation: “Blessed is the person who waits” or “Blessed is anyone who waits”

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Quote: who waits (0)

Alternate translation: “who remains faithful”

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Quote: the 1,335 days (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/translate-numbers

“one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days” or “thirteen hundred and thirty-five days.” Here “days” is referring to a period of time most commonly rendered as days. However, it can also imply years. (See: Numbers)

Daniel 12:13

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Quote: You must go (0)

“Daniel, you must go” This refers to Daniel continuing to live and serve the kings until the appointed time of his death.

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Quote: you will rest (0)
Support Reference: rc://*/ta/man/translate/figs-euphemism

This is a gentle way of saying “you will die.” (See: Euphemism)

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Quote: You will rise (0)

This is referring to the first resurrection of the dead when the righteous people will be raised up.

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Quote: the place assigned to you (0)

Alternate translation: “the place God has assigned to you”