OET interlinear DAN 12:2

12:2a

And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: This verse part is a figurative way of referring to resurrection from the dead. Death is spoken of as sleep, and resurrection is spoken of as an awakening. There are at least two ways to translate this figure of speech:

• Keeping the metaphor. For example:

  Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake. (NJPS)

  Many sleeping in the ground will wake up. (GW)

• Explaining or translating the meaning of the figure of speech. For example:

  Many of those whose bodies lie dead and buried will rise up. (NLT)

  Many of those who lie dead in the ground will rise from death. (CEV)

many: Some scholars think that the Hebrew word that the BSB literally translates as many is another way of saying “everyone.” However, all the English translations consulted say many, and it is recommended that you translate it in this way.

the dust of the earth: This is more literally “the land of dust.” It refers to the graves in the earth, the places where dead people are buried. Here is another way to translate this:

the dusty ground (NET)

12:2b

some to everlasting life: Here the verb “will awake” is implied from the previous verse part. The verb “to receive” or “to enjoy” is implied before the phrase everlasting life In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a separate sentence and supply one or both verbs. For example:

Some will awaken to receive everlasting life

Some of them will wake up to have life forever (NCV)

If you have not translated the metaphor of sleep in 12:2a literally, then here you may say:

some of them will be given eternal life (CEV)

some will enjoy eternal life (GNT)

12:2c

but others to shame and everlasting contempt: Here also the verb “to receive” is implied. The verb “will awaken” is probably implied. For example:

but some will wake up to find shame and disgrace forever (NCV)

Here are some other ways to translate this:

other to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence (NJPS)

and some will suffer eternal disgrace (GNT)

and others will receive nothing but eternal shame and disgrace (CEV)

shame and everlasting contempt: The two nouns shame and contempt are close synonyms. They both refer to a situation in which others rightly scorn and despise someone. The adjective everlasting applies to both shame and contempt, not just to contempt. If a literal translation is unnatural or would imply that the speaker is referring to two different things, only one of which is permanent, it may be best to combine the two ideas into one. For example:

eternal disgrace (GNT)