DAN 2:28 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 2:1–49: Daniel explained the king’s dream

These Notes interpret Daniel 2:1–49 as a complete narrative unit. However, in some languages it may be helpful to divide this chapter into more than one section and to give each section a separate heading. For example:

The BSB has four sections.
1. Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream (2:1–13)
2. The Dream Revealed to Daniel (2:14–23)
3. Daniel Interprets the Dream (2:24–45)
4. Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel (2:46–49)
The GNT has three sections:

(a) Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (2:1–13)

(b) God shows Daniel what the dream means (2:14–23)

This section tells how Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He asked his advisers to tell him what he had dreamed and its meaning. They were unable to do so, and the king threatened them with death. But God revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel. Daniel then told the king what he had dreamed and what it meant. The king honored Daniel and Daniel’s God.

The climax of this narrative occurs in 2:47. There the king declared that the God whom Daniel worshiped was the greatest of all gods.

Special Translation Problems:

1. Lists: The author of the book of Daniel liked to use lists (2:2, 10). However, the author did not intend for these lists to be complete or exact. The lists usually provide examples of the types of people or things that belong in a certain group or category. The Notes will suggest options on how to translate these lists.

2. Synonyms: The text often uses different terms for similar ideas. For example, there are several verbs that mean “to reveal” or “to make known.” There are three different Aramaic verbs in 2:40 that mean “crush, break to pieces.” In some languages it may be difficult or confusing to use several different words for similar ideas. The Notes will suggest how you might translate these similar words and terms.

3. Poetry: You will need to think carefully about how you will translate the poetic section in this chapter (2:20–23). Authors of Hebrew poetry usually wrote using matching pairs of lines. The relationship between these parallel lines differs. Sometimes the second line repeats the information in the first line using different words. Sometimes the second line contrasts with the first line. Hebrew poetry also has word plays, figurative speech, and alliteration. It may not always be easy to translate these literary features into your language. The Notes will suggest ways of translating the different features of Hebrew poetry. For more information about how to translate Hebrew poetry, see the Bible Translation Handbook of the Psalms. The poetry in 2:20–23 is a song of praise or thanksgiving. If your language has a special poetic form that fits this song, you can use it here.

4. Ambiguity: In the section where Daniel interpreted the last part of the king’s dream, there are a number of ambiguous references. For example, in 2:44a Daniel referred to “those kings” without identifying who those kings were. In 2:44b Daniel spoke of “all these kingdoms.” The ambiguity may be deliberate, since the dream itself is a mystery. It will be important not to over-interpret these passages by assuming a particular historical context. The Notes will suggest several options for how to translate these verses.

5. Repetition: Daniel interpreted the meaning of the first three kingdoms in a very brief way. He used many more words to describe the fourth kingdom (2:36–45). In this section he also repeated much of what was described before. In this way, Daniel emphasized the fourth kingdom as the most important. Some of the repetition in this section emphasizes specific ideas. Sometimes the repetition has another function. You will need to evaluate if this kind of repetition is natural in your language. If not, you will need to find another way to emphasize these ideas.

Paragraph 2:26–28

Daniel told the king that God had revealed to him the king’s dream. He introduced one of the central themes of the chapter: only God can reveal mysteries.

2:28a

But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries,

Only God who rules from heaven can reveal these mysteries.
“However, the true God in heaven can do what human experts cannot do. He is the one who reveals such secrets.

But: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as But here introduces a contrast with the previous verse. Although no human expert could reveal the king’s secret, there is a God in heaven who reveals such secrets. Express this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries: This sentence contrasts God with the various wise men mentioned in 2:27. He could do what they could not do. Translate this in a way that makes the contrast clear. For example:

the God who rules from heaven does reveal mysteries

a God in heaven: This is the same title for God that was used in 2:18. See the Notes at 2:18a. It refers to the true God. It does not indicate there is more than one God. In some languages it may therefore be necessary to say:

the God who is in heaven

In some languages it may be necessary to expand this phrase. For example:

the God who rules from heaven (CEV)

heaven: This refers to the place where God lives, not merely to the sky. See KBT for suggestions on how to translate this key term.

mysteries: This refers to secrets such as the king’s dream and its interpretation. These were things that only God could reveal. See the Notes in 2:18a and 2:27.

2:28b

and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days.

He has given this dream to you, my king, in order that you^(sing) may know what will happen in the time to come.
He has caused you^(sing) to have this dream in order that you^(sing) can know what will happen in the future.

and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as has made known is the same as the verb translated as “will tell” in 2:25c. It means to inform or make something known. In this context it indicates that God gave Nebuchadnezzar the dream in order to let him know future events. God did not tell Nebuchadnezzar directly, and at this time Nebuchadnezzar did not yet know the meaning of the dream. Here is one way to translate this phrase:

He has given this dream to you, king, in order that you may know what will happen in the future.

In some languages, to express this idea, it may be natural to use a different verb tense or to speak of something that God had already done, such as giving the dreamThe Aramaic verb refers to something that God had already done. Most English versions translate it in the present perfect tense, as the BSB does. The reason for this tense may not be clear to readers, since God had not yet revealed the meaning of the dream to the king. Daniel was about to explain it to him. The GW translates this verb in the future tense.. For example:

he will tell King Nebuchadnezzar (GW)

King Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel spoke to the king in the third person. This was a way of showing respect to someone of higher status. see the Notes at 2:27b. If this is not natural in your language, you may use the second person. However, it is important to translate the attitude of respect. For example, you could say:

for God has told you, O King,…G has: “O King live forever.” This may be an assimilation to 2:24.

what will happen in the latter days: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates in the latter days is more literally “at the end of the days.”MT, Theodotian, G. The phrase occurs again in Daniel 10:14. It is traditionally translated as in the latter days.BSB, KJV, NASB, RSV, ESV. This phrase refers to a time in the future when there will be important changes. Scholars interpret it differently here.

The phrase refers in a general way to the future.Le Semeur; GeCL97; Baldwin (p. 93). For example:
in days to come (NIV)
in the future (GNT) (GNT, NLT, KJV, CEV, NCV, NIV, GW, NET)
The phrase is a technical term that refers to the end of time and history.Horst Seebass, TDOT 1 (1974): 207–12. See the discussion in Collins, p. 161. Other passages that interpret the phrase in this way include Ezekiel 38:16, Daniel 10:14, Hosea 3:5, Isaiah 2:2, and Micah 4:1). For example:
in the final days (NJB) (REB, NJB, NRSV, NJPS)

Interpretation (1) is probably best in this context. You may wish to follow the BSB, which uses a phrase which could mean either interpretation (1) and (2). The dream told about what would happen in the near as well as the distant future.

2:28c

Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these:

This is the dream you^(sing) dreamed as you lay on your bed.
I will now tell you^(sing) the vision that you saw while you were on your bed.

Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these: This verse part introduces Daniel’s explanation of the content and meaning of the king’s dream. Other ways to translate this include:

These, then, are the dream and the visions that passed through your head as you were lying in bed (NJB)

The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed are as follows. (NET)

Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed. (NLT)

Your dream and the visions: In this context the Aramaic expressions that the BSB translates as Your dream and the visions probably refer to the same thing. The book of Daniel does not seem to distinguish between the two terms. For the plural visions, see the Notes at 2:1. Nebuchadnezzar probably dreamed the same dream on several different nights.

In some languages it may be necessary to make it clear that the words dream and “vision” have the same meaning here. For example:

This is your dream, the vision you saw (NCV)

In some languages you may have only one word for these two terms. If that is true in your language, you may translate using just the one word. For example:

I will now tell you what you saw in your dream….

that came into your mind: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as that came into your mind is more literally “of your head,” as in the RSV. It indicates that the king did not see the visions with his physical eyes. They occurred while he was on his bed asleep.

as you lay on your bed: This phrase tells where the dream occurred. The king was in his bed. It is implied he was lying there asleep. Other ways to translate this include:

while you were asleep (GW)

while lying on your bed (NCV)

In some languages you may not need to make this information explicit, because it is implied by the context and the words “dream” and “visions.”

were these: This expression introduces the description of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The word these refers to the details of the dream that Daniel would tell the king. Daniel did not actually begin to describe those details until 2:31. He continued the introduction to his speech in 2:29–30. So in some languages it may be more natural to say something like:

I will now explain your dreams and the visions that passed through your mind.

OET-LV English word order (‘Reverse’ interlinear)

Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.

Acknowledgements: The Hebrew text, lemmas, and morphology are all thanks to the OSHB and some of the glosses are from Macula Hebrew.