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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Dan C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12
Dan 2 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41 V43 V47 V49
OET (OET-LV) As_to because that you_saw that from_(the)_mountain it_was_cut_out a_stone which not was_by_hands and_it_shattered the_iron the_bronze the_clay the_silver and_the_gold god great he_has_made_known to_the_king what that it_will_be after this and_is_certain the_dream and_is_trustworthy interpretation_of_its.
OET (OET-RV) Just as you saw that a stone was supernaturally cut out of the mountain, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the powerful God has revealed to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
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.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream (2:1–13)
The Dream Revealed to Daniel (2:14–23)
Daniel Interprets the Dream (2:24–45)
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)
(c) Daniel tells the king the dream and explains it (2:24–49)
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.
This paragraph introduces the new topic of a fifth kingdom. This kingdom will be different from all the other kingdoms. God himself will establish it, and it will last forever.
And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands,
¶ “This is the meaning of the rock that someone cut from a mountain. It was not a human being who did this. It was God.
¶ “This is what the dream meant when you saw someone cut out a stone from a mountain. It was not a human who cut it out. God made it happen.
And just as you saw: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as And just as you saw here introduces a summary statement. Daniel identified the new kingdom with the symbol of the rock in the king’s dream. Other ways to translate this include:
This is the meaning of the vision (NIV)
This is the meaning of your vision (REB)
That is the meaning of… (NLT)
Introduce this summary statement in a way that is natural in your language.
a stone being cut out of the mountain: See the Notes at 2:34a. See how you translated this idea there. For example:
Use a passive, as most English versions do. For example:
a stone was cut from a mountain (NET)
Use an indefinite form. For example:
someone/he cut out a stone
You may have another way in your language to imply that God caused this to happen. You should not make this explicit.
without human hands: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as without human hands is literally “not by hands” (NJPS). The phrase indicates that a human being did not do this. It implies that a supernatural being cut the rock from the mountain. See the Notes at 2:34a. Translate here as you did there. If you have a way of implying that God did this, without saying so explicitly, you should use that here.
and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold,
That rock smashed the statue that was made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and baked clay.
Then the stone struck the statue made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and baked clay and completely destroyed it.
and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold: Daniel continued to summarize what the king had seen in his dream. Other ways to translate this include:
It smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. (GW)
and then shattering the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold (REB)
that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold (NLT)
the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold: See the Notes on these terms at 2:32a, 2:32b, 2:32c, 2:33a. Here the materials are listed in almost reverse order, from the bottom to the top of the statue. The significance of this is not known, but it is good to maintain this order. In some languages it may be natural to say:
the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold (NLT)
so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.
The great God has showed you(sing) the king what will happen in the future.
The great God has revealed to Your Majesty what will happen in the future.
so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future: Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that his dream was a message from God. God was letting Nebuchadnezzar know what was going to happen in the coming years. Other ways to translate this include:
The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. (NLT)
In this way the great God showed you what will happen. (NCV)
The great God is telling Your Majesty what will happen in the future. (GNT)
the great God: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as God can refer to a pagan god or the God of Israel. In this context, Daniel refers to the God of Israel. The BSB has supplied the definite article the. You should supply it if that gives the correct meaning, that there is one God, and he is great. It is important to make sure that your translation does not imply that there is another God who is not great.
great: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as great here is a title of respect for God and indicates that he is great in power. It is the same adjective that is used to describe an earthly king in 2:10b. In your translation, use a word that is appropriate for speaking highly of God’s power. It need not be the same word that you used to describe a human king. Here is another way to translate this:
mighty (REB)
has told the king: God had informed the king, through his dream, of future events. Use a verb that is appropriate for revealing information indirectly, such as through a dream. For example:
has let the king know
Daniel addressed the king in the third person in order to show respect. If this is not natural in your language, you can use the second person. If your language has a special way to show respect to someone who has a higher status, you should use it here. For example:
has shown your Majesty (NLT)
has revealed to you, sir
what will happen in the future: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as in the future is more literally “after this.” Other ways to translate this include:
what will happen in the future (NLT)
what will happen (NCV)
future events
The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
I have told you the truth about your dream, and you can trust the interpretation.”
This was your(sing) dream, and I have interpreted it correctly/accurately.”
This is exactly what you dreamed, and I have explained to you(sing) its true meaning.”
The dream is true: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as true means “sure, certain.” There are two ways to interpret the clause that the BSB translates as The dream is true:
God had sent the dream and it gave an accurate description of future events. For example (combining the two clauses in 2:45d):
The dream and its interpretation are true and trustworthy. (REB) (CEV, NJB, REB, probably NCV, NLT, GW, REB)
It indicates that Daniel had accurately revealed the content of the dream. This was truly the dream. For example:
I have told you exactly what you dreamed (GNT) (GNT, probably NET)
Most English versions are similar to the BSB and can be understood either way, although interpretation (1) is the more natural understanding. It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions.
and its interpretation is trustworthy: The phrase and its interpretation is trustworthy means “and the way I have interpreted the dream is accurate.” Daniel claimed he had interpreted the dream correctly. The king could trust what he had said. Other ways to translate this include:
and its interpretation is reliable (NET)
and its interpretation sure (NIV)
and you can trust that this is the meaning (GW)
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
מִטּוּרָא֩ אִתְגְּזֶ֨רֶת אֶ֜בֶן דִּי־לָ֣א בִידַ֗יִן
from,(the),mountain cut_out stone that/who not [was]_by,hands
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”
2:45 The Babylonians often pictured the earth as a mountain (or ziggurat); hence, the rock would cover or replace the entire earth.
• The dream is true: The dream, clearly explained by divine revelation, was truth from God.
• its meaning is certain: God guaranteed that what the dream communicated would certainly take place.
OET (OET-LV) As_to because that you_saw that from_(the)_mountain it_was_cut_out a_stone which not was_by_hands and_it_shattered the_iron the_bronze the_clay the_silver and_the_gold god great he_has_made_known to_the_king what that it_will_be after this and_is_certain the_dream and_is_trustworthy interpretation_of_its.
OET (OET-RV) Just as you saw that a stone was supernaturally cut out of the mountain, and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the powerful God has revealed to the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
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.
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