DAN 4:12 Interlinear View

SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 4:1–37: God judged King Nebuchadnezzar

The author of Daniel 4 wrote in the Aramaic language. These Notes are based on the BSB, which is based on the Aramaic text called the MT (Masoretic Text). However, the early Greek translation known as the Septuagint is different from the Aramaic text in many places in Daniel 4. Scholars are uncertain why the two are so different. It may be that the Greek translators worked from an Aramaic text that was different from that of the MT. The Notes will discuss the differences between the two texts for certain important passages.

The verse numbers of the BSB and most English versions are different from the verse numbers in the Aramaic text. The NJPS and NJB are two exceptions. They follow the verse numbers in the Aramaic text.Baldwin (p. 107) notes that the chapter divisions in the present Aramaic text were not necessarily those of the original text. The difference in numbering can cause confusion when citing verses in different translations. For example, Daniel 4:1 in the BSB is 3:31 in the NJPS and NJB. Daniel 4:4 is 4:1 in the NJB and NJPS, and so on. When these Notes cite verses in the NJPS and the NJB, they will give both the verse numbers in those versions and the corresponding BSB verse numbers.

Versions give different headings to Daniel 4. For example:

Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (NRSV)

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a tree (NLT)

A letter from Nebuchadnezzar about his insanity (GW)

In some languages it may be more natural that the heading be a full sentence. For example:

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a second dream

Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about a tree

Nebuchadnezzar wrote a letter about how he became insane

Special Problems:

1. Change of Speaker: In Daniel 4, the person who tells the story varies between the king and the narrator. For example:

A. In 4:1–18 the king told what happened to him in the first person.

B. In 4:19–27 the narrator told the story of how Daniel interpreted the king’s dream.

C. In 4:28–33 the narrator told what happened to Nebuchadnezzar.

D. In 4:34–37 the king again spoke directly in the first person.

The Notes will inform you when there is a change of speaker and suggest how to translate these passages.

2. Repetition: When Daniel interpreted the king’s dream (4:19–27), he repeated parts of what the king had previously told him (in 4:10–16). Later, when the narrator told what happened to the king (4:28–33), he repeated what Daniel had said would happen (in 4:25). This kind of repetition creates suspense in the story. Repetition also helps to emphasize the main theme of the account. For example, at the end of the account, the king repeated information from the beginning (4:3, 34). This information is the theme of the chapter: God is sovereign over human rulers.

3. Synonyms: The author liked to use synonyms, different words with the same or similar meaning. In some cases, he used synonyms to emphasize an idea. For example, in 4:37 the king used three synonyms in the same sentence to emphasize the idea of praise. In some languages this may not be natural. The Notes will suggest other ways you can translate synonyms.

4. Commands: In the dream, the angel made a number of commands. The text does not usually say to whom the angel was giving these commands. Sometimes the angel commanded non-living objects to do something. In all these cases, the angel was speaking a message from God. And when God commands that something happen, it will certainly happen. In some languages it may not be natural to use commands in this way. If that is true in your language, you may be able to translate these commands as authoritative declarations. The Notes will give examples of how you may do this.

5. Poetic Parallelism: The author of Daniel 4 liked to use poetic form to communicate ideas. In Aramaic poetry, authors often used pairs of clauses to say the same thing in two different ways. This type of poetry has many different functions. Sometimes the author used poetry to emphasize themes. Other times he used poetry to mark the climax of a section. This kind of poetry may not be natural in your language. The Notes will describe the function of the poetic speech in Daniel. They will also suggest some options on how you might translate this type of poetry in your own language.

6. Form: The author wrote Daniel 4 in the form of a royal proclamation. This proclamation form gives authority to the account. The style of the proclamation is similar to that of a letter, and the beginning of the chapter is similar to other Aramaic letters. The king first identifies himself. Second, he indicates to whom he is writing, that is, those he intends to read his letter. Third, he greets his readers. In your language, people may have a different way of identifying the author or addressee of a letter. The Notes will suggest some options on how to translate this letter style.

7. Key Terms: Two key terms in Daniel 4 are “earth” and “heaven.” Both words have more than one meaning. The Aramaic word that the BSB generally translates as “earth” can mean either “ground,” “land,” or “world.” The Aramaic word that the BSB generally translates as “heaven” can mean either “sky” or “where God lives.” In 4:26 the author used the word “Heaven” to refer to God himself. The author plays on these two words and their meanings to highlight the main theme of the chapter: “God in heaven rules over the affairs of men on earth.” The Notes will explain the meaning of these two key terms in each context.

Paragraph 4:10–12

Nebuchadnezzar described the tree he had seen in his dream.

4:12a

Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant,

Its leaves were beautiful and it had/produced lots of fruit.
It had green, healthy leaves and much fruit,

Its leaves were beautiful: The leaves of this great tree were healthy, green, and flourishing. Describe the leaves on a healthy tree in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

It had fresh green leaves (NLT)

its fruit was abundant: There was a lot of fruit on this tree. Other ways to translate this include:

it had plenty of good fruit on it (NCV)

it was loaded down with fruit (GNT)

heavy with fruit (CEV)

4:12b

and upon it was food for all.

There was enough food to feed everyone.
enough/plenty for everyone.

and: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as and here introduces a result. The tree bore a lot of fruit, so there was enough food for everyone. In some languages it may be natural to say:

and so

upon it was food for all: This clause emphasizes the great amount of fruit. The tree provided plenty of food, enough to feed everyone. Other ways to translate this include:

enough food for everyone (NCV)

enough for the whole world to eat (GNT)

for all: The expression that the BSB translates for all is a general term that can refer to all living beings. In this context, it seems to refer more specifically to people. Here is another way to translate this:

everyone (GW)

General Comment on 4:12a–b

In some languages it may be natural to link the last clause of 4:12a and 4:12b closely together. There was so much fruit that there was plenty for everyone. For example:

it was loaded with fruit for all to eat (NLT)

its fruit was so plentiful that it could feed everyone on earth

it bore so much fruit that everyone on earth could eat from it

4:12c

Under it the beasts of the field found shelter,

Wild animals lived in its shade. (NLT)
The tree provided shade/shelter for wild animals.

Under it the beasts of the field found shelter: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates found shelter here indicates that the wild animals were sheltered and protected from the sun by the branches of the tree. The tree provided them with a shady place to rest. In some languages it may be natural to make the tree the subject of this clause. For example:

for the wild animals it provided shade (NJB)

the beasts of the field: This Aramaic expression, which the BSB translates literally, refers in general to animals that do not live in barns, cages, or other man-made structures. Refer to such animals in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

the wild beasts (REB)

the wild animals (NIV)

4:12d

in its branches the birds of the air nested,

Birds lived/nested in its branches.
Birds built their nests on its branches.

in its branches the birds of the air nested: The Aramaic clause that the BSB translates as in its branches the birds of the air nested means that various birds made their nests in the great tree. Other ways to translate this include:

birds built nests in its branches (GNT)

The birds of heaven nested in its branches (NJB)

and birds nested in its branches (NLT)

the birds of the air: This Aramaic expression, which the BSB translates literally as the birds of the air, refers to wild birds, birds that fly around freely, as opposed to birds kept for food, like chickens.

4:12e

and from it every creature was fed.

Every living being found/received their food on/from the tree.
The tree provided food for all the people and animals.

and from it every creature was fed: This is a passive clause. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb, you can say:

Every living being ate food from the tree.

All animals and people got/obtained food from the tree.

And the tree provided food for all the people and animals on the earth

every creature: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as every creature is more literally “all flesh.” It probably refers to all living beings in general, including people, animals, and birds. Other ways to translate this include:

all living beings (NRSV)

all living creatures (NJB)

All the world (NLT)

In some languages it may be necessary to mention the different types of creature separately. For example:

all people, all birds, and all animals

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.

OET interlinear DAN 4:12

Hebrew word order