DAN 4:15 Interlinear View

4:15 Note: KJB: Dān.4.18

4:15 OSHB variant note: ו/אנתה: (x-qere) ’וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ’: lemma_c/607 morph_AC/Pp2ms id_27eoV וְ/אַ֨נְתְּ

4:15 OSHB variant note: ו/אנתה: (x-qere) ’וְ/אַ֣נְתְּ’: lemma_c/607 morph_AC/Pp2ms id_27Frb וְ/אַ֣נְתְּ

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 4:13–16

In this paragraph the king continued to tell Daniel his dream.

4:15a

But leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it,

But leave^(plur) the stump and roots of the tree in the ground. Bind them with iron and bronze chains,
However, do not dig^(plur) up the stump of the tree or its roots. Instead, fasten^(plur) the stump with a metal band made of iron and bronze
But the stump and its roots must be secured with iron and bronze bands and left in the ground,

But: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as But here introduces a contrast. The watcher contrasted the negative commands in 4:14 with the more positive ones in 4:15a. Show this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.

leave the stump with its roots in the ground, and a band of iron and bronze around it: The holy one commanded that no one dig up the stump of the tree. Those being addressed were ordered to bind the stump and leave it in the ground. There are at least two ways to translate this idea:

Translate it as a command. The watcher gave the command not to dig up the stump of the tree. For example:
leave the stump in the ground (GNT)
Leave the stump and its roots in the ground (NCV)
Do not dig up the stump of the tree or its roots.
Translate it as an authoritative statement. For example:
They (indefinite) are to leave the stump in the ground.
The stump must be left in the ground.
No one will dig up the stump in the ground

Translate this idea in the way that is most natural in your language.

the stump with its roots: The Aramaic text is more literally “the stump of its roots.” The two Aramaic words that the BSB translates as stump and roots are similar in meaning.See Goldingay, p. 80; HALOT, 1953. The first word refers to the main or tap root of the tree. Together they refer to what is left in the ground after a person cuts down a tree. English versions translate this in different ways:

Using two words. For example:
the stump and its roots (NIV)
Use one expression. For example:
stump (GNT)
deep rootft Goldingay

Translate this idea in a way that is natural in your language.

a band of iron and bronze around it: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as a band of iron and bronze around it is literally, “in/with a fetter of iron and bronze.” The word can refer to anything that held something tightly to one spot. It could refer to a shackle, a chain, or a metal band. The word can also refer to one or more fetters.See the Translator’s Handbook on Daniel. People used to put fetters on the legs of prisoners so that they would not run away. The fetters were made of metal and they fastened them around the leg of a prisoner. English versions translate this in different ways. For example:

bound with iron and bronze (NIV)

in fetters of iron and bronze (NJPS)

held by chains of iron and bronze (CEV)

This expression describes what the holy one said must happen to the stump.The image may imply that the stump could not be removed by anyone. There are at least two ways to translate this:

Translate it as a command. The watcher ordered others to fasten a band of iron and bronze around the stump. For example:
fasten it with iron and bronze chains
bind them with chains of iron and bronze
Translate it as an authoritative statement. For example:
They (indefinite) will fasten it with iron and bronze chains.
The stump will/must be fastened with iron and bronze chains.

iron and bronze: The bands were to be strong, made of metal. See the notes on iron at 2:33a and on bronze at 2:32c.

4:15b

in the tender grass of the field.

and leave^(plur) them in the grassy field.
and leave^(plur) it there in the meadow grass.
among/in the wild grass.

in the tender grass of the field: This expression describes where the stump was. The holy one ordered that the stump be left in a field where grass grew. Other ways English versions translate this include:

in the grass of the countryside (NJB)

surrounded by the grass of the field (NET)

In some languages it may be natural to translate this as a separate clause or sentence. For example:

Leave it there in the field with the grass (GNT)

tender grass: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as tender grass may refer to the new grass that grows in the spring.HALOT. If you have a term for this type of grass, you may use it here. Here is another way to translate this:

new grass (NASB)

General Comment on 4:15a–b

In some languages it may be natural to reorder some of the information in 4:15a–b. For example:

^15a-bThe stump must stay there in the grassy field, securely fastened with metal chains.

^15aThe stump must be bound with chains of iron and bronze and left there ^15bin the meadow.

4:15c

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven

Make^(plur) him wet from the dew
He will/must become damp from the dew.
The dew will drench/soak him

Daniel 4:15c begins with a common connector that here introduces the next command that the angel gave. The BSB has not translated this connector. Introduce this next command in a way that is natural in your language.

Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as Let him be drenched is a command. It functions as a declaration of what must and will happen. There are at least two ways to translate this expression:

Translate it as an authoritative statement. For example:
He will become wet from the dew of heaven
Translate it as a third-person command. For example:
Now let the dew fall on this man (GNT)
Translate it as a command addressed to the dew. For example:
Dew from the sky, fall on this man!

In some languages it will be unnatural to command the dew to do something. If that is true in your language, you should follow the first option.

him: The Aramaic pronoun that the BSB translates as him is ambiguous. In Aramaic the word for tree is masculine, so the pronoun could refer either to the stump or to a man. The vision slowly changes from a dream about a tree stump to a dream about a man. The angel began to speak about the man, the ruler, whom the stump represented. Some translations transition to using the pronoun “him” here and some continue to use “it,” that is, the stump. The possibilities are:

use “him.” For example:
Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. (ESV) (BSB, NIV, NASB, ESV, RSV, NRSV, REB, NLT)
use “it.” For example:
Let it become damp with the dew of the sky (NET) (NJB, KJV, NET, GW)
make a sharp change with an explicit reference to a man. For example:
Let the man become wet from dew (NCV) (NCV, GNT, CEV)

If you have a third person pronoun that can refer to either the stump or to a man, you can use that here. Try to make the transition as gradual as possible. If you must choose, it is probably best to use a noun or pronoun that refers specifically to a man. For example:

Now let the dew fall on this man (GNT)

Let him be wet with the dew of heaven (RSV)

be drenched: This is a passive verb. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Using a passive verb. For example:
Let him be bathed with the dew of heaven (NRSV)
unprotected from the dew (CEV)
Using an active verb. For example:
let the man become wet with dew (NCV)
let the dew fall on this man (GNT)

with the dew of heaven: dew refers to the moisture that appears during the night in little drops on plants and on the ground. If you do not have a word that means dew, you may be able to say:

with the water that comes at night

of heaven: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as heaven here means “sky, air.” In some languages the idea will be implied and can be left untranslated. For example:

the dew (GNT)

4:15d

and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth.

and make^(plur) him live outside with the wild animals and plants.
He will/must live outdoors with the wild animals/creatures and plants.
as his home will be with the beasts, among the plants.

and graze with the beasts on the grass of the earth: The Aramaic text is more literally “and his portion/lot with the animals in the grass of the earth.” The holy one gave the command that the man live with the wild animals in the grasslands. This command functions as a declaration of what must and would take place. There are again several ways to translate this command. For example:

Translate this as a command
let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth (NIV)
let him live with the animals and the plants (GNT)
Translate this as an authoritative statement
He must/will live with the animals and plants

Continue to use the form that is most natural in your language to express this idea.

with the beasts: See the Notes at 4:12c.

(NIV:) live with the animals: There are two ways to interpret the Aramaic word that the NIV translates as live It literally refers to having part or share of something. The possibilities are:

It refers to the kind of life that God determines that a person will live.It can mean “destiny.” See ḥalaq TDOT 4:448–49. The man will live with the animals, like an animal himself. For example:
let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field (NLT) (NIV, NLT, KJV, RSV, GNT, CEV, NCV, NET)
It refers to sharing the food of the wild animals. For example:
eating grass (NJB) (BSB, NJB, GW, possibly NASB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions. This interpretation can include the idea of eating the food that wild animals eat.

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