7:1a

In the first year of the reign of Belshazzar over Babylon: This narrative begins with a time indicator. These events took place in the first year of Belshazzar’s reign over Babylon. So they took place before the events of chapter 5, which describe the end of Belshazzar’s reign. They do not follow chronologically from the narrative of chapter 6.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

In Belshazzar’s first year as king of Babylon (NCV)

during the first year of King Belshazzar’s reign in Babylonia (NLT)

Earlier/Previously when Belshazzar was still ruling, and had ruled Babylon for less than a year

7:1b

Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind: The two clauses Daniel had a dream and visions passed through his mind refer to the same event. The repetition serves to emphasize what happened: Daniel had a noteworthy dream. Here are some other ways to translate this:

Daniel had a dream. He saw visions (NCV)

While Daniel was dreaming, he had a vision

Daniel had a dream: The Aramaic clause that the BSB translates as Daniel had a dream is literally “Daniel saw a dream.” Use the verb that is natural in your language. For example:

Daniel dreamed a dream

visions passed through his mind: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as visions passed through his mind is literally “the visions of his head.” The BSB has supplied the verb phrase passed through. The Aramaic word for visions is closely related to the word “saw” (BSB: “had”) in the previous clause. These visions are what Daniel saw in his dream. You may use the plural form (visions) or singular (“a vision”), whichever is most natural in this context.

7:1c

as he lay on his bed: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as as he lay on his bed is literally “on his bed.” This indicates that Daniel was lying down and sleeping at the time he had this dream. Where he was sleeping is not important or in focus. In some cultures people do not sleep on beds. Express the idea that Daniel was lying down to sleep in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

while I was asleep one night (CEV)

7:1d

He wrote down the dream, and this is the summary of his account: The Aramaic text is more literally “he wrote the dream the head of things he said.” There are two ways to interpret this:

1. The two clauses refer to the same action, the recording of the dream that follows. For example:

   Then he wrote down the dream (NRSV) (NIV, NET, NRSV, GW, GNT, possibly KJV, ESV, NLT)

2. The two clauses refer to two different actions. For example:

   then he wrote the dream down and related the following summary of it (NASB) (BSB, NASB, NJB, GNT, REB, possibly RSV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This kind of repetition is a common feature of the writing in the book of Daniel. Here Daniel was introducing the written record of his dream. Other ways to translate this include:

Then he wrote down the dream in summary fashion (NET)

He wrote down the main parts of the dream. (GW)

the summary of his account: The Aramaic phrase that the BSB translates as the summary of his account is more literally “the head/chief of matters/things.” There are two ways to interpret the word “head/chief” in this context:

1. It means “summary, record, report of the most important details.” For example:

   in summary fashion (NET)

   this is the record (GNT) (BSB, KJV, NASB, NIV, RSV, ESV, NET, GW, GNT)

2. It means “beginning.” For example:

   this is how the narrative began (NJB) (NJB, REB)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with the majority of English versions.