DAN 2:25 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT Then Arioch brought in Daniel in haste before the king and said thus to him, “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.”

UST So Arioch quickly took me to the king. He said to the king, “I have found one of the men whom we brought from Judah who says he can tell you what your dream means!”

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said this to him: “I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation.”

WMBB (Same as above)

NET So Arioch quickly ushered Daniel into the king’s presence, saying to him, “I have found a man from the captives of Judah who can make known the interpretation to the king.”

LSV Then Arioch in haste has brought up Daniel before the king, and thus has said to him, “I have found a man of the sons of the expulsion of Judah, who makes known the interpretation to the king.”

FBV Arioch immediately took Daniel to the king and told him, “I've found one of the captives from Judah who can tell Your Majesty what your dream means.”

T4T So Arioch quickly took me to the king. He said to the king, “I have found this man, one of the men whom we brought from Judah who says he can can tell you what your dream means!”

LEB Then Arioch _⌊quickly_⌋[fn] brought Daniel in before the king and thus he said to him: “I have found a man among _⌊the exiles_⌋[fn] of Judah[fn] who _⌊can relate_⌋[fn] the explanation[fn] to the king.

2:25 Literally “in haste”

2:25 Literally “the children of exiles”

2:25 Aramaic “Jehud”

2:25 Literally “he will make known”

2:25 Or “interpretation”

BBE Then Arioch quickly took Daniel in before the king, and said to him, Here is a man from among the prisoners of Judah, who will make clear to the king the sense of the dream.

Moff Arioch hurried with Daniel into the presence of the king and said to him, “I have found a man belonging to the exiles from Judah, who can tell the king what the dream means.”

JPS Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him: 'I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.'

ASV Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

DRA Then Arioch in haste brought in Daniel to the king, and said to him: I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Juda, that will resolve the question to the king.

YLT Then Arioch in haste hath brought up Daniel before the king, and thus hath said to him — 'I have found a man of the sons of the Removed of Judah, who the interpretation to the king doth make known.'

Drby Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him: I have found a man of the sons of the captivity of Judah that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

RV Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.
(Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of the captivity of Yudah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. )

SLT Then with haste Arioch brought up for Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, That I found a man from the sons of the captivity of Judah that will make known to the king the interpretation.

Wbstr Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known to the king the interpretation.

KJB-1769 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.[fn][fn]
(Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Yudah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. )

2.25 I have…: Chaldee, That I have found

2.25 captives…: Chaldee, children of the captivity of Judah

KJB-1611 [fn][fn]Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, & said thus vnto him, I haue found a man of the captiues of Iudah, that will make knowen vnto the king the interpretation.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above apart from footnotes)

2:25 Cald. that I haue found.

2:25 Cald. children of the captiuitie of Iudah.

Bshps Then Arioch brought Daniel before the king in all the haste, and sayde thus vnto him: I haue founde a man among the children of Iuda that were brought captiues, that will declare vnto the king the interpretation.
(Then Arioch brought Daniel before the king in all the haste, and said thus unto him: I have found a man among the children of Yudah that were brought captives, that will declare unto the king the interpretation.)

Gnva Then Arioch brought Daniel before the King in all haste, and sayd thus vnto him, I haue found a man of the children of Iudah that were brought captiues, that will declare vnto the King the interpretation.
(Then Arioch brought Daniel before the King in all haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the children of Yudah that were brought captives, that will declare unto the King the interpretation. )

Cvdl Then Arioch brought Daniel into the kynge in all the haist, and sayde vnto him: I haue founde a man amonge the presoners off Iuda, yt shal shewe the kinge the interpretacion.
(Then Arioch brought Daniel into the king in all the haste, and said unto him: I have found a man among the prisoners off Yuda, it shall show the king the interpretation.)

Wycl Thanne Ariok hastynge ledde in Danyel to the kyng, and seide to him, Y haue foundun a man of the sones of passyng ouer of Juda, that schal telle the soilyng to the kyng.
(Then Ariok hasting led in Daniel to the king, and said to him, I have found a man of the sons of passing over of Yuda, that shall tell the soiling to the king.)

Luth Arioch brachte Daniel eilends hinauf vor den König und sprach zu ihm also: Es ist einer funden unter den Gefangenen aus Juda, der dem Könige die Deutung sagen kann.
(Arioch brought Daniel rushings up before/in_front_of the king and spoke to/for him also: It is one/a funds under the prisoners/captives out_of Yuda, the/of_the to_him king(s) the interpretation say can.)

ClVg Tunc Arioch festinus introduxit Danielem ad regem, et dixit ei: Inveni hominem de filiis transmigrationis Juda, qui solutionem regi annuntiet.
(Then Arioch festinus introduced Danielem to the_king, and he/she_said to_him: Inveni man from/about to_the_children of_transmigration Yuda, who/which solutionem to_rule annuntiet. )

TTN Tyndale Theme Notes:

Four World Empires

Two panoramic visions in Daniel present God’s sovereignty over history. Nebuchadnezzar had the first vision (ch 2), and Daniel had another like it (ch 7). In each of these visions, four of the kingdoms of the world are presented.

There have always been questions about the identities of the four empires, but historically there has also been considerable consensus. Hippolytus (AD 170–236), one of the early church fathers, identified the four kingdoms as Babylonia, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome. The church father and historian Eusebius of Caesarea (AD 260–340) initially identified the first kingdom as Assyria (which once also controlled Babylon), but he later agreed with Hippolytus, as did most of the church fathers. Later, Jerome and Augustine accepted this same understanding, and conservative interpreters largely still agree.

In antiquity and in our era, some interpreters have argued that Greece is the fourth empire, treating Media and Persia as separate kingdoms. This interpretation is due in part to denying the possibility of prediction, assuming the book was written before the Roman Empire had arisen. But Media and Persia are usually regarded as one empire, and the Median kingdom had been mostly assimilated by the Persians by the time Cyrus II conquered Babylon in 539 BC.

Rome is then seen as the fourth kingdom, but the bestial, demonic, and inhumane characteristics of the vision extend beyond the historical Rome. The visions also represent a panorama of the whole world and its governments; all will be destroyed and replaced by the Kingdom of God, the “rock . . . cut from a mountain” (2:34). The metals of the statue become progressively less valuable in chapter 2, while the animal imagery of chapter 7 becomes more menacingly fierce, violent, and inhumane. These features represent a deterioration of human civilization across the centuries, even as the Kingdom of God grows in power and stature (2:35).

Passages for Further Study

Dan 2:1-49; 7:1-28

SOTN 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 2:24–25

In this paragraph there is a change of setting. Daniel went to Arioch and told him that he could interpret the king’s dream. Arioch took him to the king.

2:25a

Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king

Arioch immediately took Daniel to the king.
Arioch quickly/hastily led Daniel into the king’s presence.

The Aramaic text connects this verse part with the previous verse part using a common connector that most English versions translate as “Then” to indicate that in this context, it introduces the next event in a temporal sequence. A few versions, such as the NET, translate this connector as “So” to indicate that Arioch brought Daniel to the king as a result of his request. The BSB and some other versions do not explicitly translate it. Introduce what Arioch did next in a way that is natural in your language.

Arioch hastily brought Daniel before the king: Arioch was able to arrange a meeting with King Nebuchadnezzar straight away. He and Daniel went before the king. They probably went down on their knees before the king.

hastily: This word means “quickly, in a hurry.” Here are some ways that English versions translate this:

Arioch immediately took Daniel to the king (GW)

Arioch rushed Daniel into the king’s presence (NJPS)

Antioch hurried Daniel to the king

brought: See the Notes at 2:24d, where the same verb is used. Arioch accompanied or led Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar.

2:25b

and said to him, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah

He said to the king, “I have located someone among the exiles from the land of Judah
He told the king, “It has come to my attention that there is a man among the Judean exiles

and said to him: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as and here introduces the next event in a temporal sequence. In some languages, it may help to add some implied information. For example:

When they arrived , Arioch said to the king

I have found a man: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as found here refers to locating someone that the speaker did not know existed. Arioch did not know that anyone could do what Daniel said he was able to do. In some languages a literal translation may suggest that Daniel was lost or that Arioch had not known where he was. To avoid these wrong meanings it may be possible to translate 2:25b–c as:

I have found out that one of the men brought here from Judah can explain your dream. (CEV)

It has come to my attention that one of the exiles from Judah can tell you what your dream means.

among the exiles from Judah: The term exiles describes people who have been forced to leave their home country. The people of Babylon had conquered Judah and forced many of the Jewish people there to leave their homes and come to live in Babylon. Daniel was one of these people. Other ways to say this are:

one of the Jewish exiles (GNT)

one of the captives of Judah (GW)

one of the men brought here from Judah (CEV)

2:25c

who will tell the king the interpretation.”

who is able to tell Your Majesty the meaning of your dream.”
who can interpret your dream, O king.”

who will tell the king the interpretation: The Aramaic verb form that the BSB translates as will tell here expresses both the ability and the intention to do something. Daniel was able and willing to tell the king the meaning of his dream. Other ways to translate this include:

who can reveal the meaning to the king (NJB)

who can explain the dream’s meaning to you, Your Majesty (GW)

the king: Arioch was speaking to the king, but he referred to him in the third person. This was a common way in that culture to show respect for someone in authority. See the Notes at 2:20b. This may not be natural in your language. If not, other possibilities are:

Use a second-person reference such as “you.” For example:
who can explain the dream’s meaning to you (GW)
Use a special way to address a king directly. For example:
who can tell Your Majesty the meaning of your dream (GNT)
Your Majesty…one of the men brought here from Judah can explain your dream. (CEV)

Use the option that is the most natural in your language.

General Comment on 2:25c

In some languages it may be more natural to change the order of information in this verse part. For example:

I have found a man who can interpret your dream. He is one of the exiles from the land of Judah.