DAN 4:16 Parallel Verse View

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

OET (OET-RV) Let his mind[fn] be changed from a man to an animal as seven periods pass over him.

4:16 It seems now that the tree represented a man.

4:16 Note: KJB: Dān.4.19

4:16 OSHB variant note: מרא/י: (x-qere) ’מָרִ֕/י’: lemma_4756 n_0.1 morph_ANcmsc/Sp1cs id_27hEY מָרִ֕/י

4:16 OSHB variant note: ל/שנאי/ך: (x-qere) ’לְ/שָֽׂנְאָ֖/ךְ’: lemma_l/8131 n_0.0 morph_AR/Vqrmpc/Sp2ms id_27NzX לְ/שָֽׂנְאָ֖/ךְ

4:16 OSHB variant note: ל/ערי/ך: (x-qere) ’לְ/עָרָֽ/ךְ’: lemma_l/6146 n_0 morph_AR/Ncmsc/Sp2ms id_27otL לְ/עָרָֽ/ךְ

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 Let his mind be changed from that of a man, and let the mind of an animal be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.

UST That tree seems to have represented a man, because the angel also said, “Cause that man to live out in the fields among the animals and plants. Cause the dew from the sky to make his body damp each morning. Do not allow him to continue to have a mind like humans; instead, cause him to have a mind like animals have, for seven years.

BSB Let his mind be changed from that of a man,
⇔ and let him be given the mind of a beast
⇔ till seven times pass him by.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him. Then let seven times pass over him.

WMBB (Same as above)

NET Let his mind be altered from that of a human being,
⇔ and let an animal’s mind be given to him,
⇔ and let seven periods of time go by for him.

LSV his heart from man’s is changed, and the heart of a beast is given to him, and seven times pass over him;

FBV Let his mind become like that of an animal. Let him be like this for seven times.[fn]

4:16 The most common interpretation of “times” is “years,” and this is the understanding of the Septuagint, Josephus, and traditional Jewish commentators.

T4T That tree seems to have represented a man, because the angel also said, “Cause that man to live out in the fields among the animals and plants. Cause the dew from the sky to make his body damp each morning. Do not allow him to continue to have a mind like humans; instead, cause him to have a mind like animals have, for seven years.

LEB • Let his mind be changed from that of a human,[fn] and let the mind of an animal be given to him,
• and let seven times pass over him.

4:14 Or “the human”

BBE Let his heart be changed from that of a man, and the heart of a beast be given to him; and let seven times go by him.

Moff let his mind cease to be human, let an animal’s mind be given him, and let seven years pass over him.

JPS (4-13) Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

ASV let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

DRA Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began silently to think within himself for about one hour: and his thoughts troubled him. But the king answering, said: Baltassar, let not the dream and the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thy enemies.

YLT his heart from man's is changed, and the heart of a beast is given to him, and seven times pass over him;

Drby Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

RV let his heart be changed from man’s and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

SLT Its heart shall be changed from man, and the heart of a beast shall be given to it; and seven times shall pass over him.

Wbstr Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.

KJB-1769 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

KJB-1611 Let his heart bee changed from mans, and let a beasts heart be giuen vnto him, and let seuen times passe ouer him.
(Let his heart be changed from mans, and let a beasts/animals heart be given unto him, and let seven times pass over him.)

Bshps Let his heart be chaunged from mans nature and let a beastes heart be geued vnto hym, and let seuen times be passed ouer hym.
(Let his heart be changed from mans nature and let a beasts/animals heart be geued unto him, and let seven times be passed over him.)

Gnva Then Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar) held his peace by the space of one houre, and his thoughts troubled him, and the King spake and said, Belteshazzar, let neither the dreame, nor the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and saide, My lord, the dreame be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
(Then Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar) held his peace by the space of one hour, and his thoughts troubled him, and the King spake and said, Belteshazzar, let neither the dream, nor the interpretation thereof trouble thee/you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee/you, and the interpretation thereof to thine/your enemies. )

Cvdl That mans herte off his shall be taken from him, and a beastes herte shall be geuen him, till seuen yeares be come and gone vpon him.
(That mans heart off his shall be taken from him, and a beasts/animals heart shall be given him, till seven years be come and gone upon him.)

Wycl Thanne Danyel, to whom the name was Balthasar, began to thenke priueli with ynne hym silf, as in oon our, and hise thouytis disturbliden hym. Forsothe the kyng answeride, and seide, Balthasar, the dreem and the interpretyng therof disturble not thee. Balthasar answeride, and seide, My lord, the dreem be to hem that haten thee, and the interpretyng therof be to thin enemyes.
(Then Daniel, to whom the name was Balthasar, began to think privily/secretly within himself, as in one our, and his thoughts disturbedn him. For_certain/Truly the king answered, and said, Balthasar, the dream and the interpreting thereof disturble not thee/you. Balthasar answered, and said, My lord, the dream be to hem that hate thee/you, and the interpreting thereof be to thine/your enemies.)

Luth Da entsetzte sich Daniel, der sonst Beltsazar heißt, bei einer Stunde lang, und seine Gedanken betrübten ihn. Aber der König sprach: Beltsazar, laß dich den Traum und seine Deutung nicht betrüben! Beltsazar fing an und sprach: Ach, mein Herr, daß der Traum deinen Feinden und seine Deutung deinen Widerwärtigen gälte!
(So horrified itself/yourself/themselves Daniel, the/of_the otherwise Beltsazar is_called, at/in one/a hour long, and his mind/thoughts saddened him/it. But the/of_the king spoke: Beltsazar, let you/yourself the dream and his interpretation not betrüben! Beltsazar caught at/to and spoke: Oh_dear, my Lord, that the/of_the dream your(s) enemies and his interpretation your(s) disgusting_(thing/one) applied!)

ClVg Tunc Daniel, cujus nomen Baltassar, cœpit intra semetipsum tacitus cogitare quasi una hora: et cogitationes ejus conturbabant eum. Respondens autem rex, ait: Baltassar, somnium et interpretatio ejus non conturbent te. Respondit Baltassar, et dixit: Domine mi, somnium his, qui te oderunt, et interpretatio ejus hostibus tuis sit.
(Then Daniel, whose name Baltassar, he_began inside oneself tacitus to_think as_if together hour: and thoughts his conturbabant him. Respondens however king, he_said: Baltassar, a_dream/sleep and interpretation his not/no conturbent you(sg). Respondit Baltassar, and he/she_said: Master my, a_dream/sleep his, who/which you(sg) they_hate, and interpretation his enemies yours let_it_be. )

SOTN 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.

4:16a

Let his mind be changed from that of a man,

Change^(plur) his mind from a human mind
He will no longer think like a human
His thinking/mind must no longer be that of a human being.

Let his mind be changed from that of a man: This verse part has the form of a command. However, this is not a command to someone to do something. It functions as an authoritative declaration. The man’s mind was going to change. This must happen. There are at least two ways to translate this:

Translate it as a command. For example:
Let him have the mind of an animal (NLT)
Give him the mind of an animal (CEV)
Let him not think like a human any longer (NCV)
Translate it as an authoritative statement. For example:
His mind will cease to be human (REB)
He is to receive the mind of an animal

Translate this idea in the way that is most natural in your language. Note that the expression does not mean that the man received an animal’s brain. It means that he lost the ability to think clearly and rationally, like a human being, and he acted as if he was an animal.

Let his mind be changed: This is a passive clause. There are at least two ways to translate it:

Using a passive verb.
His thinking must be changed
Let his mind be altered (NET)
Using an active verb. For example:
Let his mind change
He will no longer think like a man
he will not have a human mind (GNT)

his mind: This phrase makes it clear that the speaker was now referring to a human being, not a tree stump. The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as mind is literally “heart.” In the Aramaic language, the heart was the place in the body where people thought, made decisions, and felt emotions. It referred to the source of thoughts and desires. Use the expression that is natural in your language. For example:

a human heart (NJB)

think like a human (NCV)

man: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as man can refer to any human being, male or female. The king was a man, not a woman, but that is not the point here. The contrast here is between man and animal. So in most languages it is good to follow the NRSV and say:

human (NRSV)

4:16b

and let him be given the mind of a beast

to an animal mind.
but/and he will think like an animal.
Instead, his mind/thinking must become that of a wild beast/creature.

and: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates and in this context introduces the second part of the angel’s command. It involves a contrast between a human and an animal mind. In some languages it may therefore be natural to follow the GNT and say:

but (GNT)

let him be given the mind of a beast: This is a command. Like the earlier commands, it functions as an authoritative declaration of what must happen. There are at least two ways to translate this:

Translate it as a command. The angel commanded that the man begin to think and act like an animal. For example:
and give it the mind of an animal (GW)
Translate it as an authoritative statement. For example:
and he will think like an animal
and he is to begin thinking like a beast

be given the mind of a beast: The verb be given is passive. In some languages it may be more natural to use an active verb. For example:

let him have the mind of an animal (NCV)

he must/will receive the mind/thinking of a wild creature

he is to start thinking like an animal thinks

the mind of a beast: The Aramaic expression that the BSB translates as the mind of a beast is literally “animal’s heart.” See the Notes on “mind” at 4:16a. Here is another way to translate this:

the heart of a beast (NJB)

General Comment on 4:16a–b

In some languages it may be more natural to combine Daniel 4:16a–b into one clause with one verb. For example:

Give him the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human

In place of his human mind, he must receive an animal’s mind.

He must/will think like an animal instead of a human

4:16c

till seven times pass him by.

Cause him to be like this for seven periods of time.
He will/must stay in this condition until seven time periods are complete/over.
This will last for seven years.

till seven times pass him by: The holy one commanded that the man remain in this condition, with the mind of an animal, for seven periods of time. He did not say how long these time periods were. There are several different interpretations. For example:

It refers to a definite but unspecified period of time, as in 2:8. For example:
seven time periods (GW) (BSB, RSV/NRSV, NIV, NJB, KJV, REB, GW, NLT, NET)
It refers to a year.The Translator’s Handbook on Daniel. See the ancient Greek translation LXX. HALOT has “years” and cites Daniel 4:13, 20, 22, 29, and 7:25 “three and a half years.” Josephus, Jerome and medieval Jewish commentators follow this view. The duration of Nabonidus’s sickness in 4QPrNab is seven years. For example:
for seven years (GNT) (GNT, CEV, NCV)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). In some languages it may not be possible to refer to an indefinite period of time. If that is the case in your language, you can follow interpretation (2). However, if you follow the second interpretation, you should put interpretation (1) in a footnote.

pass him by: The Aramaic verb that the BSB translates as pass him means “come in turns, succeed each other.” In this context, the seven periods of time would happen one after another while the man lived in the field with the animals. Other ways to translate this include:

pass over him (NRSV)

go by for him (NET)

General Comment on 4:16a–c

In some languages it may be natural to reorder the information in 4:16a–c, translating the time periods involved first. For example:

^16cFor seven periods of time, ^16blet him have the mind of a wild animal ^16ainstead of the mind of a human. (NLT)

^16cFor seven years ^16ahe will not have a human mind, ^16bbut the mind of an animal. (GNT)