DAN 4:7 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) When those magicians, fortune-tellers, sorcerers and astrologers arrived, I told them the dream, but they didn’t know the interpretation.

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 the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretion.

UST All the men who worked magic, the fortune-tellers, the men who worked sorcery, and men who studied the stars came to me. I told them what I had dreamed, but they could not tell me what it meant.

BSB When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers,[fn] and diviners came in, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me.

OEB No OEB DAN book available

WEBBE Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in; and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.

WMBB Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Kasdim, and the soothsayers came in; and I told them the dream, but they didn’t make known to me its interpretation.

NET When the magicians, astrologers, wise men, and diviners entered, I recounted the dream for them. But they were unable to make known its interpretation to me.

LSV Then coming up are the scribes, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and the dream I have told before them, and its interpretation they are not making known to me.

FBV When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in I told them the dream, but they couldn't explain to me what it meant.

T4T All the men who worked magic, the fortune-tellers, the men who worked sorcery, and men who studied the stars came to me. I told them what I had dreamed, but they could not tell me what it meant.

LEB Then the magicians,[fn] the conjurers,[fn] the _⌊astrologers_⌋[fn] and the diviners came in and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its explanation.[fn]

4:7 Or “soothsayer-priests”

4:7 Or “enchanters”

4:7 Literally “Chaldeans”

4:7 Or “interpretation”

BBE Then the wonder-workers, the users of secret arts, the Chaldaeans, and the readers of signs came in to me: and I put the dream before them but they did not make clear the sense of it to me.

Moff In came the magicians, the enchanters, the diviners, and the astrologers; but, when I told them the dream, they could not tell me the meaning of it;

JPS (4-4) Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

ASV Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

DRA This was the vision of my head in my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was exceeding great.

YLT Then coming up are the scribes, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and the dream I have told before them, and its interpretation they are not making known to me.

Drby Then came in the scribes, the magicians, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation of it.

RV Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

SLT At that time the sacred scribes, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners, coming in: and I told the dream before them: and its interpretation they making not known to me.

Wbstr Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the sooth-sayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me the interpretation of it.

KJB-1769 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

KJB-1611 Then came in the Magicians, the Astrologers, the Caldeans, and the Southsayers: and I tolde the dreame before them; but they did not make knowen vnto mee the interpretation thereof.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from capitalisation)

Bshps So came the wyse men, the soothsayers, the Chaldeans, and wisardes: to whom I tolde the dreame, but they coulde not shewe me the interpretation therof.
(So came the wise men, the soothsayers, the Chaldeans, and wisardes: to whom I told the dream, but they could not show me the interpretation thereof.)

Gnva Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed. And beholde, I sawe a tree in the middes of the earth and the height thereof was great:
(Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed. And behold, I saw a tree in the midst of the earth and the height thereof was great: )

Cvdl So there came the soythsayers, charmers, Caldees and coniurers of deuels: to whom I tolde the dreame, but what it betokened, they coude not shewe me:
(So there came the soothsayers, charmers, Chaldees and conjurers of devils: to whom I told the dream, but what it betokened, they could not show me:)

Wycl This is the visioun of myn heed in my bed. Y siy, and lo! a tree was in the myddis of erthe, and the hiynesse therof was ful greet.
(This is the vision of mine heed in my bed. I see, and lo! a tree was in the midst of earth, and the highness thereof was full great.)

Luth Dies ist aber das Gesicht, das ich gesehen habe auf meinem Bette: Siehe, es stund ein Baum mitten im Lande, der war sehr hoch,
(This/These is but the vision/face, the I seen have on/in/to my bed: See/Look, it stood a tree midway/in_the_middle in_the land, the/of_the what/which very high,)

ClVg Visio capitis mei in cubili meo: videbam, et ecce arbor in medio terræ, et altitudo ejus nimia.
(Vision of_the_head my/mine in/into/on bed mine: I_saw, and behold arbor in/into/on in_the_middle of_the_earth/land, and height his nimia. )

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 4:4–7

Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream and summoned the wise men of Babylon. They were unable to explain the meaning of his dream. Before you translate this paragraph, read Genesis 40 and Genesis 41:1–2, where there are descriptions of similar events that took place in ancient Egypt.

4:7a

When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in,

When they all arrived, the fortunetellers, the spell/charm makers, the astrologers, and the wizards/sorcerers,
So all the experts/scholars arrived, including the specialists in magic, in dreams, and in divination.

When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners came in: The various experts in the occult and magical practices arrived. They went to the king so that he could speak to them.

When: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as When here introduces the next event in a sequence or the next phase of the action. Here is another way to translate this:

Then (RSV)

the magicians: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as the magicians refers to people who used the occult to obtain knowledge, learn secrets, or tell the future. Translate in the same way you did at 1:20b. See the Notes at 1:20b; 2:2a.

enchanters: The enchanters were people who knew how to cast spells or who could interpret omens. Translate the same way you did in 1:20b. See the Notes at 1:20b and 2:2a.

astrologers: The Aramaic word that the BSB translates as astrologers is literally “Chaldeans,” as in the RSV. The word has several different meanings. In this context, it refers to men who were experts in the occult and magical rites. See the Notes at 2:2a and translate here the same way you did there.

diviners: See the Notes at 2:27. This expression probably refers to people who used occult means to try to know what would happen to people in the future. Here is another way to translate this:

fortunetellers (NLT)

came in: In this context, the verb came refers to the fact that the men entered the king’s court. Here is another way to translate this:

came to me (GW)

General Comment on 4:7a

The job titles are probably examples of the various kinds of experts whom the king summoned. Your language may not have a specific term for each of these experts. If that is true in your language, you may have to use one term for two or three of the names listed here. Another option is to begin the list with a general expression. For example:

all the occult experts , including the astrologers and the fortunetellers

For similar lists of experts see the Notes at 1:20b and 2:2a, 1:10c, 1:27.

4:7b

I told them the dream, and they could not interpret it for me.

I told them about my dream, but they were not able to tell me its meaning/interpretation.
I told them what I had dreamed, but they could not explain to me what the dream meant.

I told them the dream: Nebuchadnezzar told the experts what had happened in his dream. The author does not repeat this information. In some languages it may be necessary to identify this dream in some way. For example:

I told them my terrifying dream

I told them what I had just dreamed

and: The Aramaic connector that the BSB translates as and here introduces a contrast, something that is against expectation. Although Nebuchadnezzar told the wise men his dream, they could not tell him its meaning. Here is another way to translate this:

but (NIV)

they could not interpret it for me: The king’s experts were unable to explain the meaning of the king’s dream. See the Notes at 2:5b. Other possible ways to translate this expression include:

they could not tell me its interpretation (NRSV)

they could not tell me what it meant (NLT)

they could not explain it to me (GNT)

Parallel DAN 4:7

Section 4:1–37: God judged King Nebuchadnezzar

Paragraph 4:4–7

4:7a

General Comment on 4:7a

4:7b