This entire verse contains one simile after another. Except for the last one, which refers to sound rather than appearance, they all have in common the fact that they are visually dazzling and radiant. If possible it is good to find a series of verbs of similar meaning such as “glowed … shone … flamed … glittered” (Revised English Bible).
Like beryl: the body as a whole is, first of all, compared to the precious stone called beryl in Revised Standard Version. Other English versions render this stone as “chrysolite” (New American Bible and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible) or “topaz” (Moffatt, An American Translation, and New English Bible/Revised English Bible). The exact identity and qualities of this stone are uncertain, but the focus here is on its brightness and not its color. This jewel was one of the twelve stones in the high priest’s breastplate (Exo 28.20) and is also mentioned as a part of the wall in the heavenly Jerusalem (Rev 21.20). Where such gemstones are unknown, it will probably be wise to use a more general term such as “jewel” or “valuable stone” in this context.
Like the appearance of lightning: the face of the man in the vision is compared to lightning. Since this is something that people all over the world know about, there is usually no problem in translating the word. However, in some languages it will be important to add a verb to make the image more forceful and natural. Some will say that his face “dazzled (or shone) like lightning” or that it “looked as bright as lightning.”
Like flaming torches: the man’s eyes are compared to flaming torches, which are also well known and present few problems. Here also the addition of a verb may make the translation more natural and interesting. For example, one may say that the man’s eyes “sparkled like flaming torches” or that they “blazed like fire.”
Like the gleam of burnished bronze: the arms and legs are compared to bronze, which is a shiny alloy of copper and tin. The word burnished indicates that the metal has been brightened or polished (King James Version, Good News Translation).
The sound of his words: simply refers to the sound one heard when he spoke. Good News Translation represents this with “his voice sounded,” and other variations are possible.
Like the noise of a multitude: the voice of the one in the vision is compared to the uproar made by a large crowd of people. Knox translates “when he spoke, it was like the murmur of a throng.”
Verses 5 and 6 apparently served as the inspiration for the formulation of the descriptions in Rev 1.13-15; 2.18; 19.12.
Quoted with permission from Péter-Contesse, René & Ellington, John. A Handbook on Daniel. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .