The structure of this verse will probably have to be altered in many languages. In the first sentence the words instead of these may have to be shifted forward, as in Good News Translation. And the second sentence in Revised Standard Version has the direct object before the subject and verb, but this will be awkward for many translators.

The god of fortresses: it is probably a good idea to make clear the relationship between the god and the fortresses by saying something like “the god who protects the strongholds” or “the god who defends fortified cities.” This probably refers to Jupiter Capitolinus, the supreme god of the Romans and the equivalent of the Olympian Zeus, for whom Antiochus IV built a richly ornamented temple in Antioch.

Instead of these: that is, instead of the gods mentioned in the previous verse (“the gods of his fathers,” “the one [god] beloved by women,” and “any other god”). The meaning given to the Hebrew in some versions (“on its pedestal,” compare New Jerusalem Bible) is not impossible but is unlikely if the use of the same expression in verses 20 and 21 is taken into account, where Revised Standard Version translates “in his place.”

A god whom his fathers did not know: the word fathers refers, of course, to ancestors. And the idea of knowing a god may be difficult to understand if translated literally. The intention of the writer was almost certainly “a god not honored by his ancestors” (compare Good News Translation).

Honor with gold: the same verb is repeated in Hebrew, but in the second case it may be better to translate it “offer,” as in Good News Translation. Or translators may prefer to say more clearly “he will show honor by giving gold.”

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 .