You saw: this verb is repeated throughout the explanation of the dream (verses 34, 41, 43, and 45) and is a feature of the literary technique of the writer. Unless it is clumsy in the receptor language, the repetition should be retained.

O king: see verse 29.

And behold: the Aramaic interjection translated by these words in Revised Standard Version is omitted by most modern English versions. Some translators attempt to capture the effect of this element by the use of an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence (see Moffatt, for example). It is probably better left untranslated in most languages, unless there is a natural way of expressing such an element of surprise and amazement at something that is seen.

Image: the English word may be misleading, since it can refer to any sort of likeness, whether in two dimensions (drawings, photographs) or in three dimensions. Here the likeness is in three dimensions, and the term is better translated “statue” as in the majority of English versions (including New Revised Standard Version).

There is no hint in the text that the statue was an idol; so words having this meaning should be avoided. In some languages there are different words for statues carved of wood and those made of ceramic material or metal. Since this statue was made mostly of a variety of metals but partially of ceramic material, it will probably be better to use the term that refers to metal objects, if such a distinction is required by the language.

The description of the statue emphasizes two main characteristics at the same time. It is both magnificent and terrifying. The terms great and mighty and of exceeding brightness stress the magnificence of the statue. But the word frightening indicates that it also caused great fear. The text also indicates that the giant statue was standing in front of the king. The word mighty may be misunderstood as referring to physical strength, but the term used here clearly refers to size.

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 .