complete verse (Daniel 10:15)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 10:15:

  • Kupsabiny: “After he had said these words, I looked down unable to say anything.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After he finished speaking like that, I bent my face down and was not able to say anything.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “While he was-saying that, I knelt/bowed-down, and I could- not -speak.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “While he was saying that, I stared at the ground and was unable to say anything because I was very afraid.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 10:15

When he had spoken to me according to these words: this is an awkward expression and can be rendered much more naturally in most languages. It may be better also to alter the verb tense: “While he was speaking these words to me” (New Revised Standard Version); “While he was saying these things to me” (New Jerusalem Bible); “While he was speaking thus to me” (New American Bible).

Turned my face toward the ground: literally “I placed my face to the ground.” But this does not mean that Daniel prostrated himself again. While he remained standing he looked down in an attitude of humility. As far as the physical movement is concerned, this is the opposite of “lifted up my eyes” (verse 5).

Was dumb: the Hebrew verb here expresses the idea of being incapable of speaking and is not a voluntary refusal to talk. The rendering “kept silent” (New American Bible and Nouvelle version Segond révisée) may therefore be misleading. In many languages the best way to say this is “was speechless” (New Revised Standard Version) or “was unable to speak” (Revised English Bible).

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 .