complete verse (Daniel 11:3)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 11:3:

  • Kupsabiny: “Then shall arise/appear a king who will rule (the) land/world by his power as he does whatever his stomach/heart desires.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “After that will come a strong king. He will reign over a great kingdom and will do as he pleases.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “After-that, there is a powerful king who will-arrive. He will-put-into- (his) -jurisdiction many nations, and he will-do as he pleases.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “Then a very powerful king will appear in Greece. He will rule over a very large empire, and he will do whatever he wants to do.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 11:3

A mighty king: the Hebrew word translated mighty in Revised Standard Version may be rendered as an adjective meaning “valiant” or “strong.” But it may also be taken as a noun referring to a “warrior.” Bible en français courant translates “a warrior will become king.” Several English versions also include the idea of warrior in their renderings: “a warrior king” (New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, and New English Bible/Revised English Bible); “a warlike king” (An American Translation); “a warrior of a monarch” (Moffatt). Such a rendering simply makes clear what most commentators agree the text means. The reference here is to the king of Greece, Alexander the Great, who was indeed a conqueror or warlike king.

Shall arise: see comments on verse 2b.

Rule with great dominion: literally “rule (with) a great ruling.” This kind of construction, where the verb and noun have the same root, is quite frequent in Hebrew and is often an emphatic way of stating something. Compare 9.7 and comments on “treachery.” If this kind of repetition is natural, translators may wish to imitate it in their own languages.

Do according to his will: the same expression is applied in 8.4 to the “ram” that is symbolic of the Persian Empire. The idea is that he will be subject to no one and will do as he himself pleases.

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 .