Daniel

The term that is transliterated as “Daniel” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the sign for the letter D and for “lion,” referring to the story in Daniel 6. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Daniel” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Swiss-German Sign Language it is translated with the sign for “prayer” that illustrates Daniel’s close relationship with God.


“Daniel” in Swiss-German Sign Language, source: DSGS-Lexikon biblischer Begriffe , © CGG Schweiz

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

Following is a hand colored stencil print on washi of Daniel by Sadao Watanabe (1965):

Image taken with permission from the SadaoHanga Catalogue where you can find many more images and information about Sadao Watanabe. For other images of Sadao Watanabe art works in TIPs, see here.

The following is a stained glass window depicting Daniel by Endre Odon Hevezi and Gyula Bajo from 1965 for the Debre Libanos Monastery, Oromia, Ethiopia:

Photo by Timothy A. Gonsalves, hosted by Wikimedia Commons under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

Stained glass is not just highly decorative, it’s a medium which has been used to express important religious messages for centuries. Literacy was not widespread in the medieval and Renaissance periods and the Church used stained glass and other artworks to teach the central beliefs of Christianity. In Gothic churches, the windows were filled with extensive narrative scenes in stained glass — like huge and colorful picture storybooks — in which worshipers could ‘read’ the stories of Christ and the saints and learn what was required for their religious salvation. (Source: Victoria and Albert Museum )

See also Daniel.

Learn more on Bible Odyssey: Daniel in the Lions’ Den and Daniel .

complete verse (Daniel 12:9)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 12:9:

  • Kupsabiny: “He replied to me saying, ‘Daniel, go away now, for these things/words are hidden and it is not good to expose them until the last day has come.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “He answered, "Daniel, you go now, because it is not good for anyone to know these things. This book has been shut and sealed until the time of the end.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “He answered, ‘Daniel, you (sing.) go now, for the answer to your (sing.) question will-remain in secret and should not be told/revealed until the end comes.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “He replied, ‘Daniel, you must leave now. I cannot answer your question because what it means must be kept secret/not be revealed until the time when everything ends.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 12:9

Said: in view of the context, this verb may be better translated “answered,” as in Good News Translation.

Go your way: this imperative does not constitute a refusal to respond to Daniel or the chasing away of a troublesome person asking difficult questions. But a literal rendering of Revised Standard Version or Good News Translation may be understood so in some languages. It is rather a word of encouragement and therefore may legitimately be rendered something like “Don’t worry, Daniel” (Bible en français courant) or “You may go in peace.” Moffatt renders it “Ask no more,” giving the reason in the following phrase. In some languages it may be better to translate “Leave the matter, because….”

Shut up and sealed: on the word sealed, see 6.17 and comments. Compare also verse 4, where Daniel is instructed to “shut up the words, and seal the book.” The two verbs may be translated as one in some languages.

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 .