enchanter

The Hebrew and Aramaic in the book of Daniel that is translated as “enchanter” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “omen seeker” (source: Newari Back Translation).

diviner

The Aramaic in the book of Daniel that is translated as “diviner” or similar in English is translated in Newari as “auspicious time seeker” (source: Newari Back Translation).

Chaldean

The name that is transliterated as “Chaldean” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with the sign that combines “Mesopotamia” (see here) and “spreading out,” since the Chaldeans originated in southern Mesopotamia and spread out from there. (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Chaldean” in Libras (source )

More information about Chaldea .

complete verse (Daniel 4:7)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 4:7:

  • Kupsabiny: “When those people had come, I told them these dreams but they were not able to show me what these dreams meant.” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “When the magicians, enchanters [lit.: omen seekers], astrologers, and diviners [lit.: auspicious time seekers] had come, I told them my dream, but they were not able to tell [me] its meaning.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “When- the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners -came, I told them my dream, but they could- not -explain to me its meaning.” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “All the men who worked magic, the fortune-tellers, the men who worked sorcery, and men who studied the stars came to me. I told them what I had dreamed, but they could not tell me what it meant.” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 4:7

Magicians … astrologers: on this list, see the same terms in 2.2; astrologers occurs in 2.27. And note especially that the term Chaldeans is not to be understood in its purely geographical sense.

They: similar to the previous verse, it may be better to translate this as “none of them” or something similar.

Could not make known to me: literally “did not make known to me….” But the focus is clearly on their inability to provide the interpretation rather than on any unwillingness on their part. Revised English Bible has “but they were unable to interpret it for me.”

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 .