complete verse (Daniel 7:5)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 7:5:

  • Kupsabiny: “The second beast was like a bear bending to one side. It held three ribs by its teeth. A certain mouth/voice came saying, ‘Stand up, and eat flesh to your satisfaction.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Then I saw a second animal which looked like a bear. It had risen on one side. Between the teeth of its mouth, it had three ribs. A voice said to it, ‘Get up, eat meat till your stomach is full.’ ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘The second animal was-like a bear. It was-standing on its two back feet and was-biting three ribs. There was a voice/sound who said to him, ‘Aha,[particle to draw attention] you (sing.) satisfy/fill-yourself with meat.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “The second beast resembled a bear. It was crouching, and it held between its teeth three ribs from another animal that it had killed and eaten. Someone said to it {It was told}, ‘Stand up and eat as much meat as you want!’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 7:5

Behold: see verse 2.

Like a bear: since bears are unknown in many parts of the world, translators must either borrow the term or use a more general expression such as “another large and ferocious animal” or something similar.

Was raised up on one side: the meaning of this expression in Aramaic is unclear. The root verb of this passive form is the same as that found in verse 4. However, the emphasis is not on the movement of the animal but on the resulting position. If it is taken to mean “standing on its hind legs,” as in Good News Translation, then the command Arise later in the verse, if taken literally, becomes meaningless. It is probably better to understand the meaning here as “half crouching” (New English Bible), in which case the imperative that follows is a command to stand up straight or to get up completely.

Three ribs: in those languages that have different words for the ribs of a human being and those of an animal, it is probably best to use the term for animal ribs in the context of this vision. In fact the word translated “ribs” in most English versions has been understood to refer to “tusks” (New American Bible and New Revised Standard Version) or “fangs” (New Jerusalem Bible). But translators are advised to retain the meaning “ribs” as in Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation. This would leave the impression that another creature had just been eaten and that some of the bones were still in the mouth of the beast.

In its mouth between its teeth: part of this expression may be considered redundant in many languages. Whatever is between the teeth is clearly in the mouth. Or in other cases whatever is in the mouth is thought of as being between the teeth.

It was told: in order to avoid the passive, some languages will have to say “it received the order,” or “they (impersonal) told it,” or “someone commanded it.”

Arise: depending on how the earlier part of this verse is translated, this may have to be rendered “Stand up completely” or “Finish rising up.”

Devour much flesh: it is more natural in many languages to say “eat a lot of meat” or “consume as much meat as you can.”

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 .