vision

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The Hebrew, Aramaic, Latin and Greek that is translated as “vision” in English is translated in a variety in the following languages:

  • Chol: “as if in a dream” (source: Robert Bascom)
  • Obolo: ilaak ọkpọchieen̄ or “dreaming awake” (source: Enene Enene)
  • Eastern Highland Otomi: “a showing like dreams”
  • Desano: “see in a dream what God will send”
  • Rincón Zapotec: “see what God shows”
  • Mayo: “see things from God as in a dream”
  • Lalana Chinantec: “dream how it is going to be”
  • Chuj: “like dreaming they see”
  • San Mateo del Mar Huave: “understand what they see as if in a dream”
  • Ayutla Mixtec: “see that which will happen” (source for this and seven above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
  • Tagbanwa: “being caused to dream by God” (source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Chichewa: azidzaona zinthu m’masomphenya: “they will see things as if face-to-face” (interconfessional translation, publ. 1999) (Source: Wendland 1998, p. 69)
  • Mandarin Chinese yì xiàng (异象 / 異象), lit. “different (or: strange) appearance.” (Source: Zetzsche)

The Greek in the books of Revelation and Acts is translated as obq-rmwible: “look-dream” in Natügu. Brenda Boerger (in Beerle-Moor / Voinov, p. 162ff.) tells the story of that translation: “In the book of Revelation, the author, John, talks about having visions. Mr. Simon [the native language translator] and I discussed what this meant and he invented the compound verb obq-rmwible ‘look-dream’ to express it. Interestingly, during village testing no one ever had to ask what this neologism meant.”

See also see a vision.

complete verse (Daniel 8:26)

Following are a number of back-translations as well as a sample translation for translators of Daniel 8:26:

  • Kupsabiny: “The visions about the two thousand and three hundred days shall be fulfilled. But close (sing.) the book and put a seal/mark on it because many days will have passed before/for it to be fulfilled.’” (Source: Kupsabiny Back Translation)
  • Newari: “Whatever you have seen and heard concerning evenings and mornings is true. But all that you saw in your vision — don’t tell that to anyone for it will only happen a long time [from now]. ” (Source: Newari Back Translation)
  • Hiligaynon: “‘Daniel, what I said to you (sing.) about the stopping/cessation of day and night offerings is true. But you (sing.) do- not -tell it yet for these [things] won’t happen for a long time.’” (Source: Hiligaynon Back Translation)
  • English: “What you saw in the vision about priests being prevented from making sacrifices in the morning and in the evening, which I explained to you, will surely happen. But for the present time, do not reveal the vision to others, because it will be many years before those things happen.’” (Source: Translation for Translators)

Translation commentary on Daniel 8:26

The vision of the evenings and the mornings: this refers to the evening and morning sacrifices referred to in verse 14 above. But it really involves the time when it would be impossible to offer those sacrifices. In most languages it will be a good idea to make the idea of sacrifice clear again in this verse, as in Good News Translation. Another possibility is “the vision about the time (or about the things that will happen during the time) when people (or the priests) cannot offer the morning and evening sacrifices.”

Which has been told: this is almost certainly a reference to the explanation given in verses 15-25. New Jerusalem Bible expresses the first part of the verse as follows: “What was said in the vision about evenings and mornings is true.” To avoid the passive, translators may consider “The explanation about the morning and evening sacrifices is true” or “You have heard the interpretation of the morning and evening sacrifices. It is true.”

Is true: this is a validation of the explanation given in the previous verses. But it also implies that the fulfillment is certain. So instead of “… is true,” translators may say “… will surely happen (or take place).”

Seal up the vision: this is clearly not intended as a permanent sealing up of the truth revealed in the vision. For this reason Good News Translation adds the information “now.” Something like this may be required in many other languages. Many languages will have difficulty with the verb “to seal,” since there is nothing corresponding in their culture. A seal usually indicated ownership of objects or the authenticity of documents. Sealing was done by means of some sort of stone or other object making an impression in wax or clay. It also was placed on the outside of a closed document so that the document could not be opened and read without breaking the seal. In this context it may be better to say something like “keep the vision secret…” as in Good News Translation.

For it pertains to many days hence: this gives the reason for the command to keep the vision secret for the time being. In some languages the words many days may suggest a time period that is altogether too short. In place of days many will prefer to use “years,” although there may be other ways of expressing this idea: “the distant future” (An American Translation and New International Version), “the far future” (Moffatt), “to far-off days” (New Jerusalem 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 .