Daniel (image)

Hand colored stencil print on washi 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.

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: RuthAnna 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

Following is a Russian Orthodox icon of Daniel from the 18th century (found in the Transfiguration Church, Kizhi Monastery, Karelia, Russia).

 
Orthodox Icons are not drawings or creations of imagination. They are in fact writings of things not of this world. Icons can represent our Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the Saints. They can also represent the Holy Trinity, Angels, the Heavenly hosts, and even events. Orthodox icons, unlike Western pictures, change the perspective and form of the image so that it is not naturalistic. This is done so that we can look beyond appearances of the world, and instead look to the spiritual truth of the holy person or event. (Source )

Translation commentary on Daniel 12:5

The structure of the account requires another new paragraph at this point. This makes the previous paragraph consist of only one verse, but translators should not be worried about this.

Then I Daniel looked: on the use of I Daniel, see comments on 7.15; 8.15, 27. The verb here should not be translated in such a way as to give the impression that Daniel looked for the first time. Rather, as he kept on looking he “saw” or “noticed (two men).”

Behold: see comments on the Aramaic equivalent at 2.31, and on the Hebrew in 8.3.

Two others: if the translator’s language requires that the nature of the two others be clearly stated, then it will probably be best to say “two other angels” (see Anchor Bible), since this is the clear meaning in the context. Some translations, however, have “people” (New Jerusalem Bible) or “men” (Good News Translation). If there exists a more neutral term, like “beings,” this will also be appropriate. But if the translator is forced to say something more, the word “angels” is probably best.

The long and awkward description of the location of the other two angels at the end of this verse may be rendered much more naturally in many languages as “on opposite sides of the water” or “one on each bank” (Good News Translation).

The stream: this does not represent the same word as translated “canal” or “river” in chapter 8, and so it very likely does not refer to the Ulai. Nor is it the same word as the great river in 10.4. However, the use of the definite article makes readers think that it refers to something already mentioned. It may be, however, that it does refer back to chapter 10. But since this is a vision, the precise river referred to is unimportant. It may therefore be legitimately translated “a river,” as in Good News Translation.

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 .