wild animal

The Hebrew, Latin and Greek that is translated in English as “wild animal” or similar is translated in Newari as “animal that lives in the jungle.” (Source: Newari Back Translation)

birds of the air

The Greek and Hebrew phrases that are often translated as “birds of the air” in English “refer to the undomesticated song birds or wild birds, to be distinguished in a number of languages from domesticated fowl. In Tzeltal these former are ‘field birds’.” (source: Bratcher / Nida)

Q’anjob’al also uses an established term for non-domesticated birds. Newberry and Kittie Cox (in The Bible Translator 1950, p. 91ff. ) explain: “Qʼanjobʼal has two distinct terms, one to identify domesticated birds and the other non-domesticated birds. The additional descriptive phrase ‘of the air’ seemed entirely misleading, for Qʼanjobʼal speakers had never heard of such creatures. Actually, of course, all that was necessary was the term for non-domesticated birds, for that is precisely the meaning of the Biblical expression.”

See also birds of the air / fish of the sea and birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.

Translation commentary on Daniel 2:38

While this verse is a continuation of the sentence started in the previous verse, it is probably better to begin a new sentence here, as in Good News Translation.

Hand: as seen in 1.2, this word carries the idea of power or authority. According to Daniel, God had made Nebuchadnezzar the ruler of the known world. A literal translation of hand will therefore be unlikely to convey the meaning in many languages. Moffatt translates “into your power.”

Wherever they dwell: this expression emphasizes the all-inclusive scope of the king’s rule. Such a statement may fit more naturally at the end of the list that follows, rather than here at the beginning.

The sons of men: this Semitic expression refers to all of humanity, since the words “sons of…” merely indicate membership in a group (see 1.6). It is not limited either to the younger generation or to the male sex, as the word “sons” may suggest.

Beasts of the field: this refers to all the animals living on the earth, especially those wild animals that are not yet submissive to human domination as the domestic animals are. In certain languages the choice of the noun for beasts will make the words of the field unnecessary. Revised English Bible translates simply “wild animals.”

Birds of the air: this includes all birds. The words of the air will probably be unnecessary in most languages, since this is a Semiticism. The Greek version adds “and the fish of the sea,” which often follows “the birds of the air” in Scripture. But no version consulted adopts this reading.

The above list is intended to express the idea of the universal domination of the king over all creation and not merely over certain categories of beings. Translators are advised to avoid giving the impression of any restriction and should probably retain the three categories (human beings, animals, and birds).

Making you rule over them all: this should not suggest that the king is forced to rule against his will. In some languages it will be better to say “allowing you to rule over them all” or “giving you the right to rule….”

You are the head of gold: this corresponds to the first part of the dream in verse 32. To be clearly understood, it may be wise to reword this in some languages, saying “you are like the head of gold in the dream” or “that head of gold represents (or symbolizes, or stands for) you.”

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 .