Nebuchadnezzar

The term that is transliterated as “Nebuchadnezzar” in English is translated in American Sign Language with the signs for “king” and one signifying a wavy beard, referring to the common way of wearing a beard in Mesopotamia (see here ). (Source: RuthAnna Spooner, Ron Lawer)


“Nebuchadnezzar” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor

In Spanish Sign Language it is translated with a sign depicting “idol in my image,” referring to Daniel 3:1. (Source: Steve Parkhurst)


“Nebuchadnezzar” in Spanish Sign Language, source: Sociedad Bíblica de España

Translation commentary on Daniel 4:4

This is numbered as verse 1 in New Jerusalem Bible and New American Bible, following the Aramaic text. But most English versions follow the numbering system of Revised Standard Version and Good News Translation.

I, Nebuchadnezzar: in some languages it will be quite natural for a person to repeat his own name following the first person singular pronoun. In others this will be awkward and should be omitted. Still others may say “I, the king…” in such a context.

At ease in my house and prospering in my palace: once again this is an example of parallelism. The meaning of the two phrases is simply “doing extremely well” or “getting along just fine.” Another way of saying this may be “everything was going very well for me….” The translator must be careful to avoid suggesting that my house and my palace refer to two different buildings. They are just different ways of talking about the king’s residence. In some languages the only way to avoid confusion may be to reduce the parallel construction to a single statement. On the translation of palace, see 1.4.

The form of the verbs conveying the ideas “be content” and “prosper” should not communicate the idea that this was the king’s situation at a particular time, but rather that it was true continually over a period of time. In some languages the habitual form of the verb will adequately transmit this meaning. Revised English Bible translates the whole parallel structure as follows: “… was living contentedly at home in the luxury of my palace.”

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 .