7:23 “This is what he told me: 6
‘The fourth beast means that there will be a fourth kingdom on earth
that will differ from all the other kingdoms.
It will devour all the earth
and will trample and crush it.
7:24 The ten horns
mean that ten kings will arise from that kingdom.
Another king will arise after them,
but he will be different from the earlier ones.
He will humiliate 7 three kings.
7:25 He will speak words against the Most High.
He will harass 8 the holy ones of the Most High continually.
His intention 9 will be to change times established by law. 10
They will be delivered into his hand
For a time, times, 11 and half a time.
8:19 Then he said, “I am going to inform you about what will happen in the latter time of wrath, for the vision 12 pertains to the appointed time of the end.
1 tn The words “I also wanted to know” are added in the translation for stylistic reasons.
2 tc The conjunction in the MT before “eyes” is odd. The ancient versions do not seem to presuppose it.
3 tn Aram “greater than its companions.”
4 tn Aram “prevailing against” (KJV and ASV both similar); NASB “overpowering them”; TEV “conquered them.”
5 tc In the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate the verb is active, understanding “judgment” to be the object rather than the subject of the verb (i.e., “the Ancient of Days rendered judgment”). This presupposes a different vocalization of the verb ( יְהַב [yÿhav] rather than the MT יְהִב [yÿhiv]).
6 tn Aram “thus he said.”
7 tn Or “subjugate”; KJV, NASB, NIV “subdue”; ASV, NRSV “put down.”
8 tn Aram “wear out” (so KJV, ASV, NRSV); NASB, NLT “wear down.” The word is a hapax legomenon in biblical Aramaic, but in biblical Hebrew it especially refers to wearing out such things as garments. Here it is translated “harass…continually.”
9 tn Aram “he will think.”
10 tn Aram “times and law.” The present translation is based on the understanding that the expression is a hendiadys.
11 sn Although the word times is vocalized in the MT as a plural, it probably should be regarded as a dual. The Masoretes may have been influenced here by the fact that in late Aramaic (and Syriac) the dual forms fall out of use. The meaning would thus be three and a half “times.”
12 tn The Hebrew text does not actually state the referent (the vision Daniel saw in vv. 8-12; cf. also v. 13), which has been specified in the translation for clarity. Some Greek witnesses add “the vision” here.
13 tn Or “to the heavens.” The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heavens” or “sky” depending on the context.
14 tc The present translation reads יַד־נֹפֵץ (yad-nofets, “hand of one who shatters”) rather than the MT נַפֵּץ־יַד (nappets-yad, “to shatter the hand”).
15 tn Heb “to give.”
16 tn The words “your way” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.
17 tc The LXX lacks “until the end.”
18 tn The word “receive” is added in the translation for clarification.
19 sn The deuterocanonical writings known as the Story of Susanna and Bel and the Dragon appear respectively as chapters 13 and 14 of the book of Daniel in the Greek version of this book. Although these writings are not part of the Hebrew/Aramaic text of Daniel, they were popular among certain early communities who valued traditions about the life of Daniel.
20 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
21 tn On the term αὐλήν (aulhn) BDAG 150 s.v. αὐλή 1 states, “(outer) court of the temple…Rv 11:2.”
22 tn The precise meaning of the phrase ἔκβαλε ἔξωθεν (ekbale exwqen) is difficult to determine.
23 tn Or “to the nations” (the same Greek word may be translated “Gentiles” or “nations”).
24 sn The holy city appears to be a reference to Jerusalem. See also Luke 21:24.
25 tn The word “authority” is not in the Greek text, but is implied. “Power” would be another alternative that could be supplied here.
26 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present here.
27 tn Or “desert.”
28 tn The word “God” is supplied based on the previous statements made concerning “the place prepared for the woman” in 12:6.
29 tc The reading “and half a time” (καὶ ἥμισυ καιροῦ, kai {hmisu kairou) is lacking in the important uncial C. Its inclusion, however, is supported by {Ì47 א A and the rest of the ms tradition}. There is apparently no reason for the scribe of C to intentionally omit the phrase, and the fact that the word “time” (καιρὸν καὶ καιρούς, kairon kai kairou") appears twice before may indicate a scribal oversight.
30 tn Grk “and there was given to him.” Here the passive construction has been simplified, the referent (the beast) has been specified for clarity, and καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
31 tn For the translation “proud words” (Grk “great things” or “important things”) see BDAG 624 s.v. μέγας 4.b.
32 tn Grk “to it was granted.”
33 tn For the translation “ruling authority” for ἐξουσία (exousia) see L&N 37.35.