Translations in Daniel

[Carborendum]

I found a few interesting translation quirks in the Book of Daniel.

Quote

Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

 -- Dan 2:2

I had to wonder why they mention three "trades" (for lack of a better term) and then mention a nationality.  So, I looked at the original language.

• "Magician": חַרְטֹם (char-tome') =magician -- specifically applied to the type of mystic that came from Egypt.
• "Astrologer": אַשָּׁף (ash-shawf') = necromancer/conjurer -- specifically applied to Assyrians.
• "Sorcerer": כָּשַׁף ( kaw-shaf') = Sorcerer/Witch -- This term is more generic, but it has Syrian origins.  So, we can assume this was some sort of magician type that came from Syria.

The strange thing about "astrologers" (applied to the Assyrians) is that the Chaldeans were the ones who were held as THE authority on astrology.  All nations believed in astrology.  But to be a Chaldean was synonymous with being an astrologer.

The choice of these words indicates a dual meaning to what this verse is trying to convey.  

• The king had access to the most learned men in the empire.
• His empire was vast enough to give him free access to the knowledge of the known world.

And even with all this knowledge available to him, "There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter"

Quote

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

 -- Dan 3:21

Notice the word "other" is italicized (per the KJV).  When a word is italicized it means that it is either an uncertain translation, or it was added in English for it to make sense lingustically.  In this case, the latter was true.  The word "other" doesn't exist in the original Aramaic.

A sectarian would look at this and realize that it wouldn't make sense for it to say "this article of clothing, another article of clothing, and their clothing."  So, the to make sense of it, they added the word "other."

But to a Latter-day Saint, we see the word "garment" instead of clothing and think of something completely different.  While in earlier generations/centuries, there was no difference  in meaning, today, there is a difference to us.

So, if we remove the word "other", it makes a whole lot of difference to us.

Quote

... were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their garments, and were cast ...

Edited December 6, 2022 by Carborendum

[Vort]

1 hour ago, Carborendum said:

  Quote

Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

 -- Dan 3:21

Die oxen carried die hosen in die boxen.

Die, Bart!