[1] 1:1 the third year . Jehoiakim This was about 605 b.c.

[2] 1:2 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[3] 1:3 official Where this is marked the word in the text is "eunuch," a man in an important government position or a servant in charge of a ruler's household. See "eunuch."

[4] 1:3 Israelites Here, this probably means "ordinary citizens of Judah and Israel." But it could mean "people from the northern tribes of Israel."

[5] 1:4 Chaldeans An important tribe in Babylon. Sometimes this name means simply "people from Babylonia." King Nebuchadnezzar was from this tribe, as were other kings of Babylon. Well educated people, they studied science, history, languages, and astronomy, but they also believed they could do magic and look at the stars to learn what would happen in the future.

[6] 1:8 unclean Or "unacceptable." Not pure or not fit to be eaten or used in worshiping God. See Lev. 11-15 for the Old Testament rules about clean and unclean things.

[7] 1:17 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[8] 1:21 the first year . Cyrus This was about 539-538 b.c.

[9] 2:4 Chaldeans An important tribe in Babylon. Sometimes this name means simply "people from Babylonia." King Nebuchadnezzar was from this tribe, as were other kings of Babylon. Well educated people, they studied science, history, languages, and astronomy, but they also believed they could do magic and look at the stars to learn what would happen in the future.

[10] 2:4 Aramaic The official language of the Babylonian Empire. People from many countries also used this language when they wrote official letters to people in other countries. The text of Daniel from here to 7:28 is written in Aramaic.

[11] 2:19 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[12] 2:23 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[13] 2:25 captives People taken away like prisoners. Here, this means the Jewish people who were taken to Babylon.

[14] 2:35 chaff The seed coverings and stems separated from the seeds of plants like wheat or barley. Farmers saved the seeds but let the wind blow the useless chaff away.

[15] 2:35 threshing Putting newly harvested wheat or other grain on a hard floor and walking on it or beating it with special tools to separate the hulls from the grain.

[16] 3:1 60 cubits About 87' 4" (27 m) using the short cubit.

[17] 3:1 6 cubits About 8' 9" (2.7 m) using the short cubit.

[18] 3:2 satrap An official who ruled over a Persian province.

[19] 3:2 prefect An important government official.

[20] 3:2 dedication The act of dedicating something to God. See "dedicate."

[21] 3:5 lyre A musical instrument with strings, like a harp.

[22] 3:5 sambucas A musical instrument, possibly a seven stringed instrument like a harp. The name in Hebrew comes from some other language, possibly Greek.

[23] 3:5 bagpipes A musical instrument with a bag and several horns or pipes. The name in Hebrew comes from some other language, possibly from the Greek word "symphony."

[24] 3:6 furnace Or "kiln," an oven for baking bricks to make them hard.

[25] 3:8 Chaldeans An important tribe in Babylon. Sometimes this name means simply "people from Babylonia." King Nebuchadnezzar was from this tribe, as were other kings of Babylon. Well educated people, they studied science, history, languages, and astronomy, but they also believed they could do magic and look at the stars to learn what would happen in the future.

[26] 3:25 angel Literally, "son of the god."

[27] 4:5 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[28] 4:7 Chaldeans An important tribe in Babylon. Sometimes this name means simply "people from Babylonia." King Nebuchadnezzar was from this tribe, as were other kings of Babylon. Well educated people, they studied science, history, languages, and astronomy, but they also believed they could do magic and look at the stars to learn what would happen in the future.

[29] 4:11 middle of the earth . sky The Babylonians thought the earth was flat and round like a plate or a wheel. And they thought the sky was like a glass bowl turned upside down on the earth.

[30] 4:18 Belteshazzar Another name for Daniel.

[31] 4:29-30 roof In ancient Israel, houses had flat roofs that were used like an extra room.

[32] 5:2 grandfather Or, "father." We are not sure if Belshazzar was really Nebuchadnezzar's grandson. Here, the word "father" might only mean "the previous king." Also in verses 11, 18.

[33] 5:2 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[34] 5:2 slave woman Or "concubine," a woman who was owned by a man and treated like a wife.

[35] 5:7 Chaldeans An important tribe in Babylon. Sometimes this name means simply "people from Babylonia." King Nebuchadnezzar was from this tribe, as were other kings of Babylon. Well educated people, they studied science, history, languages, and astronomy, but they also believed they could do magic and look at the stars to learn what would happen in the future.

[36] 5:7 purple robes These clothes showed that a person was rich and powerful, like a king. Also in verse 16.

[37] 5:22 grandson Or, "son." This does not necessarily mean they were from the same family. It might only mean that Belshazzar was one of the kings of Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar was king.

[38] 5:23 slave woman Or "concubine," a woman who was owned by a man and treated like a wife.

[39] 5:26 Mene A weight, like the Hebrew word "mina." This is like the word "to count."

[40] 5:27 Tekel A weight, like the Hebrew word "shekel." This word is like the word meaning "to weigh."

[41] 5:28 Uparsin Literally, "peres," a weight. This word is like the word meaning "to divide" or "to split." It is also like the name of the country of Persia.

[42] 5:29 purple clothes These clothes showed that a person was rich and powerful, like a king.

[43] 6:1 satrap An official who ruled over a Persian province.

[44] 6:7 prefect An important government official.

[45] 6:13 captives People taken away like prisoners. Here, this means the Jewish people who were taken to Babylon.

[46] 6:17 seal A small stone or ring with a picture carved in it that was pressed into wet clay or hot wax to hold down the loose end of a scroll. It left a special mark, also called a seal, that was like a signature to keep anyone from opening the scroll except the right person.

[47] 7:1 the first year . Belshazzar This was about 553 b.c.

[48] 7:1 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[49] 7:9 Ancient King Literally, "Ancient of Days." This name shows that God has been the great king for a long, long time. Also in verses 10, 13, 22.

[50] 7:9 fire Or, "light."

[51] 7:13 someone . human being Or, "a person, a real human being." Literally, "like a son of man." This means he looked like a normal person, not an angel or an animal.

[52] 7:15 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[53] 7:18 holy people Literally, "saints" or "holy ones," a term used in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus Christ as God's special people. They are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and belong only to God.

[54] 7:25 three and one-half years Literally, "time, times and half time."

[55] 7:27 God's holy people . kingdoms of earth Literally, "The rule and kingdom and greatness of the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the saints."

[56] 8:1 After that vision At this point, the book of Daniel is written in the Hebrew language again. Daniel 2:7-7:28 was written in Aramaic, the official language of the Babylonian Empire.

[57] 8:1 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[58] 8:1 the third year . Belshazzar This was about 551 b.c.

[59] 8:2 Susa The capital city of Persia.

[60] 8:11 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

[61] 8:13 holy ones Here, these are probably angels.

[62] 8:15 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[63] 8:17 Human Literally, "Son of man."

[64] 8:24 but his power . himself Some ancient versions don't have these words, so they may have been accidentally copied from verse 22.

[65] 8:24 holy people Literally, "saints" or "holy ones," a term used in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus Christ as God's special people. They are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and belong only to God.

[66] 8:26 seal A small stone or ring with a picture carved in it that was pressed into wet clay or hot wax to hold down the loose end of a scroll. It left a special mark, also called a seal, that was like a signature to keep anyone from opening the scroll except the right person.

[67] 9:1 Ahasuerus Or, "Xerxes."

[68] 9:2 Scriptures Literally, "scrolls."

[69] 9:8 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[70] 9:11 curses and promises Part of the Agreement that God made with the people of Israel. See, for example, Deuteronomy 27-30.

[71] 9:17 do good things for your holy place Literally, "let your face shine on your holy place."

[72] 9:21 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[73] 9:21 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

[74] 9:24 week Or, "unit of seven." The Hebrew word could mean "week" or "a period of seven years." Also in verses 25, 27.

[75] 9:24 seal A small stone or ring with a picture carved in it that was pressed into wet clay or hot wax to hold down the loose end of a scroll. It left a special mark, also called a seal, that was like a signature to keep anyone from opening the scroll except the right person.

[76] 9:25 chosen king Literally, "anointed one."

[77] 9:26 killed Literally, "cut off."

[78] 9:26 He will be gone Or, "He will have nothing."

[79] 9:27 He will do . things Or, "He will come on the wings of terrible destruction."

[80] 10:1 vision Something like a dream used by God to speak to people.

[81] 10:5 linen Thread or cloth made from the fibers of the flax plant.

[82] 10:5 pure gold Literally, "gold from Uphaz."

[83] 11:1 the first year . Darius the Mede This was about 521 b.c.

[84] 11:1 Michael See Dan. 10:13.

[85] 11:21 who will . king's family Or, "who will not have the good qualities a king should have."

[86] 11:24 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[87] 11:28 holy agreement This probably means the Jewish people.

[88] 11:31 Temple The permanent building in Jerusalem that replaced the portable "Holy Tent" that was used by the Israelites from the time of their wandering in the desert to the reign of king Solomon, when the first Temple was built. Like the Holy Tent, the Temple was the center of Israelite worship, although provision was made for it to be "a house of prayer for all nations" (Isa. 56:7).

[89] 11:31 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

[90] 11:34 hypocrite A person with wrong motives who pretends to be good.

[91] 11:37 ancestors Literally, "fathers," meaning a person's parents, grandparents, and all the other people that person is descended from. In the New Testament it usually refers to people who lived during Old Testament times.

[92] 11:39 fortress A building or city with tall, strong walls for protection.

[93] 11:40 chariot A small, two-wheeled cart pulled by horses and used in war.

[94] 11:45 holy mountain The mountain Jerusalem is built on.

[95] 12:2 are dead and buried Literally, "sleep in the dust."

[96] 12:3 Or, "The wise and successful teachers will shine like the sun rays in the sky. Those who make others innocent will shine like the stars forever." In Hebrew this is like Isa. 52:13 and Isa. 53:11.

[97] 12:6 linen Thread or cloth made from the fibers of the flax plant.

[98] 12:7 three and one-half years Literally, "a time, times, and half a time."

[99] 12:10 clean Pure or acceptable. When used of animals, it means fit to be eaten. When used of people, it means fit to participate in the worship of God at the Tabernacle or Temple. See Lev. 11-15 for the Old Testament rules about clean and unclean things.

[100] 12:11 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving, or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.

© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.