Daniel 5:12

5:12 Thus there was found in this man Daniel, whom the king renamed Belteshazzar, an extraordinary spirit, knowledge, and skill to interpret ¹  dreams, solve riddles, and decipher knotty problems. ²  Now summon ³  Daniel, and he will disclose the interpretation.”

Daniel 8:25

8:25 By his treachery ⁴  he will succeed through deceit. ⁵  He will have an arrogant attitude, ⁶  and he will destroy many who are unaware of his schemes. ⁷  He will rise up against the Prince of princes, yet he will be broken apart – but not by human agency. ⁸ 

[5:12]  ¹ tc The translation reads מִפְשַׁר (mifshar) rather than the MT מְפַשַּׁר (mÿfashar) and later in the verse reads וּמִשְׁרֵא (mishre’) rather than the MT וּמְשָׁרֵא (mÿshare’). The Masoretes have understood these Aramaic forms to be participles, but they are more likely to be vocalized as infinitives. As such, they have an epexegetical function in the syntax of their clause.

[5:12]  ² tn Aram “to loose knots.”

[5:12]  ³ tn Aram “let [Daniel] be summoned.”

[8:25]  ⁴ tn The Hebrew term has a primary meaning of “skill, insight,” but here it has the connotation “cunning, treachery.” See BDB 968 s.v. שֵׂכֶל, שֶׂכֶל.

[8:25]  ⁵ tn Heb “he will cause deceit to succeed by his hand.”

[8:25]  ⁶ tn Heb “in his heart he will act arrogantly.”

[8:25]  ⁷ tn Heb “in peace.” The Hebrew word used here is difficult. It may refer to the security felt by those who did not realize the danger of imminent attack, or it may refer to the condition of being unaware of the impending danger. The latter idea is reflected in the present translation. See further, BDB 1017 s.v. שַׁלְוָה.

[8:25]  ⁸ tn Heb “with nothingness of hand.”