Daniel 4:30

²⁸ All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.

²⁹ Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

³¹ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you.

³² You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
KJV: The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
WEB: The king spoke and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?”
ASV: The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
DARBY: the king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
BLB: The king answered and said, “Is not this the great Babylon, which I myself have built as a house for the kingdom by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?”

ÅB: Da tok kongen til orde og sa: Er ikke dette det store Babel, som jeg har bygget til kongesete ved min veldige makt og til ære for min herlighet?
OTB: Kongen talte og sa: "Er ikke dette det store Babylon, som jeg har bygd som en kongelig residens ved min mektige kraft og til ære for min majestet?"
B1930: Da tok kongen til orde og sa: Er ikke dette det store Babel, som jeg har bygget til kongesete ved min veldige makt og til ære for min herlighet?

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Read in context
Revelation 17:5
And on her forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Read in context
Ezekiel 29:3
Speak to him and tell him that this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, I am against you, O Pharaoh king of Egypt, O great monster who lies among his rivers, who says, ‘The Nile is mine; I made it myself.’
Read in context
Isaiah 10:8–15
“Are not all my commanders kings?” he says.
Read in context
Revelation 18:10
In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
Read in context
Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Read in context
Daniel 5:18–20
As for you, O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness, glory and honor.
Read in context
Psalms 49:20
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.
Read in context