Lexical Summary gevah: pride Original Word: גֵּוָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance pride (Aramaic) corresponding to gevah -- pride. see HEBREW gevah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to geah Definition pride NASB Translation pride (1). Topical Lexicon Occurrence and SettingStrong's Hebrew 1467 גֵּוָה appears once, in Daniel 4:37, where King Nebuchadnezzar—fresh from seven years of humbling judgment—confesses that God “is able to humble those who walk in pride.” The term captures the self-exalting attitude God had just shattered in the Babylonian monarch. Because Daniel 4 is written in Aramaic, the word functions inside a Gentile royal court, highlighting that the issue of pride is universal and that the God of Israel rules every kingdom (Daniel 4:17, Daniel 4:25, Daniel 4:32). Biblical Portrait of Pride Though גֵּוָה occurs only here, Scripture repeatedly warns against the same sin: Daniel 4:37 therefore stands as a narrative confirmation of a doctrinal truth: divine opposition to pride is not mere rhetoric; it is historical reality. Historical Significance 1. Babylon’s political grandeur. Nebuchadnezzar’s boast, “Is not this Babylon I have built… by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30), epitomized ancient Near Eastern kingship theology, which attributed near-divine status to monarchs. Theological Emphases • Sovereignty. גֵּוָה exposes human pretensions that rival God’s throne (Psalm 2:1-4). Intertextual Echoes Daniel 4 bridges earlier and later revelations: – It anticipates the humbling of proud Gentile powers like Persia (Isaiah 13:11) and Greece (Zechariah 9:3-4). – It foreshadows the downfall of the ultimate arrogant ruler, “the man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:4), whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow at His coming. – It provides thematic precedent for Peter’s call: “Humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). Ministry Applications 1. Preaching. Daniel 4:37 supplies both warning and hope—warning that unchecked pride invites God’s intervention, hope that repentance leads to restoration. Christological Reflection Where Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself and was abased, Jesus “humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death… Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place” (Philippians 2:8-9). Daniel 4:37 thus magnifies the One who models true greatness through humility and promises to share His exaltation with those who follow His path (Luke 14:11). Personal Examination • Do my ambitions serve God’s glory or my own? By letting Nebuchadnezzar’s confession resonate, believers learn that pride is not merely a private vice but a cosmic offense—and that the Most High delights to replace גֵּוָה with genuine, God-centered praise. Forms and Transliterations בְּגֵוָ֔ה בגוה bə·ḡê·wāh begeVah bəḡêwāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:37 HEB: וְדִי֙ מַהְלְכִ֣ין בְּגֵוָ֔ה יָכִ֖ל לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃ NAS: those who walk in pride. KJV: and those that walk in pride he is able INT: who walk pride is able to humble 1 Occurrence |