894. Babel

Lexicon

Babel: Babel, Babylon

Original Word: בָּבֶל
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Babel
Pronunciation: BAH-vel
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-bel')
Definition: Babel, Babylon
Meaning: Babel, Babylonia, Babylonian empire

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Babel, Babylon

From balal; confusion; Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire -- Babel, Babylon.

see HEBREW balal

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
perhaps from balal
Definition
an E. Mediterranean empire and its capital city
NASB Translation
Babel (2), Babylon (257), Babylonians* (3).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

בָּבֶ֫ל₂₆₂ proper name, of a location Babel, Babylon (in Assyrian written Bab-ilu, gate of god Dl^{Pa 212}, compare on other hand Jen^{Kosmol. 498}) — with ָ  ה locative בָּבֶ֫לָה Ezekiel 12:13 +, בָּבֶ֑לָה 2 Kings 20:17 #NAME?מִבָּבֶ֫לָה Jeremiah 27:16; — the ancient capital of Babylonia, modern Hillah, situated on Euphrates, in long. approximately 440 30° east, and latitude approximately 320 50° north; Genesis 10:10; Genesis 11:9 (where name connected with בלל confuse, confound), both J, not elsewhere in Hexateuch; 2 Kings 17:24 31t. 2Kings; 18t. Chronicles; Esther 2:6; late Psalm 87:4; Psalm 137:1; Psalm 137:8; Isa²; Isa³, namely Isaiah 13:1,19; Isaiah 14:4,22; Isaiah 21:9; Isaiah 39:1,3,6,7; Isaiah 43:14; Isaiah 47:1; Isaiah 48:14,20; Micah 4:10 (but here probably not original, compare RS^{Proph. vii. n. 5 & references}) Zechariah 2:11; Zechariah 6:10; Daniel 1:1; Ezekiel 12:13 19t. Ezekiel; Jeremiah 20:4 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 20:5,6 165t. Jeremiah — note especially ׳אֶרֶץ בּ Jeremiah 50:28; also of land & people = realm, particular in ׳מֶלֶךְ בּ 2 Kings 20:12 of Merodach Baladan; 2 Kings 20:18; 2 Kings 24:1,7,11,12 (twice in verse) + often of Nebuchadrezzar; 2 Kings 25:27 = Jeremiah 52:31 compare Jeremiah 52:34 of Evil-Merodach; Nehemiah 13:6 of Artaxerxes; the city personified as בַּת בָּבֶל Isaiah 47:1; Jeremiah 50:42. (See Dl^{Pa 212} COT Genesis 11:9 KG⁹⁵.)

בָּבֶל proper name, of a location Babylon (Biblical Hebrew id.); — Daniel 2:12 15t. Daniel; 9t. Ezra.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Hebrew root בָּלַל (balal), meaning "to confuse" or "to mix."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G897 (Βαβυλών, Babylōn): This Greek term is used in the New Testament to refer to Babylon, maintaining its symbolic and historical significance as a center of opposition to God.
• G4799 (Συγχέω, syncheō): While not a direct translation of Babel, this Greek word means "to confuse" or "to confound," reflecting the action God took at Babel to confuse the languages of humanity.

The story of Babel and the history of Babylon serve as enduring reminders of the consequences of human pride and the sovereignty of God over the nations.

Usage: The term בָּבֶל is used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to both the city of Babel, where God confused the languages of humanity (Genesis 11:9), and the Babylonian empire, a significant power in the ancient Near East, known for its conquest of Judah and the subsequent Babylonian Exile.

Context: • Babel: The name first appears in Genesis 11:9, where it is associated with the Tower of Babel. The narrative describes humanity's attempt to build a city and a tower reaching the heavens, leading to God's intervention by confusing their language, resulting in the scattering of people across the earth. This event is foundational in explaining the diversity of languages and is symbolic of human pride and divine judgment.

• Babylonia/Babylonian Empire: The term later refers to the ancient empire centered in the city of Babylon, located in modern-day Iraq. Babylon rose to prominence under King Nebuchadnezzar II, who is noted for his conquests, including the destruction of Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jewish people (2 Kings 24:10-16; 2 Kings 25:1-21). The Babylonian empire is depicted in the Bible as a symbol of human arrogance and opposition to God, yet also as an instrument of divine judgment against Israel for their disobedience.

• Prophetic Significance: Babylon is frequently mentioned in the prophetic books as a symbol of worldly power and opposition to God's kingdom. The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah prophesied its eventual downfall (Isaiah 13:19; Jeremiah 50:1-3), which occurred when the Medes and Persians conquered Babylon in 539 BC. In the New Testament, Babylon is used metaphorically to represent oppressive world systems (Revelation 17:5).

Forms and Transliterations

בְּבָבֶ֔ל בְּבָבֶ֖ל בְּבָבֶ֗ל בְּבָבֶֽל׃ בָּ֠בֶל בָּבֶ֑ל בָּבֶ֑לָה בָּבֶ֔ל בָּבֶ֔לָה בָּבֶ֕ל בָּבֶ֖ל בָּבֶ֖לָה בָּבֶ֗ל בָּבֶ֗לָה בָּבֶ֛ל בָּבֶ֜ל בָּבֶ֡ל בָּבֶ֣ל ׀ בָּבֶ֤ל בָּבֶ֤ל ׀ בָּבֶ֥ל בָּבֶ֥לָה בָּבֶ֧ל בָּבֶֽלָה׃ בָּבֶֽל׃ בָּבֶל֒ בָּבֶל֙ בָּבֶל֩ בָּבֶל֮ בָבֶ֔ל בָבֶ֔לָה בָבֶ֖ל בָבֶ֗ל בָבֶ֗לָה בָבֶ֙לָה֙ בָבֶ֜ל בָבֶ֣ל בָבֶ֨ל ׀ בָבֶֽל׃ בָבֶל֙ בבבל בבבל׃ בבל בבל׃ בבלה בבלה׃ וּבָבֶ֗ל וּבָבֶ֞ל וּבָבֶ֣ל וּבָבֶ֥ל ובבל לְבָבֶ֑ל לְבָבֶ֖ל לְבָבֶ֛ל לְבָבֶ֜ל לְבָבֶ֤ל ׀ לְבָבֶ֥ל לבבל מִבָּבֶ֑ל מִבָּבֶ֔ל מִבָּבֶ֖ל מִבָּבֶ֖לָה מִבָּבֶ֡ל מִבָּבֶֽל׃ מִבָּבֶל֮ מבבל מבבל׃ מבבלה bā·ḇe·lāh ḇā·ḇe·lāh bā·ḇel ḇā·ḇel bāḇel ḇāḇel bāḇelāh ḇāḇelāh baVel baVelah bə·ḇā·ḇel bəḇāḇel bevaVel lə·ḇā·ḇel ləḇāḇel levaVel mib·bā·ḇe·lāh mib·bā·ḇel mibbāḇel mibbāḇelāh mibbaVel mibbaVelah ū·ḇā·ḇel ūḇāḇel uvaVel vaVel vaVelah

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 10:10
HEB: רֵאשִׁ֤ית מַמְלַכְתּוֹ֙ בָּבֶ֔ל וְאֶ֖רֶךְ וְאַכַּ֣ד
NAS: of his kingdom was Babel and Erech
KJV: of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech,
INT: the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad

Genesis 11:9
HEB: קָרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּי־ שָׁ֛ם
NAS: was called Babel, because
KJV: called Babel; because the LORD
INT: was called name Babel because there

2 Kings 17:24
HEB: מֶֽלֶךְ־ אַשּׁ֡וּר מִבָּבֶ֡ל וּ֠מִ֠כּוּתָה וּמֵעַוָּ֤א
NAS: brought [men] from Babylon and from Cuthah
KJV: brought [men] from Babylon, and from Cuthah,
INT: the king of Assyria Babylon Cuthah Avva

2 Kings 17:30
HEB: וְאַנְשֵׁ֣י בָבֶ֗ל עָשׂוּ֙ אֶת־
NAS: The men of Babylon made
KJV: And the men of Babylon made
INT: the men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth

2 Kings 20:12
HEB: בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֛ל סְפָרִ֥ים וּמִנְחָ֖ה
NAS: king of Babylon, sent
KJV: king of Babylon, sent
INT: of Baladan king of Babylon letters present

2 Kings 20:14
HEB: רְחוֹקָ֛ה בָּ֖אוּ מִבָּבֶֽל׃
NAS: from a far country, from Babylon.
KJV: country, [even] from Babylon.
INT: A far have come Babylon

2 Kings 20:17
HEB: הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בָּבֶ֑לָה לֹֽא־ יִוָּתֵ֥ר
NAS: will be carried to Babylon; nothing
KJV: shall be carried into Babylon: nothing
INT: day to this to Babylon not shall be left

2 Kings 20:18
HEB: בְּהֵיכַ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃
NAS: of the king of Babylon.'
KJV: in the palace of the king of Babylon.
INT: the palace of the king of Babylon

2 Kings 24:1
HEB: נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֖ר מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֑ל וַיְהִי־ ל֨וֹ
NAS: king of Babylon came
KJV: king of Babylon came up,
INT: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon became and Jehoiakim

2 Kings 24:7
HEB: לָקַ֞ח מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֗ל מִנַּ֤חַל מִצְרַ֙יִם֙
NAS: for the king of Babylon had taken
KJV: for the king of Babylon had taken
INT: had taken the king of Babylon the brook of Egypt

2 Kings 24:10
HEB: נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֖ל יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וַתָּבֹ֥א
NAS: king of Babylon went
KJV: king of Babylon came up
INT: of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Jerusalem came

2 Kings 24:11
HEB: נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֖ל עַל־ הָעִ֑יר
NAS: the king of Babylon came
KJV: king of Babylon came
INT: and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon unto the city

2 Kings 24:12
HEB: עַל־ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל ה֣וּא וְאִמּ֔וֹ
NAS: out to the king of Babylon, he and his mother
KJV: to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother,
INT: to the king of Babylon he and his mother

2 Kings 24:12
HEB: אֹתוֹ֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל בִּשְׁנַ֥ת שְׁמֹנֶ֖ה
NAS: So the king of Babylon took
KJV: and the king of Babylon took
INT: took the king of Babylon year the eighth

2 Kings 24:15
HEB: אֶת־ יְהוֹיָכִ֖ין בָּבֶ֑לָה וְאֶת־ אֵ֣ם
NAS: away into exile to Babylon; also the king's
KJV: Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's
INT: led Jehoiachin to Babylon mother the king's

2 Kings 24:15
HEB: גּוֹלָ֥ה מִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם בָּבֶֽלָה׃
NAS: from Jerusalem to Babylon.
KJV: from Jerusalem to Babylon.
INT: exile Jerusalem to Babylon

2 Kings 24:16
HEB: וַיְבִיאֵ֧ם מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֛ל גּוֹלָ֖ה בָּבֶֽלָה׃
NAS: and these the king of Babylon brought
KJV: even them the king of Babylon brought
INT: brought the king of Babylon exile to Babylon

2 Kings 24:16
HEB: בָּבֶ֛ל גּוֹלָ֖ה בָּבֶֽלָה׃
NAS: brought into exile to Babylon.
KJV: brought captive to Babylon.
INT: of Babylon exile to Babylon

2 Kings 24:17
HEB: וַיַּמְלֵ֧ךְ מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֛ל אֶת־ מַתַּנְיָ֥ה
NAS: Then the king of Babylon made
KJV: And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah
INT: made the king of Babylon Mattaniah his uncle

2 Kings 24:20
HEB: צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּמֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃ ס
NAS: rebelled against the king of Babylon.
KJV: rebelled against the king of Babylon.
INT: and Zedekiah the king of Babylon

2 Kings 25:1
HEB: נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֨ר מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֜ל ה֧וּא וְכָל־
NAS: king of Babylon came,
KJV: king of Babylon came,
INT: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon he and all

2 Kings 25:6
HEB: אֶל־ מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶ֖ל רִבְלָ֑תָה וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ
NAS: him to the king of Babylon at Riblah,
KJV: to the king of Babylon to Riblah;
INT: to the king of Babylon Riblah passed

2 Kings 25:7
HEB: בַֽנְחֻשְׁתַּ֔יִם וַיְבִאֵ֖הוּ בָּבֶֽל׃ ס
NAS: and brought him to Babylon.
KJV: of brass, and carried him to Babylon.
INT: bronze and brought to Babylon

2 Kings 25:8
HEB: נְבֻכַדְנֶאצַּ֣ר מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֑ל בָּ֞א נְבוּזַרְאֲדָ֧ן
NAS: king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan
KJV: king of Babylon, came
INT: Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came Nebuzaradan

2 Kings 25:8
HEB: עֶ֥בֶד מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֖ל יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃
NAS: of the king of Babylon, came
KJV: of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:
INT: A servant of the king of Babylon to Jerusalem

262 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 894
262 Occurrences

bā·ḇel — 184 Occ.
bā·ḇe·lāh — 24 Occ.
bə·ḇā·ḇel — 6 Occ.
lə·ḇā·ḇel — 8 Occ.
mib·bā·ḇel — 12 Occ.
mib·bā·ḇe·lāh — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇā·ḇel — 4 Occ.
ḇā·ḇel — 19 Occ.
ḇā·ḇe·lāh — 4 Occ.