Babble
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Definition and Usage:
The term "babble" generally refers to speech that is incoherent, foolish, or meaningless. In a biblical context, it often denotes idle talk or vain repetitions that lack substance or sincerity. The concept of babbling is addressed in both the Old and New Testaments, where it is often associated with ungodliness or a lack of true wisdom.

Biblical References:

1. Ecclesiastes 10:14 :
"Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?"
This verse highlights the futility of excessive and foolish speech, suggesting that such babbling is characteristic of a fool who speaks without knowledge or understanding of the future.

2. Proverbs 10:19 :
"When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise."
Here, the wisdom literature of Proverbs warns against the dangers of excessive talking, implying that babbling can lead to sin. The wise person exercises restraint in speech, avoiding the pitfalls of idle chatter.

3. Matthew 6:7 :
"And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard."
In this teaching from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs His followers to avoid the vain repetitions characteristic of pagan prayers. The emphasis is on sincere and meaningful communication with God, rather than empty and repetitive phrases.

4. 1 Timothy 6:20 :
"O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid irreverent, empty chatter and the opposing arguments of so-called knowledge."
The Apostle Paul warns Timothy to steer clear of irreverent and empty talk, which he associates with false knowledge. This suggests that babbling can be a distraction from true faith and sound doctrine.

Theological Implications:

In the biblical narrative, babbling is often contrasted with wisdom and meaningful communication. It is seen as a manifestation of folly and a lack of spiritual depth. The Bible encourages believers to be mindful of their words, promoting speech that is edifying, truthful, and reflective of a sincere heart.

Practical Application:

For Christians, the admonition against babbling serves as a reminder to cultivate thoughtful and intentional communication. Whether in prayer, teaching, or everyday conversation, believers are called to speak with purpose and clarity, avoiding the pitfalls of idle or meaningless talk. This aligns with the broader biblical principle of using one's words to build up others and glorify God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. i.) To utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly; to utter inarticulate sounds; as a child babbles.

2. (v. i.) To talk incoherently; to utter unmeaning words.

3. (v. i.) To talk much; to chatter; to prate.

4. (v. i.) To make a continuous murmuring noise, as shallow water running over stones.

5. (v. i.) To utter in an indistinct or incoherent way; to repeat, as words, in a childish way without understanding.

6. (v. i.) To disclose by too free talk, as a secret.

7. (n.) Idle talk; senseless prattle; gabble; twaddle.

8. (n.) Inarticulate speech; constant or confused murmur.

Greek
2757. kenophonia -- empty talk
... Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: kenophonia Phonetic Spelling: (ken-of-o-
nee'-ah) Short Definition: empty disputing, worthless babble Definition: empty ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2757.htm - 6k

2981. lalia -- talk
... Transliteration: lalia Phonetic Spelling: (lal-ee-ah') Short Definition: speech,
talk, dialect Definition: (in classical Greek: babble, chattering) speech, talk ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2981.htm - 6k

3150. mataiologia -- idle or foolish talk
... vain jangling. From mataiologos; random talk, ie Babble -- vain jangling. see GREEK
mataiologos. (mataiologian) -- 1 Occurrence. 3149, 3150. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3150.htm - 6k

5397. phluaros -- babbling
... 5397 () is only used in 1 Tim 5:13. Word Origin from phluo (to babble)
Definition babbling NASB Word Usage gossips (1). tattler. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5397.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
981. bata -- to speak rashly or thoughtlessly
... pronounce, speak unadvisedly. Or batah {baw-taw'}; a primitive root; to babble;
hence, to vociferate angrily -- pronounce, speak (unadvisedly). 980, 981. ...
/hebrew/981.htm - 6k
Library

The Next Night Diamond was Seated by his Open Window...
... And so it was. It began with a musical tinkle which changed to a babble and
then to a gentle rushing. Sometimes its song would almost ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 37 the next night.htm

The Lord's Prayer: the Preface in Matthew
... When we pray let us not babble but use godly speech. We babble when, without
scrutiny of ourselves or of the devotional words we ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter xii the lords prayer .htm

Psalm LXXVII.
... Watch again, that thy spirit faint not. I did not, he saith, I did not so
babble as if it were abroad: in another way now. How now? ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm lxxvii.htm

The Love of Rameses
... When the portals opened, a broad shaft of light shot into the night, a multitude
of attendants was seen bowing; gusts of reedy music and babble and the smell ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxv the love of.htm

The Son of the Murket
... blackly at the nomarch's daughter. Kenkenes sighed and interested himself
in the babble that went on about him. The first word he ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xvii the son of.htm

Impressive Phrases
... B. bad, vicious, unwholesome, and distressing. babble, prate, chatter, and prattle.
barbarous, brutal, inhuman, and cruel. base, cowardly, abject, and hideous. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section iv impressive phrases.htm

Answer to Objections: Conditions Necessary to Prayer
... Thus we are not to babble or ask for little things or pray for earthly things
or enter upon prayer with anger and with thoughts disturbed. ...
/.../origen/origen on prayer/chapter v answer to objections .htm

The Teacher Spirit
... How we have let passion, prejudice, human voices, the babble of men's tongues, anybody
and everybody, take the office of teaching us God's truth, instead of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the teacher spirit.htm

The Words of Our Lips.
... By means of that instrument the sermon of the preacher, the music of the singer,
the weighty words of the wise, and the silly babble of the foolish, can be ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xl the words of.htm

Watching unto God in the Night Season
... Surely, idle conversation. Is an evil matched by none. Worldly prate and babble
hurt me; Unintelligible prove; Neither teach me nor divert me; ...
/.../watching unto god in the 2.htm

Thesaurus
Babble (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Babble (1 Occurrence). Job 11:3 Should your boastings
make men hold their peace? When you mock, shall no man make you ashamed? ...
/b/babble.htm - 7k

Prate (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To talk much and to little purpose; to
be loquacious; to speak foolishly; to babble. 2. (vt) To ...
/p/prate.htm - 6k

Babbler (4 Occurrences)

/b/babbler.htm - 9k

Fowl (73 Occurrences)
... fowl" (among the provisions for Solomon's table for one day), is probably a mimetic
word, like Greek barbaros, Latin murmuro, English babble, perhaps denoting ...
/f/fowl.htm - 36k

Drivel (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (n.) Slaver; saliva flowing from the mouth. 4. (n.) Inarticulate or unmeaning
utterance; foolish talk; babble. 5. (n.) A driveller; a fool; an idiot. ...
/d/drivel.htm - 7k

Mocker (11 Occurrences)
... Job 13:9 twice, the Revised Version (British and American) "deceiveth," "deceive,"
margin "mocketh," "mock"); of la`agh, "to stammer" or "babble in mimicry ...
/m/mocker.htm - 14k

Mocking (25 Occurrences)
... Job 13:9 twice, the Revised Version (British and American) "deceiveth," "deceive,"
margin "mocketh," "mock"); of la`agh, "to stammer" or "babble in mimicry ...
/m/mocking.htm - 18k

Mock (43 Occurrences)
... Job 13:9 twice, the Revised Version (British and American) "deceiveth," "deceive,"
margin "mocketh," "mock"); of la`agh, "to stammer" or "babble in mimicry ...
/m/mock.htm - 23k

Baasha's (5 Occurrences)

/b/baasha's.htm - 7k

Resources
What does it mean that God is not the author of confusion? | GotQuestions.org

Is there a heavenly language? What language will we speak in heaven? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to be godless? | GotQuestions.org

Babble: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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