Topical Bible: Babylonians

◄ Babylonians ►

Jump to: Smith's • ISBE • Concordance • Thesaurus • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The Babylonians were an ancient Semitic-speaking people who inhabited the region of Mesopotamia, primarily centered around the city of Babylon. This civilization played a significant role in biblical history, particularly in the context of the Old Testament. The Babylonians are often depicted as both a powerful empire and an instrument of God's judgment against the Israelites.

Historical Background

Babylon, located in modern-day Iraq, rose to prominence under the rule of Hammurabi in the 18th century BC. However, it is during the Neo-Babylonian Empire (626–539 BC) that the Babylonians are most prominently featured in the Bible. This period is marked by the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, who is known for his military conquests and the construction of the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Biblical Significance

The Babylonians are most notably recognized for their conquest of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. This event led to the Babylonian Exile, a pivotal moment in Jewish history. The Bible describes this period as a time of punishment for the Israelites' disobedience and idolatry.

Key Biblical References

1. Conquest of Jerusalem: The fall of Jerusalem is detailed in several biblical books, including 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Jeremiah. In 2 Kings 25:8-9 , it is recorded: "On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem. He burned down the house of the LORD, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem—every significant building."

2. The Babylonian Exile: The exile is a central theme in the prophetic books. Jeremiah 29:10 offers a message of hope amidst judgment: "For this is what the LORD says: 'When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and confirm My promise to restore you to this place.'"

3. Prophecies Against Babylon: The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah both prophesied the eventual downfall of Babylon. Isaiah 13:19 declares: "And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah."

4. Daniel in Babylon: The Book of Daniel provides insight into the life of the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Daniel 1:1-2 recounts: "In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the house of God."

Cultural and Religious Influence

The Babylonians were known for their advancements in mathematics, astronomy, and literature. Their religious practices were polytheistic, with Marduk being the chief deity. The influence of Babylonian culture and religion is evident in the biblical narrative, often serving as a backdrop for the Israelites' struggle to maintain their covenantal faith amidst foreign influences.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the Babylonians are seen as instruments of divine judgment, used by God to discipline His people. Yet, their eventual downfall serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and justice. The Babylonian captivity also set the stage for the eventual return and restoration of the Jewish people, highlighting themes of repentance, redemption, and the faithfulness of God to His promises.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Babylonians

the inhabitants of Babylon, a race of Shemitic origin, who were among the colonists planted in the cities of Samaria by the conquering Assyrian. (Ezra 4:9)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

BABYLONIANS

bab-i-lo'-ni-anz: The inhabitants of BABYLONIA (which see). They were among the colonists planted in Samaria by the Assyrians (Ezra 4:9). "The likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea" (Ezekiel 23:15) refers to the pictures which were common on the walls of Babylonian palaces, and the reports of them being heard in Jerusalem, or copies of them seen there, awakened the nation's desire for these unknown lovers, which Judah had ample occasion to repent of (Ezekiel 23:17, 23; compare 2 Kings 24).

Strong's Hebrew

896. Babelay -- inhab. of Bab.
... inhab. of Bab. Transliteration: Babelay Phonetic Spelling: (bab-lee') Short Definition:
Babylonians. ... of Bab. NASB Word Usage Babylonians (1). Babylonia. ...
/hebrew/896.htm - 6k

5371. Nergal Sharetser -- a Bab. court official
... Nergal-sharezer. From Nergal and Shar'etser; Nergal-Sharetser, the name of two
Babylonians -- Nergal-sharezer. see HEBREW Nergal. see HEBREW Shar'etser. ...
/hebrew/5371.htm - 6k

1078. Bel -- a chief Bab. deity
... deity NASB Word Usage Bel (3). Bel. By contraction for Ba'al; Bel, the Baal of the
Babylonians -- Bel. see HEBREW Ba'al. 1077, 1078. Bel. 1079 . ...
/hebrew/1078.htm - 6k

1121. ben -- son
... afflicted (1), afflicted* (1), age (7), aliens* (2), Ammonites* (7), anointed*
(1), arrow (1), arrows (1), Assyrians* (3), baby (1), Babylonians* (3), beasts ( ...
/hebrew/1121.htm - 8k

894. Babel -- an E. Mediterranean empire and its capital city
... Word Origin perhaps from balal Definition an E. Mediterranean empire and its capital
city NASB Word Usage Babel (2), Babylon (257), Babylonians* (3). ...
/hebrew/894.htm - 6k

746. Aryowk -- king of Ellasar
... Definition: Arioch. Arioch Of foreign origin; Arjok, the name of two Babylonians --
Arioch. 745b, 746. Aryowk. 746a . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/746.htm - 5k

Library

Recapitulation of Theologies and Cosmogonies; System of the ...
... Chapter XLIII."Recapitulation of Theologies and Cosmogonies; System of the Persians;
Of the Babylonians; The Egyptian Notion of Deity; Their Theology Based ...
/.../chapter xliii recapitulation of theologies and.htm

Synagogues in the City; and Schools.
... scape-goat into the wilderness: but once, one Arsela, who was an Israelite, led
him away: and they made him a footstool because of the Babylonians, who used to ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 36 synagogues in the.htm

The Israelites
... The very words which were used by the Babylonians four or five thousand years ago,
can still be heard, with the same meaning attached to them, in the streets ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter i the israelites.htm

How Nebuzaradan Set Gedaliah Over the Jews that were Left in Judea ...
... But as to those that fled away during the siege of Jerusalem, and had been scattered
over the country, when they heard that the Babylonians were gone away, and ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 how nebuzaradan set.htm

That the King of Babylon Repented of Making Jehoiachin King, and ...
... 3. Now when Zedekiah had preserved the league of mutual assistance he had made with
the Babylonians for eight years, he brake it, and revolted to the Egyptians ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 that the king.htm

On Daniel. Ii. The Interpretation by Hippolytus, (Bishop) of Rome ...
... Then after the lioness he sees a second beast, "like a bear," which signified the
Persians. For after the Babylonians the Persians obtained the power. ...
/.../on daniel ii the interpretation.htm

The Place of the Old Testament in Divine Revelation
... Modern discovery and research have demonstrated that the truth revealed through
the Babylonians and with less definiteness through the people of the Nile was ...
/.../the origin and permanent value of the old testament/iv the place of the.htm

The Revolt of Babylon.
... City of Babylon."The captive Jews."Wickedness of the Babylonians."Causes of
discontent."Preparations of the Babylonians for revolt."Their secrecy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter vii the revolt of.htm

Esther
... The Babylonians had also held a new year festival in spring, at which the gods,
under the presidency of Marduk, were supposed to draw the lots for the coming ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/esther.htm

What Befell the Jews that were in Babylon on Occasion of Asineus ...
... Jerusalem; and many ten thousand men undertook the carriage of those donations,
out of fear of the ravages of the Parthians, to whom the Babylonians were then ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 9 what befell the.htm

Thesaurus

Babylonians (48 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BABYLONIANS. bab-i-lo'-ni-anz: The inhabitants
of BABYLONIA (which see). ... Multi-Version Concordance Babylonians (48 Occurrences). ...
/b/babylonians.htm - 22k

Augury (5 Occurrences)
... Among the Romans as among other nations (Babylonians, etc.), a sacrifice was offered
before omens were taken, so as to propitiate the gods. III. ...
/a/augury.htm - 17k

Succoth-benoth (1 Occurrence)
... Codex Alexandrinus (better) Sokchothbenithei): 1. The Meaning according to the Hebrew:
The name of an idol made by the Babylonians sent into exile at Samaria ...
/s/succoth-benoth.htm - 9k

Succothbenoth (1 Occurrence)
... Codex Alexandrinus (better) Sokchothbenithei): 1. The Meaning according to the Hebrew:
The name of an idol made by the Babylonians sent into exile at Samaria ...
/s/succothbenoth.htm - 9k

Chedorlaomer (5 Occurrences)
... 2. Kudur-lahgumal and the Babylonians 3. The Son of Eri-Ekua 4. Durmah-ilani,
Tudhul(a) and Kudur-lahmal 5. The Fate of Sinful Rulers 6. The Poetical Legend 7 ...
/c/chedorlaomer.htm - 16k

Weights (14 Occurrences)
... They do not seem to have employed the foot, though it is represented in the
two-thirds of the cubit, which was used by the Babylonians in the manufacture of ...
/w/weights.htm - 21k

Measures (50 Occurrences)
... They do not seem to have employed the foot, though it is represented in the
two-thirds of the cubit, which was used by the Babylonians in the manufacture of ...
/m/measures.htm - 35k

Golden (86 Occurrences)
... If the immediate ancestors of Abraham did not revere this deity, they were certainly
quite unlike their relatives, the Babylonians, among whom, according to ...
/g/golden.htm - 66k

Tower (74 Occurrences)
... 2. Their Babylonian Name: These erections had, with the Babylonians, a special name:
ziqquratu, meaning, apparently, "peak," or the highest point of a mountain ...
/t/tower.htm - 52k

Library
... treasures. III. Writing-Materials. Fortunately for us the ordinary
writing-material of the Babylonians and Assyrians was clay. It ...
/l/library.htm - 16k

Resources

When and how was Judah conquered by the Babylonians? | GotQuestions.org

What is the significance of Babylon in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Zedekiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Babylonians (48 Occurrences)

2 Kings 25:4
Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden (now the Chaldeans were against the city around it); and the king went by the way of the Arabah.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 25:25
But it happened in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the royal seed came, and ten men with him, and struck Gedaliah, so that he died, and the Jews and the Chaldeans that were with him at Mizpah.
(See NIV)

2 Kings 25:26
All the people, both small and great, and the captains of the forces, arose, and came to Egypt; for they were afraid of the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Ezra 4:9
then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, and the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Shushanchites, the Dehaites, the Elamites,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Isaiah 13:19
And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 43:14
Thus saith the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and I will bring down all of them as fugitives, even the Chaldeans, in the ships of their shouting.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 47:1
Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 47:5
Be seated in the dark without a word, O daughter of the Chaldaeans: for you will no longer be named, The Queen of Kingdoms.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 48:14
Assemble yourselves, all ye, and hear; which among them hath declared these things? He whom the LORD loveth shall perform His pleasure on Babylon, and show His arm on the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 48:20
Go ye forth from Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans; with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye: 'The LORD hath redeemed His servant Jacob.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 21:4
Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel: Lo, I am turning round the weapons of battle That 'are' in your hand, With which ye do fight the king of Babylon, And the Chaldeans, who are laying siege against you, At the outside of the wall, And I have gathered them into the midst of this city,
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 21:9
He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out, and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 22:25
And I have given thee into the hand of those seeking thy life, And into hands of which thou art afraid, Into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, And into the hand of the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 24:5
Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so will I regard the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans, for good.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 25:12
And it hath come to pass, at the fulness of seventy years, I charge against the king of Babylon, and against that nation -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- their iniquity, and against the land of the Chaldeans, and have appointed it for desolations age-during.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 32:4
And Zedekiah king of Judah doth not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but is certainly given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and his mouth hath spoken with his mouth, and his eyes see his eyes,
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 32:5
And 'to' Babylon he leadeth Zedekiah, and there he is till My inspecting him, -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- because ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye do not prosper.'
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 32:24
Behold, the mounds, they are come to the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence; and what you have spoken has happened; and behold, you see it.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 32:25
You have said to me, Lord Yahweh, Buy the field for money, and call witnesses; whereas the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 32:28
Therefore, thus said Jehovah, Lo, I am giving this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he hath captured it;
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 32:43
Fields shall be bought in this land, about which you say, It is desolate, without man or animal; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 33:5
while men come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have killed in my anger and in my wrath, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city:
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 37:5
Pharaoh's army was come forth out of Egypt; and when the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard news of them, they broke up from Jerusalem.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 37:9
Thus says Yahweh, Don't deceive yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us; for they shall not depart.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 37:13
When he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he laid hold on Jeremiah the prophet, saying, You are falling away to the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 37:14
Then said Jeremiah, It is false; I am not falling away to the Chaldeans. But he didn't listen to him; so Irijah laid hold on Jeremiah, and brought him to the princes.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 38:2
Thus says Yahweh, He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey, and he shall live.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 38:18
And if thou dost not go forth unto the heads of the king of Babylon, then hath this city been given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they have burnt it with fire, and thou dost not escape from their hand.'
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 38:19
Zedekiah the king said to Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews who are fallen away to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 38:23
And all thy wives, and thy sons, are brought forth unto the Chaldeans, and thou dost not escape from their hand, for by the hand of the king of Babylon thou art caught, and this city is burnt with fire.'
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 40:9
And swear to them doth Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and to their men, saying, 'Be not afraid of serving the Chaldeans, abide in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it is well for you;
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 40:10
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who shall come to us: but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 41:18
from the presence of the Chaldeans, for they have been afraid of them, for Ishmael son of Nethaniah had smitten Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 43:3
for Baruch son of Neriah is moving thee against us, in order to give us up into the hand of the Chaldeans, to put us to death, and to remove us to Babylon.'
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 50:1
The word that Jehovah hath spoken concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet:
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 50:8
Move ye from the midst of Babylon, And from the land of the Chaldeans go out. And be as he-goats before a flock.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 50:25
Yahweh has opened his armory, and has brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a work to do in the land of the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 50:35
A sword 'is' for the Chaldeans, An affirmation of Jehovah, And it 'is' on the inhabitants of Babylon, And on her heads, and on her wise men;
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 50:45
Therefore, hear ye the counsel of Jehovah, That He counselled concerning Babylon, And His devices that He hath devised Concerning the land of the Chaldeans; Drag them out do not little ones of the flock, Doth He not make desolate over them the habitation?
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 51:54
A voice of a cry 'is' from Babylon, And of great destruction from the land of the Chaldean.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 52:7
Then a breach was made in the city, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were against the city all around;) and they went toward the Arabah.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 1:3
the word of Yahweh came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was there on him.
(See NIV)

Ezekiel 23:15
girded with girdles on their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads, all of them princes to look on, after the likeness of the Babylonians in Chaldea, the land of their birth.
(WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 23:17
The Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their prostitution, and she was polluted with them, and her soul was alienated from them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 23:23
the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod and Shoa and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them; desirable young men, governors and rulers all of them, princes and men of renown, all of them riding on horses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Daniel 1:4
youths in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and endowed with knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability to stand in the king's palace; and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans.
(See NIV)

Daniel 5:30
In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.
(See NIV)

Habakkuk 1:6
For, behold, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, that march through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Babylonians

Related Terms

Mantle (35 Occurrences)

Babylon's (11 Occurrences)

Garment (143 Occurrences)

Jew (34 Occurrences)

Golan (4 Occurrences)

Tin (6 Occurrences)

Achan (7 Occurrences)

Abib (5 Occurrences)

Spoils (19 Occurrences)