Babel — Bible place

The name given to the tower which the primitive fathers of our race built in the land of Shinar after the Deluge (Gen. 11:1-9). Their object in building this tower was probably that it might be seen as a rallying-point in the extensive plain of Shinar, to which they had emigrated from the uplands of Armenia, and so prevent their being scattered abroad. But God interposed and defeated their design by condounding their language, and hence the name Babel, meaning “confusion.” In the Babylonian tablets there is an account of this event, and also of the creation and the deluge.

The Temple of Belus, which is supposed to occupy its site, is described by the Greek historian Herodotus as a temple of great extent and magnificence, erected by the Babylonians for their god Belus. The treasures Nebuchadnezzar brought from Jerusalem were laid up in this temple (2 Chr. 36:7).

The Birs Nimrud, at ancient Borsippa, about 7 miles south-west of Hillah, the modern town which occupies a part of the site of ancient Babylon, and 6 miles from the Euphrates, is an immense mass of broken and fire-blasted fragments, of about 2,300 feet in circumference, rising suddenly to the height of 235 feet above the desert-plain, and is with probability regarded as the ruins of the tower of Babel. This is “one of the most imposing ruins in the country.” Others think it to be the ruins of the Temple of Belus.

People and places

Recorded scripture occurrences (2)

References recorded in the source data; this is not an exhaustive list of mentions.

Show passage in OET: GEN 10:10

OET-RV GEN 10:10

10 His kingdom began in the cities of Bavel, Erek, Akad, and Keleneh, all in the Shin’ar region.

OET-LV GEN 10:10

10 And_it _became the _beginning _of his/its_kingdom Bāⱱel and_Erech and_Akkad and_Kələneh in_land of _Shinˊār.

Show passage in OET: GEN 11:9

OET-RV GEN 11:9

9 That’s why they named the city ‘Bavel’ (meaning ‘mixed-up’) because it was there that Yahweh mixed up everyone’s language and then scattered them over the whole world.

OET-LV GEN 11:9

9 Therefore yes/correct/thus/so someone _called his/its_name Bāⱱel if/because there YHWH he _confused the _language _of all _of the_earth/land and_from_there he/it _scattered_them YHWH over the _surface _of all _of the_earth/land.

Jump to OET GEN 10:10 section.

Jump to OET GEN 11:9 section.

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