בָּבֶ֫ל, בָּבֶל (ba.vel)
ba.vel
Babylon
N:N--LQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 214 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N--L
Word Overview
The Hebrew name bavel refers to the ancient city and empire of Babylon, located on the Euphrates River. The biblical text explicitly links this proper noun to the root balal, meaning "to confuse" or "to mix," as seen in the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:9. This etymological connection presents the city not merely as a political power but as a symbol of human pride and the resulting disruption of communication.
With over two hundred occurrences in the Old Testament, bavel appears most frequently in the books of Jeremiah and Kings. It serves as the backdrop for Israel’s exile and the rise of empires that opposed God’s people. The name carries a heavy theological weight throughout Scripture, representing a center of idolatry and opposition to Jerusalem, from its mention in Isaiah’s prophecies to its role in the historical narratives of the monarchy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Babel carries a heavy weight in Scripture, linking the ancient city to the confusion of languages at the Tower of Babel. This connection reminds us that human pride often leads to division and broken communication. When we see Babylon in the Old Testament, we are looking at a symbol of systems that stand against God’s people and disrupt His purposes.
Yet this word also marks a season of judgment and exile for Israel. The prophets warned that Jerusalem would fall to Babylon because of idolatry and rebellion. For believers today, Babel serves as a sobering reminder that no earthly power can ultimately resist God’s sovereignty. Even in the midst of loss or confusion, His plan remains steady.
Understanding Babel helps us see the contrast between human ambition and divine order. While Babylon represents scattered pride, God’s people are called to trust in His ultimate restoration. This history invites us to examine where we might be building our own towers of self-reliance instead of resting in His provision.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 214 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Babylon182×
- Babylon/ towards24×
- from/ Babylon12×
- to/ Babylon6×
- in/ Babylon4×
- and/ Babylon4×
- for/ Babylon2×
- Babel2×
- on/ Babylon1×
- from/ Babylon/ <towards>1×
- [are] in/ Babylon1×
- O Babylon1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָּבֶ֖ל36×
- בָּבֶ֔ל33×
- בָּבֶל֙18×
- בָּבֶֽל\׃18×
- בָּבֶ֛ל14×
- בָּבֶ֑ל13×
- בָּבֶֽלָ/ה\׃12×
- בָּבֶ֜ל9×
- בָּבֶ֗ל8×
- בָבֶ֔ל4×
- מִ/בָּבֶֽל\׃3×
- בָּבֶֽל\׃\ \ס3×
Key Verses
-
Genesis 11:9
Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.
This verse explains the etymology of the name, linking Babel to the Hebrew root for 'confuse' and establishing its symbolic meaning as a place of divided humanity.
-
II Kings 20:17
‘Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh.
Isaiah’s prophecy here uses Babel to predict the future exile, showing how the city became the instrument of God’s judgment on Judah's kings.
-
II Kings 25:7
They killed Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, then put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in fetters, and carried him to Babylon.
This account details the capture of King Zedekiah by the king of Babylon, marking the final end of the Davidic monarchy in Jerusalem and the height of Babylonian dominance.