Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- BSB That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.
- NKJV Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
- NASB Therefore it was named Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.
- NLT That is why the city was called Babel, because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The place was named Babel because there God confused the world's language and scattered the people. Babel becomes a lasting symbol of prideful rebellion and divine judgment.
Overview
The name Babel, linked to confusion, memorializes God's judgment on human arrogance. Throughout Scripture, Babel and Babylon symbolize rebellion against God and worldly pride. The scattering at Babel is reversed in the gospel: at Pentecost the Spirit unites diverse peoples, and in Christ a redeemed multitude from every language is gathered into one.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Gen 10:5By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.
- Gen 10:10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
- Gen 10:20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.
- Acts 17:26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
- 1 Cor 14:23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
- Gen 10:25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan.
- Jer 50:1–46The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
- Gen 10:31–32These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
- Isa 13:1–14The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 11:9 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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