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.
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.
- KJV 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.
- 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.
- 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 10:5Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.
- Gen 10:10The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
- Gen 10:20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, according to their languages, in their lands and their nations.
- Acts 17:26He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,
- 1 Cor 14:23If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?
- Gen 10:25To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother’s name was Joktan.
- Jer 50:1–46The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.
- Gen 10:31–32These are the sons of Shem, by their families, according to their languages, lands, and nations.
- Isa 13:1–14The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw:
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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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.