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בַּבֶל

𐤁𐤁𐤋

Bavel

H895 noun

SILEX Entry

Root בלל to mix, to confuse

Definition

Babel—primarily refers to the city known in Akkadian as Babilu (Babylon), a major urban center in ancient Mesopotamia, and, by extension, to the territory of Babylonia or the broader Babylonian empire. In narrative contexts, particularly Genesis 11, the term is used for the city where the Tower of Babel episode takes place. In later Israelite historical and prophetic texts, it denotes both the capital city and the imperial realm of Babylon, encompassing the polity, people, and land under Babylonian control. The use of בָּבֶל often carries connotations of foreign power, exile, or hostility toward the Israelite polity, especially in exilic and post-exilic writings.

Semantic Range

Babylon (city), Babylonia (territory or empire), region ruled by Babylon, city of Babel (site of the Tower), symbolic center of power or exile

Root / Etymology

The word בָּבֶל is a loanword from the Akkadian 'Babilu,' meaning 'Gate of God' (bab = gate, ilu = god). While traditional etymologies in Genesis 11:9 associate the term with the Hebrew verb בָּלַל (balal, 'to confuse'), this is likely an example of folk etymology rather than the true origin of the name. The Aramaic form is identical in spelling and pronunciation to the Hebrew.

Historical & Contextual Notes

בָּבֶל initially designates the ancient Mesopotamian city of Babylon, appearing first in Genesis as the site of the Tower of Babel episode. In the historical books (e.g., Kings, Chronicles) and prophetic literature, especially from the late monarchic through exilic periods, בָּבֶל refers to the imperial capital and the cultural-political entity dominating the Near East, including the territory governed from Babylon. In exilic and post-exilic context, בָּבֶל becomes shorthand for the place of Israelite dispersal and captivity. The standard English translation 'Babylon' is generally accurate, though it does not always capture the narrative overtones or symbolic use of the city (e.g., as a symbol of hubris or divine judgment in prophetic texts). There is an interpretive shift from strictly geographic or historical usage in early texts to more symbolic and polemical use in later literature. The term should not be confused with later theological or ideological meanings found in post-biblical writings.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to בָּבֶל; {Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire}; Babylon.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בלל (b-l-l) — to mix, to confuse

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1098 בְּלִיל mixed grain-fodder
H1101 בָּלַל he mixed
H8397 תֶּבֶל illicit mixture
H8400 תְּבַּלֻּל eye-clouding mixture
H894 בָּבֶל Babel

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H895-04 בָבֶֽל vavel ANp Babylon Babel-Babylon 11
H895-01 בָּבֶֽל bavel ANp of Babylon Babel/Babylon 10
H895-02 בְּ/בָבֶל֒ bevavel AR/Np in Babylon in Babel 2
H895-03 לְ/בָבֶֽל levavel AR/Np to Babylon to Babylon 2

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H895-04 Daniel 2:12 בָבֶֽל vavel ANp of Babylon Babel-Babylon
H895-01 Daniel 2:14 בָּבֶֽל bavel ANp of Babylon Babel/Babylon
H895-04 Daniel 2:18 בָבֶֽל vavel ANp of Babylon Babel-Babylon
H895-04 Daniel 2:24 בָבֶ֑ל vavel ANp Babylon Babel-Babylon
H895-04 Daniel 2:24 בָבֶל֙ vavel-2 ANp Babylon Babel-Babylon
H895-01 Daniel 2:48 בָּבֶ֑ל bavel ANp of Babylon Babel/Babylon
H895-04 Daniel 2:48 בָבֶֽל vavel ANp of Babylon Babel-Babylon
H895-01 Daniel 2:49 בָּבֶ֔ל bavel ANp of Babylon Babel/Babylon
H895-01 Daniel 3:1 בָּבֶֽל bavel ANp Babylon Babel/Babylon
H895-01 Daniel 3:12 בָּבֶ֔ל bavel ANp of Babylon Babel/Babylon
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