Lexical Definition
בָּבֶל Bâbel (baw-bel') Babylon N:N--L
from בָּלַל; confusion
Babel, Babylon.
- § Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)"
- Babel (i.e. Babylon), including Babylonia and the Babylonian empire
1) Babel or Babylon, the ancient site and/or capital of Babylonia (modern Hillah) situated on the Euphrates
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Aramaic form: בַּבֶל
בָּבֶ֫ל262 proper name, of a location Babel, Babylon (in Assyrian written Bab-ilu, gate of god DlPa 212, compare on other hand JenKosmol. 498) — with ָ ה locative בָּבֶ֫לָה Ezek 12:13 +, בָּבֶ֑לָה 2Kgs 20:17 + once מִבָּבֶ֫לָה Jer 27:16 — the ancient capital of Babylonia, modern Hillah, situated on Euphrates, in long. approximately 440 30° east, and latitude approximately 320 50° north; Gen 10:10; Gen 11:9 (where name connected with בלל confuse, confound), both J, not elsewhere in Hexateuch; 2Kgs 17:24 + 31 t. 2 Kings; 18 t. Chronicles; Esth 2:6 late Ps 87:4; Ps 137:1; Ps 137:8 Isa2; Isa3, namely Isa 13:1; Isa 13:19; Isa 14:4; Isa 14:22; Isa 21:9; Isa 39:1; Isa 39:3; Isa 39:6; Isa 39:7; Isa 43:14; Isa 47:1; Isa 48:14; Isa 48:20; Mic 4:10 (but here probably not original, compare RSProph. vii. n. 5 & references) Zech 2:11*; Zech 6:10; + 19 t. Ezekiel; Jer 20:4 (twice in verse); Jer 20:5; Jer 20:6 + 165 t. Jeremiah — note especially ׳אֶרֶץ בּ Jer 50:28 also of land & people = realm, particular in ׳מֶלֶךְ בּ 2Kgs 20:12 of Merodach Baladan; v2Kgs 20:18; 2Kgs 24:1; 2Kgs 24:7; 2Kgs 24:11; 2Kgs 24:12 (twice in verse) + often of Nebuchadrezzar; 2Kgs 25:27 = Jer 52:31 compare vJer 52:34 of Evil-Merodach; Neh 13:6 of Artaxerxes; the city personified as בַּת בָּבֶל Isa 47:1; Jer 50:42. (See DlPa 212 COT Gen 11:9 KG95.)
Brown-Driver-Briggs References
| Book | Refs |
|---|---|
| Genesis | 10:10 · 11:9 |
| 2 Kings | 17:24 · 20:12 · 20:17 · 20:18 · 24:1 · 24:7 · 24:11 · 24:12 · 25:27 |
| Nehemiah | 13:6 |
| Esther | 2:6 |
| Psalms | 87:4 · 137:1 · 137:8 |
| Isaiah | 13:1 · 13:19 · 14:4 · 14:22 · 21:9 · 39:1 · 39:3 · 39:6 · 39:7 · 43:14 · 47:1 · 48:14 · 48:20 |
| Jeremiah | 20:4 · 20:5 · 20:6 · 27:16 · 50:28 · 50:42 · 52:31 · 52:34 |
| Ezekiel | 12:13 |
| Micah | 4:10 |
| Zechariah | 2:11* · 6:10 |
Profile
Babylon • Ancient Mesopotamian city, capital of Babylonian Empire, site of the Tower of Babel.
Babylon, also known as Babel, Sheshak, Merathaim, or Pekod, was an ancient Mesopotamian city that served as the capital of the Babylonian Empire. (Multiple references, see article for details)
- A location first mentioned at Gen.10.10;
- referred to as Babylon or Babylonia or Babel or Babylonian or - (KJV, NIV= Babylon) בָּבֶל, or Babylon or Babylonia בַּבֶל, or Babylonian בַּבְלִי, or Babylon (KJV= Sheshach, NIV= Sheshak) שֵׁשַׁךְ, or Merathaim מְרָתַיִם, or Pekod פְּקוֹד, or Babylon Βαβυλών.
Babylon, also known as Babel, was an ancient city located in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) along the Euphrates River. It served as the capital of the Babylonian Empire, one of the most powerful empires in the ancient Near East. The city first appears in the Bible in Genesis 10:10 as part of Nimrod's kingdom and is identified as the location of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:9).
Throughout the Old Testament, Babylon is mentioned as a major political and military power, often in conflict with Israel and Judah. The city became the dominant power in the region under King Nebuchadnezzar II, who conquered Judah, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and exiled many Jews to Babylon (2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36). The Babylonian captivity lasted for 70 years, as prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10).
Several Old Testament prophets, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, prophesied against Babylon, foretelling its eventual downfall (Isaiah 13-14; Jeremiah 50-51; Ezekiel 26-32). In these prophecies, Babylon is sometimes referred to by other names, such as Sheshak (Jeremiah 25:26; 51:41), Merathaim (Jeremiah 50:21), and Pekod (Jeremiah 50:21; Ezekiel 23:23), which are believed to be code names or references to specific regions within the Babylonian Empire.
After the Persians conquered Babylon in 539 BC, the city gradually declined in importance. In the New Testament, Babylon is used symbolically to represent worldly power and opposition to God (Revelation 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21).
All entries for Babylon or Babel Sheshak or Merathaim or Pekod: בָּבֶל ☩ בַּבֶל ☩ שֵׁשַׁךְ ☩ מְרָתַיִם ☩ פְּקוֹד ☩ Βαβυλών ☩ בַּבְלִי