Babel
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225268725
2008-07-12T20:13:33Z
82.37.128.124
{{Mergeto|Babylon|date=April 2008}}
{{two other uses|the Babel name|an account of the historical city|Babylon}}
'''Babel''' ({{lang-he|בָּבֶל}}; ''Bavel'') ([[Arabic]]: بابل; ''Babel'') is the name used in the [[Hebrew Bible]] and the [[Qur'an]] for the city of '''[[Babylon]]''' ([[Akkadian language|Akkadian]] '''Babilu'''), notable in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] as the location of the [[Tower of Babel]].
In Gen. 11:9, the name of Babel is etymologized by association with the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] verb ''balal'', "to confuse or confound": ''Balal'' is regarded as a contraction of earlier ''*balbal''. The name ''bab-ilu'' in Akkadian means "gate of god" (from ''bab'' "gate" + ''ilu'' "god"). The word ''bab-el'' can also be seen to mean "gate of god" (from ''bab'' "gate" + ''el'' "god").
Babel is mentioned in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] 10:10 as the home city of [[Nimrod (king)|Nimrod]]:<blockquote>[10] And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel (Persia), and [[Erech]], and [[Accad]], and [[Calneh]], in the land of [[Shinar]]. [11] Out of that land went forth [[Asshur]], and builded [[Nineveh]], and the city [[Rehoboth]], and [[Calah]], [12] And [[Resen]] between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city. ([[KJV]])</blockquote>
According to Genesis 11:1–9, humankind, after the deluge, traveled from the mountain where the [[Noah's ark|ark]] had rested, and settled in "a plain in the land of Shinar." Here, they attempted to build a city and a tower whose top would be in the [[Heaven]]s, the [[Tower of Babel]].
The attempt to build the city of Babel with its tower, caused [[God]] to respond. He confused the language of the people, ultimately halting the project, and scattered them across the earth.
Babel features in the prophecies of [[Jeremiah]], and [[Nebuchadnezzar]]'s siege of [[Jerusalem]] is told in [[2 Kings]]. The [[Book of Daniel]] is set at time of the [[Babylonian captivity]]. Such later references to Babel are normally translated into the more familiar Greek form "Babylon".
The Book of Mormon, a book of scripture used by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, features a story about a family who prayed that their language would not be confounded. Their prayers were answered and they were led to the Americas.
== References ==
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Torah places]]
[[cs:Bábel]]
[[et:Paabel]]
[[gl:Babel]]
[[he:בבל]]
[[hu:Bábel]]
[[nl:Babel]]
[[ta:பாபேல்]]