Tower of Babel
Overview
- Testament: Old
- Book: Genesis 11:1-9
- Summary: United humanity builds a tower to reach heaven; God confuses their language and scatters them across the earth.
Details
After the Flood, all people spoke one language. Settling in Shinar, they decided: “Come, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad.”
This was an act of defiant pride — making a name for themselves rather than glorifying God, and resisting God’s command to fill the earth. God came down, confused their language, and scattered them. The city was named Babel (“confusion”).
Key People Involved
Key Places
- Babel — City where the tower was built
Important Verses
- “Come, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” — Genesis 11:4
Cross-References
- Acts 1:8 — Contrast: disciples commanded to scatter to ends of the earth
- Revelation 17-18 — Babylon as end-times symbol of rebellion