Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:9

9. Babel Confusion; בבל , contracted from בלבל , derived from the verb בלל , to pour together, to confound . (Gesenius . ) So the Septuagint . But the local tradition concerning the modern Babil, so generally identified with Babel, is, that it signifies the Gate of Il, that is, Gate of God . Perhaps this name was originally imposed by Nimrod in defiance, and after the judgment described in the text, it changed its meaning, since originally the tower was a symbol of human pride... read more