Atomic Bible

Ancient Mesopotamian city, capital of Babylonian Empire, site of the Tower of Babel.

Babylon

Named in 275 verses across 19 books, first in Genesis 10:10.

בָּבֶ֫לBabylon

בָּבֶ֫לBabel

שִׁנְעָרShinar

בָּֽבְלַיBabylonian

שֵׁשַׁךְBabylon

מְרָתַיִםMerathaim

פְּקוֹדPekod

ΒαβυλώνBabylon

Also called Babel, Shinar, Babylonian, Merathaim, Pekod.

The name means “same as Babel.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Babylon Written by AI

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 (2Kings 24-25; 2Chronicles 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; Ezk.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).

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

The Greek form of BABEL; Semitic form Babilu, meaning “The Gate of God.” In the Assyrian tablets it means “The city of the dispersion of the tribes.” The monumental list of its kings reaches back to B.C. 2300, and includes Khammurabi, or Amraphel (q.v.), the contemporary of Abraham. It stood on the Euphrates, about 200 miles above its junction with the Tigris, which flowed through its midst and divided it into two almost equal parts. The Elamites invaded Chaldea (i.e., Lower Mesopotamia, or Shinar, and Upper Mesopotamia, or Accad, now combined into one) and held it in subjection. At length Khammu-rabi delivered it from the foreign yoke, and founded the new empire of Chaldea (q.v.), making Babylon the capital of the united kingdom. This city gradually grew in extent and grandeur, but in process of time it became subject to Assyria. On the fall of Nineveh (B.C. 606) it threw off the Assyrian yoke, and became the capital of the growing Babylonian empire. Under Nebuchadnezzar it became one of the most splendid cities of the ancient world.

After passing through various vicissitudes the city was occupied by Cyrus, “king of Elam,” B.C. 538, who issued a decree permitting the Jews to return to their own land (Ezra 1). It then ceased to be the capital of an empire. It was again and again visited by hostile armies, till its inhabitants were all driven from their homes, and the city became a complete desolation, its very site being forgotten from among men.

Read the rest of the entry

On the west bank of the Euphrates, about 50 miles south of Bagdad, there is found a series of artificial mounds of vast extent. These are the ruins of this once famous proud city. These ruins are principally (1) the great mound called Babil by the Arabs. This was probably the noted Temple of Belus, which was a pyramid about 480 feet high. (2) The Kasr (i.e., “the palace”). This was the great palace of Nebuchadnezzar. It is almost a square, each side of which is about 700 feet long. The little town of Hillah, near the site of Babylon, is built almost wholly of bricks taken from this single mound. (3) A lofty mound, on the summit of which stands a modern tomb called Amran ibn-Ali. This is probably the most ancient portion of the remains of the city, and represents the ruins of the famous hanging-gardens, or perhaps of some royal palace. The utter desolation of the city once called “The glory of kingdoms” (Isa.13:19) was foretold by the prophets (Isa.13:4-22; Jer. 25:12; 50:2, 3; Dan. 2:31-38).

The Babylon mentioned in 1 Pet. 5:13 was not Rome, as some have thought, but the literal city of Babylon, which was inhabited by many Jews at the time Peter wrote.

In Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; and 18:2, “Babylon” is supposed to mean Rome, not considered as pagan, but as the prolongation of the ancient power in the papal form. Rome, pagan and papal, is regarded as one power. “The literal Babylon was the beginner and supporter of tyranny and idolatry...This city and its whole empire were taken by the Persians under Cyrus; the Persians were subdued by the Macedonians, and the Macedonians by the Romans; so that Rome succeeded to the power of old Babylon. And it was her method to adopt the worship of the false deities she had conquered; so that by her own act she became the heiress and successor of all the Babylonian idolatry, and of all that was introduced into it by the immediate successors of Babylon, and consequently of all the idolatry of the earth.” Rome, or “mystical Babylon,” is “that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (17:18).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

32.537, 44.421 See it on a map

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names it

  1. Genesis 10:10

    His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

  2. Genesis 11:2

    And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

  3. Genesis 11:9

    That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.

  4. Genesis 14:1

    In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim

  5. Genesis 14:9

    against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of Goiim, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar—four kings against five.

  6. Joshua 7:21

    When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

  7. 2 Kings 17:24

    Then the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took possession of Samaria and lived in its towns.

  8. 2 Kings 17:30

    The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima,

  9. 2 Kings 20:12

    At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.

  10. 2 Kings 20:14

    Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, “Where did those men come from, and what did they say to you?” “They came from a distant land,” Hezekiah replied, “from Babylon.”

  11. 2 Kings 20:17

    The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.

  12. 2 Kings 20:18

    And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

  13. 2 Kings 24:1

    During Jehoiakim’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded. So Jehoiakim became his vassal for three years, until he turned and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.

  14. 2 Kings 24:7

    Now the king of Egypt did not march out of his land again, because the king of Babylon had taken all his territory, from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

  15. 2 Kings 24:10

    At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched up to Jerusalem, and the city came under siege.

  16. 2 Kings 24:11

    And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it.

  17. 2 Kings 24:12

    Jehoiachin king of Judah, his mother, his servants, his commanders, and his officials all surrendered to the king of Babylon. So in the eighth year of his reign, the king of Babylon took him captive.

  18. 2 Kings 24:15

    Nebuchadnezzar carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, as well as the king’s mother, his wives, his officials, and the leading men of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.

  19. 2 Kings 24:16

    The king of Babylon also brought into exile to Babylon all seven thousand men of valor and a thousand craftsmen and metalsmiths—all strong and fit for battle.

  20. 2 Kings 24:17

    Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin’s uncle, king in his place and changed his name to Zedekiah.

  21. 2 Kings 24:20

    For because of the anger of the LORD, all this happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until He finally banished them from His presence. And Zedekiah also rebelled against the king of Babylon.

  22. 2 Kings 25:1

    So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army. They encamped outside the city and built a siege wall all around it.

  23. 2 Kings 25:6

    The Chaldeans seized the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they pronounced judgment on him.

  24. 2 Kings 25:7

    And they slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes. Then they put out his eyes, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

  25. 2 Kings 25:8

    On the seventh day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign over Babylon, Nebuzaradan captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, entered Jerusalem.

  26. 2 Kings 25:11

    Then Nebuzaradan captain of the guard carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the deserters who had defected to the king of Babylon and the rest of the population.

  27. 2 Kings 25:13

    Moreover, the Chaldeans broke up the bronze pillars and stands and the bronze Sea in the house of the LORD, and they carried the bronze to Babylon.

  28. 2 Kings 25:20

    Nebuzaradan captain of the guard took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

  29. 2 Kings 25:21

    There at Riblah in the land of Hamath, the king of Babylon struck them down and put them to death. So Judah was taken into exile, away from its own land.

  30. 2 Kings 25:22

    Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over the people he had left behind in the land of Judah.

  31. 2 Kings 25:23

    When all the commanders of the armies and their men heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah as governor, they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah—Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maacathite, as well as their men.

  32. 2 Kings 25:24

    And Gedaliah took an oath before them and their men, assuring them, “Do not be afraid of the servants of the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.”

  33. 2 Kings 25:27

    On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison.

  34. 2 Kings 25:28

    And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.

  35. 1 Chronicles 9:1

    So all Israel was recorded in the genealogies written in the Book of the Kings of Israel. But Judah was exiled to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

  36. 2 Chronicles 32:31

    And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.

  37. 2 Chronicles 33:11

    So the LORD brought against them the military commanders of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh, put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

  38. 2 Chronicles 36:6

    Then Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up against Jehoiakim and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

  39. 2 Chronicles 36:7

    Nebuchadnezzar also took to Babylon some of the articles from the house of the LORD, and he put them in his temple in Babylon.

  40. 2 Chronicles 36:10

    In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar summoned Jehoiachin and brought him to Babylon, along with the articles of value from the house of the LORD. And he made Jehoiachin’s relative Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.

And 235 more

2 Chronicles 36:18, 36:20

Ezra 1:11, 2:1, 4:9, 5:12, 5:13, 5:14, 5:17, 6:1, 6:5, 7:6, 7:9, 7:16, 8:1

Nehemiah 7:6, 13:6

Esther 2:6

Psalms 87:4, 137:1, 137:8

Isaiah 11:11, 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, 21:2, 21:4, 21:7, 21:10, 22:25, 24:1, 25:1, 25:9, 25:11, 25:12, 25:26, 27:6, 27:8, 27:9, 27:11, 27:12, 27:13, 27:14, 27:16, 27:17, 27:18, 27:20, 27:22, 28:2, 28:3, 28:4, 28:6, 28:11, 28:14, 29:1, 29:3, 29:4, 29:10, 29:15, 29:20, 29:21, 29:22, 29:28, 32:2, 32:3, 32:4, 32:5, 32:28, 32:36, 34:1, 34:2, 34:3, 34:7, 34:21, 35:11, 36:29, 37:1, 37:17, 37:19, 38:3, 38:17, 38:18, 38:22, 38:23, 39:1, 39:3, 39:5, 39:6, 39:7, 39:9, 39:11, 39:13, 40:1, 40:4, 40:5, 40:7, 40:9, 40:11, 41:2, 41:18, 42:11, 43:3, 43:10, 44:30, 46:2, 46:13, 46:26, 49:28, 49:30, 50:1, 50:2, 50:8, 50:9, 50:13, 50:14, 50:16, 50:17, 50:18, 50:21, 50:23, 50:24, 50:28, 50:29, 50:34, 50:35, 50:42, 50:43, 50:45, 50:46, 51:1, 51:2, 51:6, 51:7, 51:8, 51:9, 51:11, 51:12, 51:24, 51:29, 51:30, 51:31, 51:33, 51:34, 51:35, 51:37, 51:41, 51:42, 51:44, 51:47, 51:48, 51:49, 51:53, 51:54, 51:55, 51:56, 51:58, 51:59, 51:60, 51:61, 51:64, 52:3, 52:4, 52:9, 52:10, 52:11, 52:12, 52:15, 52:17, 52:26, 52:27, 52:31, 52:32, 52:34

Ezekiel 12:13, 17:12, 17:16, 17:20, 19:9, 21:19, 21:21, 23:15, 23:17, 23:23, 24:2, 26:7, 29:18, 29:19, 30:10, 30:24, 30:25, 32:11

Daniel 1:1, 1:2, 2:12, 2:14, 2:18, 2:24, 2:48, 2:49, 3:1, 3:12, 3:30, 4:6, 4:29, 4:30, 5:7, 7:1

Micah 4:10

Zechariah 2:7, 5:11, 6:10

Matthew 1:11, 1:12, 1:17

Acts 7:43

1 Peter 5:13

Revelation 14:8, 16:19, 17:5, 18:2, 18:10, 18:21

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.