The Story of the Tower of Babel

Reference: Genesis 11:1-9

 

Story:

At the time of the Tower of Babel, all the people on earth spoke the same language and lived in one place. As they migrated from the east, they settled in the land of Shinar (Babylonia) and decided to build a city with a tower that reached to the heavens. Their purpose in building the tower was to make a name for themselves and prevent being scattered across the earth. The people were united in their effort, but their hearts were filled with pride, seeking to elevate themselves to the level of God.

 

Seeing their pride and ambition, God came down to see the city and the tower they were building. God said, "If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them." To prevent their further rebellion and to scatter them across the earth, God confused their language. Suddenly, the people could no longer understand one another, which led to confusion and halted the construction of the tower. As a result, the people were scattered across the earth, and the city was left unfinished.

 

The place became known as Babel (which means "confusion"), because it was there that God confused the language of the whole world. From that point on, people began to spread out and form different nations with different languages.