Babel: meaning, definitions and examples
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babel
[ หbeษช.bษl ]
language confusion
Babel refers to a situation of confusion or noise, often caused by many languages spoken at the same time. The term originates from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, where humanity attempted to build a tower to reach heaven and was subsequently scattered and confounded by the introduction of multiple languages.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The market was a babel of voices, each speaking a different language.
- After the conference, the room turned into a babel as attendees mingled and shared ideas.
- The children's playground sounded like a babel of laughter and shouts.
historical reference
Babel also refers to the Tower of Babel, a biblical tower mentioned in the Book of Genesis. It symbolizes humanity's ambition and the consequent divine intervention that led to the creation of various languages.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The Tower of Babel represents humanity's attempts to reach the divine.
- Historically, the story of Babel illustrates the dangers of pride and ambition.
- Artists have often depicted the Tower of Babel in their works, highlighting the theme of unity and division.
Translations
Translations of the word "babel" in other languages:
๐ต๐น babel
๐ฎ๐ณ เคฌเคพเคฌเฅเคฒ
๐ฉ๐ช Babel
๐ฎ๐ฉ babel
๐บ๐ฆ ะฑะฐะฑะตะปั
๐ต๐ฑ babel
๐ฏ๐ต ใใใซ
๐ซ๐ท Babel
๐ช๐ธ Babel
๐น๐ท Babel
๐ฐ๐ท ๋ฐ๋ฒจ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุจุงุจู
๐จ๐ฟ Babel
๐ธ๐ฐ Babel
๐จ๐ณ ๅทดๅซๅก
๐ธ๐ฎ Babel
๐ฎ๐ธ Babel
๐ฐ๐ฟ ะะฐะฑะตะปั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ Babel
๐ฒ๐ฝ Babel
Etymology
The word 'Babel' originates from the ancient Akkadian word 'bab-ilu' which means 'gate of God.' This term was later adopted into Hebrew as 'Bavel' found in the Book of Genesis, where it describes the city and the tower constructed by humanity in their quest to reach heaven. The Tower of Babel narrative serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of human ambition and the consequences of pride. As languages developed and diverged, the word 'babel' evolved in English to denote any chaotic mixture of voices or languages, retaining its original connotation of confusion and misunderstanding. The biblical significance of the Tower has influenced religious and cultural discussions throughout history, cementing its place in literature and art.