The Tower of "Babel"

[Vanguard]

NASB: GENESIS 11:1-9

1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.

2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.†And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.â€

5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

6 The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.â€

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.

9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.



Is this story a literal account, a parable, metaphorical, allegorical, or perhaps simply an etiology (a story, whether it is fact or fiction, that simple explains the origin of something)?

Multiple cultures throughout the ancient world had a "Tower of Babel" story, though the time period, name and location differed by culture. Some of those cultures claim that their tower was over [~600 feet] high, while others claim to measure more than [~5 miles] high.

My view is that it is simply an etiology. No one really knew why there were different languages, so a story evolved to explain the phenomenon.

Opinions?

 

[enlightened]

NASB: GENESIS 11:1-9

1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.

2 It came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.

3 They said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.†And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

4 They said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, otherwise we will be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.â€

5 The Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

6 The Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.â€

8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city.

9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.



Is this story a literal account, a parable, metaphorical, allegorical, or perhaps simply an etiology (a story, whether it is fact or fiction, that simple explains the origin of something)?

Multiple cultures throughout the ancient world had a "Tower of Babel" story, though the time period, name and location differed by culture. Some of those cultures claim that their tower was over [~600 feet] high, while others claim to measure more than [~5 miles] high.

My view is that it is simply an etiology. No one really knew why there were different languages, so a story evolved to explain the phenomenon.

Opinions?

I see why your beliefs are so in error: because you do not believe the Bible!
Guess again,

 

[mdougie]

It is a parable. There are several reasons to believe this. First is the bible is filled with parables. Second is that if it were literal that all people spoke the same language and were the same race just 3,500 to 4,000 years ago. We know that isn't the case do to written history of places like China, and Egypt. Also, archeology. There were people in North America and South America longer ago than that.

The moral of the parable is don't try to become your own God.

 

[Vanguard]

I see why your beliefs are so in error: because you do not believe the Bible!
Guess again,

I believe God. The Bible was written by men.

It is a parable. There are several reasons to believe this. First is the bible is filled with parables. Second is that if it were literal that all people spoke the same language and were the same race just 3,500 to 4,000 years ago. We know that isn't the case do to written history of places like China, and Egypt. Also, archeology. There were people in North America and South America longer ago than that.

The moral of the parable is don't try to become your own God.

Bingo, we have a winner!

At least someone else recognizes historical accounts from all over the world, and the fact that several of those predate biblical accounts.

 

[enlightened]

I believe God. The Bible was written by men.



Bingo, we have a winner!

At least someone else recognizes historical accounts from all over the world, and the fact that several of those predate biblical accounts.

Have you not read II TIM3:15? Which says that ALL scripture is given by inspiriation of GOD? nor II PT1:21, which says HOLY men of GOD spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost? What good is the Record of GOD if it cannot be trusted entirely? Or have you no read I TIM6:20, which says we should avoid oppositons of science falsely called so? Having put your truth is GOD shall we use man to confirm HIM? or when has science not changed its mind about the Truth?

For a TRUTH, True faith in GOD is believing HIS WORD. It is why righteousness was imputed to Abraham (GEN15:6), it is what imputes righteousness unto us today, and what could kept Adam holy yesterday, had he believed and not sinned.

I do pray you change your mind abourt the validity and truthfulness of the HOLY BIBLE.

 

[mdougie]

Have you not read II TIM3:15? Which says that ALL scripture is given by inspiriation of GOD? nor II PT1:21, which says HOLY men of GOD spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost? What good is the Record of GOD if it cannot be trusted entirely? Or have you no read I TIM6:20, which says we should avoid oppositons of science falsely called so? Having put your truth is GOD shall we use man to confirm HIM? or when has science not changed its mind about the Truth?

For a TRUTH, True faith in GOD is believing HIS WORD. It is why righteousness was imputed to Abraham (GEN15:6), it is what imputes righteousness unto us today, and what could kept Adam holy yesterday, had he believed and not sinned.
I do pray you change your mind abourt the validity and truthfulness of the HOLY BIBLE.

The bible is truth, but that doesn't mean one has to take it as a literal fact based narrative. That is it is filled with parables, and moral stories. It is filled with spiritual wisdom, but isn't a science book. I think that if one only sees it as a collection of word for word fact one is missing the forest for the trees so to speak.

 

[enlightened]

The bible is truth, but that doesn't mean one has to take it as a literal fact based narrative. That is it is filled with parables, and moral stories. It is filled with spiritual wisdom, but isn't a science book. I think that if one only sees it as a collection of word for word fact one is missing the forest for the trees so to speak.

Not a science book? Are you kiddiing, or have you never read all the science that is within it, even truths men could not see until modern man began reading the BOOK.

 

[mdougie]

Not a science book? Are you kiddiing, or have you never read all the science that is within it, even truths men could not see until modern man began reading the BOOK.

I read all sorts of books. Science, religion, the bible, fiction. When I read the bible it doesn't strike me that I am supposed to take it as anything but anything but a book of spiritual growth and guidance. It doesn't seem to be a book about scientific facts. It is parable, analogy, metaphor. It doesn't seem literal. While parts actually happened, other parts to me at least obviously did not. Certain books at least. Genesis being one that isn't literal. The other being Revelation. They are meant to convey moral stories. Teach us how to think and act. They aren't actual history, science and literal.

 

[enlightened]

I read all sorts of books. Science, religion, the bible, fiction. When I read the bible it doesn't strike me that I am supposed to take it as anything but anything but a book of spiritual growth and guidance. It doesn't seem to be a book about scientific facts. It is parable, analogy, metaphor. It doesn't seem literal. While parts actually happened, other parts to me at least obviously did not. Certain books at least. Genesis being one that isn't literal. The other being Revelation. They are meant to convey moral stories. Teach us how to think and act. They aren't actual history, science and literal.

i am sorry u believe as you do, and i cannot help but think that there are scriptures you haven't read yet which might help u change your mind about it. But know that the BIBLE is not pick-and chose, and once you accept it fully, then will you see its beauty and simplicity, and begin to understand more about it.

 

[Sinthesis]

A parable that provides an explanation as to why the Euphrates had not produced an empire as great as that of the Nile by the time of the Exodus.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I read all sorts of books. Science, religion, the bible, fiction. When I read the bible it doesn't strike me that I am supposed to take it as anything but anything but a book of spiritual growth and guidance. It doesn't seem to be a book about scientific facts. It is parable, analogy, metaphor. It doesn't seem literal. While parts actually happened, other parts to me at least obviously did not. Certain books at least. Genesis being one that isn't literal. The other being Revelation. They are meant to convey moral stories. Teach us how to think and act. They aren't actual history, science and literal.

Please tell me, the geneology of Jesus dates back to Adam.

Is that figurative or symbolic or literal?

 

[mdougie]

Please tell me, the geneology of Jesus dates back to Adam.

Is that figurative or symbolic or literal?

I don't know it. Nor do I think it is important. Who begat who is irrelevant. How we are to behave toward one another is. People focus far too much on legalisms and technicalities. When you place the belief in God against observable reality you do God disservice. We know that there were different languages and races longer ago than 4,000 years ago. There were people living right here on the contentment of North America. They built pyramids, and wrote things.

 

[VirginShallConceive]

There were people living right here on the contentment of North America.

Well, it depends on how you look at it. I'm sure there were many times where these people felt content. However, I'm sure that life could have often been pretty difficult back then in North America.




Wait for it . . .

:biglol

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I don't know it. Nor do I think it is important. Who begat who is irrelevant. How we are to behave toward one another is. People focus far too much on legalisms and technicalities. When you place the belief in God against observable reality you do God disservice. We know that there were different languages and races longer ago than 4,000 years ago. There were people living right here on the contentment of North America. They built pyramids, and wrote things.

My point was that you are placing doubt in the book of Genesis.

I was wondering how far your doubts go.

 

[mdougie]

My point was that you are placing doubt in the book of Genesis.

I was wondering how far your doubts go.

I don't place doubt. It is a parable. No doubt about it.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I read all sorts of books. Science, religion, the bible, fiction. When I read the bible it doesn't strike me that I am supposed to take it as anything but anything but a book of spiritual growth and guidance. It doesn't seem to be a book about scientific facts. It is parable, analogy, metaphor. It doesn't seem literal. While parts actually happened, other parts to me at least obviously did not. Certain books at least. Genesis being one that isn't literal. The other being Revelation. They are meant to convey moral stories. Teach us how to think and act. They aren't actual history, science and literal.

You don't sound like a Christian to me.

Are you born again?

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?

 

[Vanguard]

The principle that you must remember is this:

Jesus = God (same being, different incarnation)
If Jesus used parables and metaphors in the NT...
Then God used parables and metaphors in the OT, as was His style

Furthermore, our English translations are not 100% reflective of the Hebrew and Greek.

 

[mdougie]

You don't sound like a Christian to me.

Are you born again?

Is Jesus your Lord and Savior?

It doesn't matter how it seems to you. You aren't my judge, and being judgmental and accusatory isn't Christian. You don't seem very Christian.

 

[WIP]

Let's stay on topic. The topic is not our feelings about each other.

 

[Vanguard]

Thanks WIP!

totopic

Is the story of the "Tower of Babel" literal, metaphorical, allegorical or an etiology?