What does the word Babylon mean in the Bible?
In Hebrew, Babylon (or Babel) means confusion. This alluded to the events on the plains of Shinar when God confused the language of men as they built the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:8-9).
However, in ancient Mesopotamian, the word Babylon meant “gate of the gods” because the people believed their gods dwelled in that city.
What does Babylon represent in the Bible?
In the Bible, Babylon represents two things: (1)the judgment of God and (2)the rebellious world system.
In the Old Testament, Babylon was God’s instrument of judgment over the nation of Israel (Jeremiah 25:8-9). God used Babylon to punish Israel for their disobedience and sin. Since Israel was bent on pursuing idolatry, God had the most idolatrous nation on earth conquer His people. The Jews spent 70 years in Babylon, away from their temple, feasts, and everything that tied them to their Jewish heritage.
In the New Testament, Babylon represents the world’s religious and economic system (Revelation 17). It opposes the Kingdom of God, but ultimately, God shall destroy it (Revelation 18). Like in the Old Testament, Babylon as a world system will take over. It will subdue the truth and influence even the believers in Jesus. It is a system built on greed, lust, and murder meant to blind the world through promises of wealth and fame. We see world leaders and merchants profit from this system, but eventually, God will destroy it, and righteousness will triumph.
What does Babylon symbolize in the Bible?
Babylon usually symbolizes worldliness—a desire for beauty and splendor that is untempered by a love for holiness (Revelation 17:1-6). We see this symbol in both the Old and New Testaments.
In the Old Testament, we see Babylon as a magnificent city. Its towering walls, imposing brass gates, and hanging gardens were a wonder of the ancient world. The city amassed great wealth through commerce and conquest. Their culture and religion influenced the ancient world. However, the city was rotting from the inside. Prostitution and human sacrifice were the hallmarks of their rituals, and their civilization was built on the backs of slaves and driven by the lust and greed of the royal families (Isaiah 47). Their pride and vanity made them cruel and destructive.
The New Testament depicts Babylon as a great city where the merchants sold their wares. We see Babylon consumed in luxuries. It also entices the world into worldliness and materialism. In this city, wealth and power meant everything; there was no room for righteousness. In fact, Babylon is charged with killing anyone who tried to live a righteous life (Revelation 17:6). Babylon will lead the world in the worship of the Antichrist, the ultimate form of worldliness (Revelation 17:7).
Overall, Babylon symbolized a materialistic world system that opposed God and contradicted the values of God’s kingdom. As a system, Babylon seduced the Jews away from God. In Revelation 18, we see it able to deceive the world in the last days. The Bible warns believers against this system and calls them out of it in its final destruction (Revelation 18:4).
What does Babylon represent spiritually?
Spiritually, Babylon represents idolatry (Revelation 17:1-17). The angel in this chapter calls Babylon a prostitute with whom the world committed fornication. He interprets this as a mysterious religion that will lead people astray.
Most Bible scholars agree that this mysterious religion is the worship of the Antichrist, that great human leader who will arise toward the end of the age. He will demand worship, and we see Babylon enticing the world to worship him.
Characteristics of Babylon according to the Bible
According to the Bible, Babylon was characterized by pride, idolatry, wealth, and violence.
Pride
The Bible often described Babylon as a proud and arrogant city. Isaiah depicts Babylon as a queen of the kingdoms who boast, claiming that there is none like her. She finds comfort in her power and wealth, which make her feel invincible (Isaiah 47:5-8). They’re so proud that on the eve of their destruction, the king threw a banquet with the Persian army at their doorstep! (Daniel 5).
Idolatry
Idol worship was prevalent in Babylon. They worshipped false gods associated with nature, seasons, wealth, and power. Some of the most popular gods were Marduk, Ishtar, Nabu, Shamash, Sin, Ea, and Tiamat. Occasionally, kings would demand worship, as we see in Daniel 3.
Wealth and Luxury
Babylon was a wealthy empire, and this showed in their building, dress, art, and possessions. Revelation 18:16 described Babylon as a city decked out in the best clothes and flooded with gold and other precious jewels. Their wealth soon possessed them, and they became greedy and cruel people who mercilessly conquered and destroyed their neighbors to accumulate more wealth (Jeremiah 50:17-18).
Violence and oppression
The Babylonian army was merciless. They utterly destroyed their enemies. When they attacked Jerusalem, for example, they plundered the city, killed a significant portion of the population, exiled the rest, and razed the city to the ground.
2nd Kings 25:1-7 tells what Nebuchadnezzar did when he captured King Zedekiah. He had his men kill Zedekiah’s children in front of him before gouging out his eyes. He then bound and dragged Zedekiah to Babylon as his prisoner.
The City of Babylon – Past
In Daniel 1:2 Babylon is also called “Shinar”. We first learn about this region in Genesis 11:2. The context is the tower of Babel. Following the great war in heaven where Satan and demons tried to set up their own kingdom apart from God, this demonic effort continued as godless people wanted to make a great city and great name for themselves, complete with a high tower that reached up to the heavens so they could act like god. God creates a Kingdom, Satan counterfeits with Babel.
The City of Babylon – Current & Future
The significance of Babylon in the Bible is its role as an image of the struggle between good and evil. We see this clearly in Revelation 17, where the Bible depicts Babylon as a great city filled with spiritual and moral corruption. Idolatry, materialism, and oppression are commonplace. Through her influence, world leaders gain more power, and merchants gain more wealth. Ultimately, Babylon will influence the rest of the world to worship the Antichrist.
The book of Revelation continues in Chapter 18 to tell us of the destruction of Babylon. Here, we see that Babylon is more than just a place. It is an economic and religious system that dominates the world. God, in this chapter, brings down this system, and we see its proponents weeping over it because of the massive losses they incur. In this struggle between good and evil, we see God emerging victorious.
The Spirit of Babylon
Babylon is an ancient nation. But, it is important to note that behind Babylon was the demonic spirit of Babylon. God creates a Kingdom that is called His bride. Satan counterfeits with a kingdom that is called Babylon, the “mother of prostitutes” (Revelation 17:5). The spirit of Babylon is at work in every nation and generation.
The spirit of Babylon has been on the earth since civilization began. It is a term used to describe a mindset or attitude that opposes God and His will. It is characterized by self-exaltation, self-determination, independence, and rebellion against God's institutions and teachings. It is also manifested by seeking personal gain or glory instead of serving God and His kingdom. The spirit of Babylon is seen as a source of confusion, compromise, and corruption in the world and in the church.
The spirit of Babylon describes the rebellious and godless nature of Babylon. It manifests in greed, materialism, moral corruption, pride, and oppression. It’s associated with regimes, individuals, institutions, and systems that embody these traits.
The demonic spirit of Babylon was in Sodom and Gomorrah, Nazi Germany, is in North Korea and Iran, runs drug cartels and human trafficking, is writing curriculum for students from kindergarten through graduate school, is running political platforms and creating self-made cultural narratives. No one, no thing, and no place is immune from the demonic influence of the spirit of Babylon.
The Book of Revelation has a lot to say about Babylon in the future.
- Revelation 14:8 | Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”
- Revelation 16:19 | The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath.
- Revelation 17:5 | And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.”
- Revelation 18:1-2 | I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.”
- Revelation 18:10 | They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”
- Revelation 18:21 | Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more…”
Final Victory Over Babylon
Thankfully, just like so many other topics concerning the future, we know for a fact that Babylon will be destroyed, both the future city and the spirit of, Babylon. When King Jesus returns to step foot on this earth, He is not coming as the meek and mild mannered Lamb whom the world crucified. No, He is returning as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
Isaiah definitely doesn't describe Him as meek and mild! Listen: “The Lord will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies.” (Isaiah 42:13 NASB)
Finally, in Revelation 18, the Whore of Babylon, who has caused so much destruction; the prostitute of Revelation chapter 17, who has caused so much idolatry; and the woman drunk on the blood of the saints, will be cast down once and for all. Victory will belong to the Warrior King, and the saints will rejoice that He has triumphed over it.