Babylon is one of the most significant cities mentioned in the Bible, symbolizing power, pride, and often, rebellion against God. Throughout Scripture, Babylon appears as both a literal empire and a symbol of spiritual corruption and worldliness. In this post, we’ll go through 40 powerful Bible verses about Babylon, helping you understand its biblical context and spiritual meaning. We’ll also look into two important questions: What does the Bible say about Babylon? and What does “Babylon” mean spiritually?
What Does the Bible Say About Babylon?
The Bible talks about Babylon in both historical and prophetic terms. Historically, it was a mighty empire that conquered Jerusalem and carried the Israelites into captivity. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel spoke of Babylon’s rise and fall. Spiritually, Babylon is often portrayed as a representation of moral decay and idolatry, especially in the book of Revelation.
Babylon was first introduced in Genesis 11 as Babel, where people tried to build a tower to heaven. This act of pride led to God’s judgment and the scattering of people through different languages. Later, Babylon reappeared as the empire that destroyed Jerusalem and took the Jews into exile (2 Kings 25). In Revelation, Babylon is described as a “great city” symbolizing corruption, luxury, and rebellion against God (Revelation 17-18).
Understanding these Bible verses about Babylon will give deeper insight into God’s perspective on pride, idolatry, judgment, and redemption.
What Does “Babylon” Mean Spiritually?
Spiritually, Babylon represents the world system that is opposed to God—characterized by pride, idolatry, immorality, and self-glorification. In prophetic literature, Babylon often symbolizes a corrupt culture or society that seeks to replace God with its own power and influence.
In the New Testament, especially in Revelation, Babylon stands as the archetype of all systems that oppose Christ. The fall of Babylon in Revelation represents God’s final judgment on evil. For Christians today, Babylon can serve as a warning not to conform to worldly values but to remain faithful to God.
40 Powerful Bible Verses About Babylon
Here are 40 powerful Bible verses about Babylon divided in old and new testament.
Old Testament Bible Verses About Babylon
1. Genesis 11:4 “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens…”
2. 2 Kings 25:1-2 “In the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign…Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem.”
3. Isaiah 13:19 “Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.”
4. Isaiah 14:4 “You will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon…”
5. Isaiah 21:9 “Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!”
6. Isaiah 47:1 “Go down, sit in the dust, Virgin Daughter Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne…”
7. Jeremiah 50:2 “Babylon will be captured; Bel will be put to shame, Marduk filled with terror.”
8. Jeremiah 50:3 “A nation from the north will attack her and lay waste her land…”
9. Jeremiah 50:8 “Flee from Babylon; leave the land of the Babylonians…”
10. Jeremiah 50:29 “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who draw the bow…”
11. Jeremiah 50:38 “A drought on her waters! They will dry up. For it is a land of idols…”
12. Jeremiah 51:6 “Flee from Babylon! Run for your lives! Do not be destroyed because of her sins.”
13. Jeremiah 51:7 “Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand…”
14. Jeremiah 51:24 “Before your eyes I will repay Babylon and all who live in Babylonia for all the wrong they have done in Zion.”
15. Jeremiah 51:47 “The days are coming when I will punish the idols of Babylon…”
16. Ezekiel 17:12 “The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles…”
17. Daniel 1:1 “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it.”
18. Daniel 2:37-38 “You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion…”
19. Daniel 4:30 “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence…”
20. Daniel 5:1 “King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for a thousand of his nobles…”
21. Daniel 5:30-31 “That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain…”
22. Habakkuk 1:6 “I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people…”
New Testament Bible Verses About Babylon
23. Matthew 1:11-12 “Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon…”
24. Acts 7:43 “You have taken up the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of your god Rephan…”
25. 1 Peter 5:13 “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings…”
26. Revelation 14:8 “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great…”
27. Revelation 16:19 “The great city split into three parts… God remembered Babylon the Great…”
28. Revelation 17:5 “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth.”
29. Revelation 17:18 “The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
30. Revelation 18:2 “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling for demons…”
31. Revelation 18:4 “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins…”
32. Revelation 18:5 “Her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.”
33. Revelation 18:8 “Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her…”
34. Revelation 18:10 “Woe! Woe to you, great city, you mighty city of Babylon!”
35. Revelation 18:20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens! Rejoice, you people of God!”
36. Revelation 18:21 “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down…”
37. Revelation 18:23 “The light of a lamp will never shine in you again…”
38. Revelation 19:2 “He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth…”
39. Revelation 19:3 “The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”
40. Revelation 19:20 “But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet…”
Conclusion
Babylon is more than just an ancient city, it’s a powerful symbol used throughout the Bible to describe rebellion, pride, and the fall of ungodly systems. These Bible verses about Babylon serve as both a history lesson and a spiritual warning. As believers, understanding Babylon’s biblical role helps us remain grounded in God’s truth and not be swayed by worldly systems.
Let these Scriptures remind you of God’s justice, the importance of humility, and the ultimate triumph of His Kingdom.
Read also: 30 Bible Verses About Baal