Genesis 11:9

Therefore was the name of it called Babel Babel is the regular Hebrew form of the name Babylon, see Genesis 10:10. The etymology here given is popular; cf. Genesis 16:14; Genesis 19:22 (J). Like most popular etymologies, it rests on a resemblance of sound, and has no claim to scientific accuracy. "Babel" is not a Hebrew name from balal= "to confound"; but very probably an Assyrian name meaning the "Gate of God," Bab-ilu.

confound Heb. balal= "to confound," the same word as in Genesis 11:7. To the Hebrew the sound of the name Babel suggested "confusion." "Babel" is regarded as a contraction from a form Balbêl(which does not exist in Hebrew, but occurs in Aramaic) = "Confusion": so LXX Σύγχυσις. This derivation, so derogatory to the great Babylonian capital, could hardly have been drawn from any Babylonian source. The story (if, as in Genesis 11:2, it shews acquaintance with Babylonia) has clearly come down to us through a channel which regarded Babylon as a foreigner and a foe.