Where does the word “babel” come from and What does babel mean?

Every Sunday School scholar knows that we got the word babel from the high tower which the descendants of Noah started to erect, “whose top may reach unto heaven.”

The name of the tower and of the city which was also being built was Babel.

But the Lord, according to the eleventh chapter of Genesis, did not approve of the presumption of these men, and brought their purpose all to nought by causing each to speak in a tongue unknown to any of the others.

No one could understand anyone else. Probably, as we do to this day on like occasions, each thereupon shouted the louder. Hence, any such confusion of voices we refer to as babel.