Tower of Babel
The literal Tower of Babel story is already about superiors confusing their subjects, to prevent them from achieving anything. Still, it is surprisingly hard to de-pun, because it focuses on the actions of the people rather than the spooks: The ˁyr w-mgdl “city & tower” pun with ˀwr m-gdl “understanding the nobility”. The story seems to talk about how the people once wanted to build up clarity & understanding about their rulers — that is what the rulers needed to prevent through confusion.
How to read this
- In the interlinear text, each word is a little block; each verse is a paragraph of little blocks.
- Possible encrypted meaning is on light red at the top, with hyperlinked pun vocabulary just below.
- Original text is in the center, as transcription & glyphs.
- Official meaning is on light green at the bottom, with hyperlinked official vocabulary just above.
- Pun vocabulary is in red, whenever the meaning differs.
- Pun decryption is not an exact science. Please read the introduction, the interchangeability rules, and judge yourself whether I got it right.
- An encrypted spook message does not automatically mean that the literal meaning is wrong, or that the encrypted meaning is the truth. Still, religious readers should proceed with care.
In the beginning, the oppressed were united.
As usual, the Tower of Babel can be read in 2 ways: The face-value story is a religious one, and the pun-encrypted story teaches spookery. Here, it’s about the unity of the people, and how the rulers break it through confusion.
However, this text is made so ambiguous (it’s only ever “they” or “them”) that the Tower of Babel is perhaps supposed to be read in 3 ways: Depending on who is meant by “them” in each sentence, the parable teaches spookery either from the perspective of the rulers or the subjects. The name Babel may even allude to this, because bll bˁl b-ˁlb actually means “confuse lords with subjects”!
Genesis 11:1
This may be a double-pun, depending on who is “them”: The rṣṣ “oppressed” initially had one špṭ “judgement” and one dbr “understanding”. The rṣṣ “oppressors” had a united špṭ “government” and a united dbr “leadership”. A united government (of moles) would also be the spooks’ solution to all their troubles with the common people.
Encrypted: And it was that all the oppressed [had] a judgment united and a behavior united.
Official: And it was that all the earth [had] language one and speech one.
And it was that
yhy: be, become
wyhy ויהי
yhy: be, become
And it was that
all
kl: all
kl כל
kl: all
all
the oppressed [had]
rṣṣ: oppressed
hˀrṣ הארץ
ˀrṣ: earth, country
the earth [had]
a judgment
špṭ: judge, judgment, decide, govern, rule
šph שפה
šph: language; špt: language
language
united
ˀḥt: one, united
ˀḥt אחת
ˀḥt: one, united
one
and a behavior
dbr: lead, guide, act, behave, conduct
wdbrym ודברים
dbr: word, speech
and speech
united.
ˀḥd: one, united
ˀḥdym אחדים
ˀḥd: one, united
one.
The oppressed understood that they were deceived.
Genesis 11:2
Encrypted: And it came to pass as they [the people?] were deceived by the “hidden” that they [the “hidden”?] happened [to be?] examined among the oppressed who were stirring & waking up [?], and was explained [?] their existence & nature [?].
Official: And it came to pass as they journeyed from the east that they [the people?] found a plain in the land of Shinar and dwelt there.
And it came to pass
yhy: be, become
wyhy ויהי
yhy: be, become
And it came to pass
as they [the people?] were deceived
b-: as; nšˀ: deceive, beguile; -m: them
bnsˁm בנסעם
b-: as; nsˁ: move, journey; -m: them
as they journeyed
by the “hidden”
m-: by; ktm: dark, hidden
mqdm מקדם
m-: from; qdm: east
from the east
that they [the “hidden”?] happened
mṣˀ: find, encounter, happen
wymṣˀw וימצאו
mṣˀ: find, encounter, happen
that they [the people?] found
[to be?] examined
bqˀ: examine, search
bqˁh בקעה
bqˁh: valley, plain
a plain
among the oppressed
b-: among; rṣṣ: oppressed
bˀrṣ בארץ
b-: in; ˀrṣ: land
in the land
who were stirring & waking up [?],
š-: who; nˁr: servant, shake off, stirred up, wake, awake
šnˁr שנער
šnˁr: Shinar
of Shinar
and was explained [?]
yšb: settled, explained
wyšbw וישבו
yšb: dwell
and dwelt
their existence & nature [?].
šm: existing, nature, character
šm שם
šm: place, there
there.
The oppressed plan a rebellion.
Genesis 11:3
This may be a double-pun, depending on who is “them”: The common people have lb “will” and gmr “determination” to srb “rebel”; The spooks employ lˁb “mockery” and ḫmr “veils” to srb “confound”.
Encrypted: And they [the people] said one to another: Come, let us build an understanding of them [the “hidden”] and rebel to refuse [them]. And there was to them the will for thought & understanding, and the stirred-up / determination there was to them to wreak destruction.
Official: And they said one to another: Come, let us build bricks and bake [them] into a baked state. And there was to them brick for stone, and asphalt there was to them for mortar.
And they [the people] said
ˀmr: say
wyˀmrw ויאמרו
ˀmr: say
And they said
one
ˀyš: one
ˀyš איש
ˀyš: one
one
to
ˀl: to
ˀl אל
ˀl: to
to
another:
rˁ: another
rˁhw רעהו
rˁ: another
another:
Come,
hbh: come
hbh הבה
hbh: come
Come,
let us build
n-: will; l-: to; bnh: build
nlbnh נלבנה
n-: will; l-: to; bnh: build
let us build
an understanding of them [the “hidden”]
lb: heart, mind, will, thought, understanding; -m: them
lbnym לבנים
lbnh: brick
bricks
and rebel
n-: will; srb: refuse, deny, against, rebel, decline office
wnšrph ונשרפה
n-: will; šrp: burn, burned
and bake [them]
to refuse [them].
l-: to; srb: refuse, deny, against, rebel, decline office
lšrph לשרפה
l-: to; šrp: burn, burned
into a baked state.
And there was
hyh: be
wthy ותהי
hyh: be
And there was
to them
lhm: to them
lhm להם
lhm: to them
to them
the will
lb: heart, mind, will, thought, understanding
hlbnh הלבנה
lbnh: brick
brick
for thought & understanding,
l-: for; lb: heart, mind, will, thought, understanding
lˀbn לאבן
l-: to; ˀbn: stone
for stone,
and the stirred-up / determination
kmr: heat, stirred; gmr: conclude, determine, decide
whḥmr והחמר
ḥmr: clay, asphalt, mortar
and asphalt
there was
hyh: be
hyh היה
hyh: be
there was
to them
lhm: to them
lhm להם
lhm: to them
to them
to wreak destruction.
l-: to; kmr: heat, stirred; gmr: conclude, finish, destroy
lḥmr לחמר
l-: to; ḥmr: clay, asphalt, mortar
for mortar.
The oppressed plan to build an understanding of the nobility.
Genesis 11:4
This may be a double-pun, depending on who is “them”: The common people need ˀwr “understanding” of the gdl “nobility”; The spooks need rˀw “appearances” that are gdl “noble”.
Encrypted: And they [the people?] said: Come, let us build for ourselves an understanding [of] the twisted / nobility [whose] leaders & rulers [are] veiled. And let us make for ourselves a mighty force [of our own?] lest [we] be shattered & broken over the face of all the earth.
Official: And they [the people] said: Come, let us build for ourselves a city and a tower [whose] top [is] in the heavens. And let us make for ourselves a name lest [we] be scattered over the face of all the earth.
And they [the people?] said:
ˀmr: say
wyˀmrw ויאמרו
ˀmr: say
And they [the people] said:
Come,
hbh: come
hbh הבה
hbh: come
Come,
let us build
n-: will; bnh: build
nbnh נבנה
n-: will; bnh: build
let us build
for ourselves
lnw: to us
lnw לנו
lnw: to us
for ourselves
an understanding
ˀwr: clear, enlighten, understanding
ˁyr עיר
ˁyr: city
a city
[of] the twisted / nobility
m-: of; gdl: arrogant, twisted, majesty; gdwl: noble, leader
wmgdl ומגדל
mgdl: tower
and a tower
[whose] leaders & rulers [are]
rˀš: leader, master, ruler
wrˀšw וראשו
rˀš: head, top
[whose] top [is]
veiled.
b-: in; ṣmh: veil; ṣmṣm: veil oneself
bšmym בשמים
b-: in; šmym: heavens
in the heavens.
And let us make
n-: will; ˁšh: make
wnˁšh ונעשה
n-: will; ˁšh: make
And let us make
for ourselves
lnw: to us
lnw לנו
lnw: to us
for ourselves
a mighty force [of our own?]
ˁṣm: strong, mighty, force
šm שם
šm: name
a name
lest
pn: lest, or else, otherwise
pn פן
pn: lest, or else, otherwise
lest
[we] be shattered & broken
npṣ: shatter, break
npwṣ נפוץ
npṣ: scatter
[we] be scattered
over
ˁl: on, over, to
ˁl על
ˁl: on, over, to
over
the face
pny: face
pny פני
pny: face
the face
of all
kl: all
kl כל
kl: all
of all
the earth.
ˀrṣ: earth
hˀrṣ הארץ
ˀrṣ: earth
the earth.
The rulers fear their schemes cannot be withheld any more.
Genesis 11:5
Encrypted: But came down the “hidden” to see the understanding [of] the nobility which had built the sons of [common] men.
Official: But came down Yahweh to see the city and the tower which had built the sons of men.
But came down
yrd: come down
wyrd וירד
yrd: come down
But came down
the “hidden”
yḥbh: hidden
yhwh יהוה
yhwh: Yahweh
Yahweh
to see
l-: to; rˀt: see
lrˀt לראת
l-: to; rˀt: see
to see
ˀt: to
ˀt את
ˀt: to
the understanding
ˀwr: clear, enlighten, understanding
hˁyr העיר
ˁyr: city
the city
[of]
ˀt: to
wˀt ואת
ˀt: to
and
the nobility
m-: of; gdl: majesty; gdwl: noble, leader
hmgdl המגדל
mgdl: tower
the tower
which
ˀšr: which
ˀšr אשר
ˀšr: which
which
had built
bnh: build
bnw בנו
bnh: build
had built
the sons
bny: sons
bny בני
bny: sons
the sons
of [common] men.
ˀdm: man, men
hˀdm האדם
ˀdm: man, men
of men.
Genesis 11:6
Encrypted: And said the “hidden”: Behold, the people [are] united and [have] a judgment united, to everything. And this they have begun to do, now nothing will be withheld from them [of] all that WE scheme to do.
Official: And said Yahweh Behold, the people [are] one and [have] language one, to everything. And this they have begun to do, now nothing will be withheld from them [of] all that they devise to do.
And said
ˀmr: say
wyˀmr ויאמר
ˀmr: say
And said
the “hidden”:
yḥbh: hidden
yhwh יהוה
yhwh: Yahweh
Yahweh
Behold,
hn: lo, behold
hn הן
hn: lo, behold
Behold,
the people [are]
ˁm: people
ˁm עם
ˁm: people
the people [are]
united
ˀḥd: one, united
ˀḥd אחד
ˀḥd: one, united
one
and [have] a judgment
špṭ: judge, judgment, decide, govern, rule
wšph ושפה
šph: language; špt: language
and [have] language
united,
ˀḥt: one, united
ˀḥt אחת
ˀḥt: one, united
one,
to everything.
l-: to; kl: all; -m: them
lklm לכלם
l-: to; kl: all; -m: them
to everything.
And this
zh: this
wzh וזה
zh: this
And this
they have begun
ḥll: begin
hḥlm החלם
ḥll: begin
they have begun
to do,
l-: to; ˁšh: do
lˁšwt לעשות
l-: to; ˁšh: do
to do,
now
ˁth: now, already
wˁth ועתה
ˁth: now, already
now
nothing
lˀ: not, nothing
lˀ לא
lˀ: not, nothing
nothing
will be withheld
bṣr: withhold
ybṣr יבצר
bṣr: withhold
will be withheld
from them
m-: from; hm: them
mhm מהם
m-: from; hm: them
from them
[of] all
kl: all
kl כל
kl: all
[of] all
that
ˀšr: which
ˀšr אשר
ˀšr: which
that
WE scheme
zmm: devise, plan, scheme
yzmw יזמו
zmm: devise, plan, scheme
they devise
to do.
l-: to; ˁšh: do
lˁšwt לעשות
l-: to; ˁšh: do
to do.
The rulers confuse the people, to prevent understanding.
Genesis 11:7
How do the the “hidden” confuse the people? The verse may be a double-pun, as bll-špt-m means “confuse their decisions”, but also “mingle with their decisionmakers”, even “anoint their decisionmakers”! Having rebellous people be “misled” by overlord moles is certainly what the spooks did in later epochs.
Encrypted: Come, let us go down and confuse / mingle there their judgment & rules / with their judges & rulers, that not may understand one man the judgments & decisions of another.
Official: Come, let us go down and confuse there their language, that not may understand one man the speech of another.
Come,
hbh: come
hbh הבה
hbh: come
Come,
let us go down
n-: will; yrd: go down, bring down
nrdh נרדה
n-: will; yrd: go down, bring down
let us go down
and confuse / mingle
n-: will; bll: mix, mingle, anoint
wnblh ונבלה
n-: will; bll: confuse, confound
and confuse
there
šm: there
šm שם
šm: there
there
their judgment & rules / with their judges & rulers,
špṭ: judge, judgment, govern, governor, rule, ruler; -m: their
šptm שפתם
špt: language; -m: their
their language,
that
ˀšr: that
ˀšr אשר
ˀšr: that
that
not
lˀ: not
lˀ לא
lˀ: not
not
may understand
šmˁ: listen, obey, understand
yšmˁw ישמעו
šmˁ: listen, obey, understand
may understand
one man
ˀyš: man
ˀyš איש
ˀyš: man
one man
the judgments & decisions
špṭ: judge, judgment, decide, govern, rule
špt שפת
špt: speech
the speech
of another.
rˁ: another
rˁhw רעהו
rˁ: another
of another.
Genesis 11:8
Encrypted: So destroyed the “hidden” them [the people] from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased to build up clarity & understanding.
Official: So scattered Yahweh them [the people] from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased to build the city.
So destroyed
pṣṣ: break, destroy
wypṣ ויפץ
pwṣ: scatter
So scattered
the “hidden”
yḥbh: hidden
yhwh יהוה
yhwh: Yahweh
Yahweh
them [the people]
ˀt: to; -m: them
ˀtm אתם
ˀt: to; -m: them
them [the people]
from there
m-: from; šm: there
mšm משם
m-: from; šm: there
from there
over
ˁl: over
ˁl על
ˁl: over
over
the face
pny: face
pny פני
pny: face
the face
of all
kl: all
kl כל
kl: all
of all
the earth,
ˀrṣ: earth
hˀrṣ הארץ
ˀrṣ: earth
the earth,
and they ceased
ḥdl: cease, desist, stop
wyḥdlw ויחדלו
ḥdl: cease, desist, stop
and they ceased
to build up
l-: to; bnt: build
lbnt לבנת
l-: to; bnt: build
to build
clarity & understanding.
ˀwr: clear, enlighten, understanding
hˁyr העיר
ˁyr: city
the city.
Genesis 11:9
Here’s the official Babylon pun: “Babel” = bbl ≈ bll = “confusion”. As anyone can see, this story has nothing at all to do with the actual Babylon, and that real city was certainly not named for this pun. It was probably already ruled by spooks or proto-spooks though.
Encrypted: Upon thus is called the name “Babel”, for there confused the “hidden” the judgment & decisions of all the oppressed, and from there destroyed them the “hidden” over the face of all the earth.
Official: Upon thus is called the name “Babel”, for there confused Yahweh the language of all the earth, and from there scattered them Yahweh over the face of all the earth.
Upon
ˁl: upon
ˁl על
ˁl: upon
Upon
thus
kn: thus
kn כן
kn: thus
thus
is called
qrˀ: call
qrˀ קרא
qrˀ: call
is called
the name
šm: name
šmh שמה
šm: name
the name
“Babel”,
bbl: Babel, Babylon
bbl בבל
bbl: Babel, Babylon
“Babel”,
for
ky: for
ky כי
ky: for
for
there
šm: there
šm שם
šm: there
there
confused
bll: mix, confuse, confound
bll בלל
bll: mix, confuse, confound
confused
the “hidden”
yḥbh: hidden
yhwh יהוה
yhwh: Yahweh
Yahweh
the judgment & decisions
špṭ: judge, judgment, decide, govern, rule
špt שפת
špt: language
the language
of all
kl: all
kl כל
kl: all
of all
the oppressed,
ˀrṣ: earth
hˀrṣ הארץ
ˀrṣ: earth
the earth,
and from there
m-: from; šm: there
wmšm ומשם
m-: from; šm: there
and from there
destroyed them
pṣṣ: break, destroy
hpyṣm הפיצם
pwṣ: scatter
scattered them
the “hidden”
yḥbh: hidden
yhwh יהוה
yhwh: Yahweh
Yahweh
over
ˁl: over
ˁl על
ˁl: over
over
the face
pny: face
pny פני
pny: face
the face
of all
kl: all
kl כל
kl: all
of all
the earth.
ˀrṣ: earth
hˀrṣ הארץ
ˀrṣ: earth
the earth.