Genesis 11:9

11:9 That is why its name was called ¹  Babel ²  – because there the Lord confused the language of the entire world, and from there the Lord scattered them across the face of the entire earth.

Acts 1:18-19

1:18 (Now this man Judas ³  acquired a field with the reward of his unjust deed, ⁴  and falling headfirst ⁵  he burst open in the middle and all his intestines ⁶  gushed out. 1:19 This ⁷  became known to all who lived in Jerusalem, so that in their own language ⁸  they called that field ⁹  Hakeldama, that is, “Field of Blood.”)

¹ tn The verb has no expressed subject and so can be rendered as a passive in the translation.

² sn Babel. Here is the climax of the account, a parody on the pride of Babylon. In the Babylonian literature the name bab-ili meant “the gate of God,” but in Hebrew it sounds like the word for “confusion,” and so retained that connotation. The name “Babel” (בָּבֶל, bavel) and the verb translated “confused” (בָּלַל, balal) form a paronomasia (sound play). For the many wordplays and other rhetorical devices in Genesis, see J. P. Fokkelman, Narrative Art in Genesis (SSN).

³ tn The referent of “this man” (Judas) was specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn Traditionally, “with the reward of his wickedness.”

⁵ tn Traditionally, “falling headlong.”

⁶ tn Or “all his bowels.”

⁷ tn Grk “And this.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, καί (kai) has not been translated here.

⁸ sn Their own language refers to Aramaic, the primary language spoken in Palestine in Jesus’ day.

⁹ tn Grk “that field was called.” The passive voice has been converted to active in the translation in keeping with contemporary English style.