Genesis Panel 3: The Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel

This panel illustrates the story of the Tower of Babel—or more precisely, the city of Babel. The people of Babel sought to build a tower that reached the heavens, attempting to elevate themselves to the level of God. This ambition is symbolized at the top of the tower, where two hands are shown reaching toward the sky.

Nine People

On the painting, there are nine people. The missing tenth figure symbolizes Abraham. In biblical history, there were ten generations from Adam to Noah, another ten from Noah to Abraham, and six more from Abraham to Moses. If we add them all together, we arrive at 26—a number that corresponds to the sacred name of God, "Yud Hei Vav Hei."

The people in the scene appear confused and disoriented, looking in different directions. This reflects the passage in the Torah that states, “He called this place Babel, for there the Lord confused their language.” Unable to understand one another, they could no longer work together to build their city.

Abraham

A river runs through the painting, and on the other side stands Abraham. His name in Hebrew means “one who crosses over,” making him the first to transcend. He holds his staff in his right hand, resting it on his left—a gesture symbolizing "the right hand gives, and the left hand receives." This highlights Abraham’s defining trait: Chesed (loving-kindness). He was a man who gave more than he took, which is why his robe is blue, representing water—a symbol of generosity and flow. His robe is also adorned with hundreds of interwoven hearts, signifying the purity of his heart.