Overview
The Bible addresses tower across 38 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, Judges and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Towers, Babel, Confusion and Dispersion. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Abimelech, Jehu and Uzziah.
Key Bible verses about tower
Old Testament
Genesis
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. language: Heb. lip. speech: Heb. words
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. from: or, eastward
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. they said: Heb. a man said to his neighbour burn: Heb. burn them to a burning
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Babel: that is, Confusion
And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.
Judges
And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.
And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower.
And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
2 Samuel
The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.
2 Kings
And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. Gaza: Heb. Azzah
2 Chronicles
Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. fortified: or, repaired
Also he built towers in the desert, and digged many wells: for he had much cattle, both in the low country, and in the plains: husbandmen also, and vine dressers in the mountains, and in Carmel: for he loved husbandry. digged: or, cut out many cisterns Carmel: or, fruitful fields husbandry: Heb. ground
Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without, and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in abundance. darts: or, swords, or, weapons
Nehemiah
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall;
And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.
Psalms
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. my strength: Heb. my rock
For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. My goodness: or, My mercy
New Testament
Luke
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? sinners: or, debtors
For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
People in the Bible and tower
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying tower for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 11:1, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Genesis, Judges and 2 Chronicles each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of David, Abimelech and Jehu and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Towers, Babel, Confusion and Dispersion.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about tower?
The Bible addresses tower across 38 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, Judges and 2 Chronicles. Closely related themes include Towers, Babel, Confusion and Dispersion. Figures whose stories touch this theme include David, Abimelech, Jehu and Uzziah.
How many Bible verses are about tower?
The Bible references tower in 38 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention tower?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 11:1: “And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. language: Heb. lip. speech: Heb. words”
Which people in the Bible are associated with tower?
David, Abimelech, Jehu and Uzziah.
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