Weird Stuff in the Bible

Link to see the Europe: Many Tongues, One Voice poster - https://weirdstuffinthebible.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/europe-many-tongues-one-voice.jpgWelcome to Weird Stuff in the Bible, where we explore scripture passages that are bizarre, perplexing or just plain weird. This is Luke Taylor, and today will be a little different, a little more reflective. It’s the 150th episode of the podcast; we just had our third anniversary of the show last week, which I celebrated by sharing an interview with Kip Farrar (pronounced Fara like Farrah Fawcett). Today I wanted to give a short Bible study on the bricks of Babel, followed by some reflection on what it means to be a weird Christian.We’ve been covering the Tower of Babel for the past month on the podcast. The Tower of Babel was monumental to world history. It has ramifications throughout the rest of Scripture. And yet—the Bible is surprisingly sparse on the details of what’s going on here. It’s the origin of Babylon, it’s a globalist rebellion against God, it’s the reason for all the various languages of the world— and it gets less than 10 verses in chapter 11 of Genesis about this event.And of what little we are told in the Bible, we’re given this verse: Genesis 11:33 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.So it talks about the bricks which were used to build both the city and the tower. Whereas I wanted to hear more about how Nimrod became a gigas or giant, that’s not what Scripture focuses on. But it does tell us about the bricks.But you know what? The bricks might actually be the most applicable verse of the whole story. Turn to Genesis 11 with me to learn about the Bricks of Babel and why it’s OK to be weird.——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction2:00 - The Motifs of Babel7:00 - The Bricks of Babel12:05 - Weird on Purpose20:15 - Weird for a PurposeIf you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

This episode is available to WATCH at this link: https://youtu.be/RgGLWTckm6AAnytime someone tells me they want to read the Book of Enoch, I always recommend the Modern Standard Version. There’s a lot of versions of Enoch out there, and I read a lot of them this year, but the MSV was the most readable and also included the most cross-references with the Bible of any Enoch version I’ve seen. Today I'm joined by a special guest, the creator of the Modern Standard Version of the Book of Enoch, Kip Farrar. Find his version on Amazon by following this link: https://a.co/d/0gZjR3CFLearn more about Kip and his work at: https://www.farrarstories.com——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv....Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-sp...You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

The shocking thing about the Tower of Babel story is not that people were dumb enough to think they could build a tower to heaven.History is full of infamously ridiculous ideas that mankind has come up with. In a world where people made medicine with mercury in it, made Coca-Cola with cocaine in it, and made two more seasons of The Office without Steve Carell in it, clearly we are prone to some bad ideas; it’s no surprise that humanity would also try to make a tower that could reach God’s heavenly domain.The shocking thing is not that they were dumb enough to build a tower to heaven. The shocking thing is that they were smart enough to do it.Yeah, that’s what I just said. They were smart enough to actually do it. After all, why else would God say this inGenesis 11:6“Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.”Seriously? God believed if they could build Babel, they would be able to do anything? What exactly were these people capable of?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why God said this in the Bible. Turn with me to Genesis 11, and let’s get weird.——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction2:25 - Jacob’s Ziggurat5:30 - Gate of the Gods11:25 - Nimrod’s Plan23:30 - God’s Response25:45 - Why Babel Broke the WorldVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comYou can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Interview today with Will Blesch, author of the 2026 book In the Shadow of Goliath. Will digs deep into history and archaeology, unlocking ancient mysteries by approaching these topics from a biblical framework. He joins me on a video call from where he lives in Israel in this episode. Learn more about his book and his library of work at his website: https://www.williamblesch.com/in-the-shadow-of-goliath/——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv....Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-sp...You can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

I know the podcast is called Weird Stuff in the Bible, but today, I want to start with something that’s weird in our world: ziggurats. A ziggurat is a pyramid-like structure. It starts with a massive base, and every level going up gets a little bit smaller. They often have steps up the sides so you can climb to the top. You’ve probably seen pictures before of ziggurats in ancient Babylon, Mesopotamia, from the Aztecs, from the Mayans—there’s even one in Collinsville, Illinois. And here’s what’s so weird about it: this structure is replicated in all kinds of societies all around the world.Different nations, different languages, different cultures—and yet we keep seeing ziggurats repeated across the planet.My question is: why?Well, where do all ancient nations, languages and cultures come from? According to the Bible, they all got started at this event called the Tower of Babel.Imagine my surprise when I found out that the Tower of Babel was a ziggurat.I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. Turn to Genesis 11, and let’s get weird.——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction2:20 - Can You Take Me Higher?4:20 - Mountaintop Experiences9:45 - Ziggurats18:00 - The Ziggurat at Babel27:45 - O Destroying MountainVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comYou can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Listen here, or watch the interview right here: https://youtu.be/PpolOnhpvvsThe interview today is with Derrick Warfel, author of UFOS AND GOD, as well as the creator of a new documentary by the same name. Learn more about the book here:https://ufosandgodbook.comAnd the documentary here:https://www.ufosandgod.comDerrick Warfel was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton, a Master of Theology from Dallas, and an MFA from USC.After eight years on staff with CRU, Derrick spent the next four decades in the film industry, creating and teaching media from a biblical worldview.This interview is part of celebrating the third year anniversary of this podcast! Look for another interview or two to drop this month. ——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comYou can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

Last fall I did an episode asking “What was the big deal about a tower that reaches to heaven?”And that episode ended up setting records. At the time, it was probably my most popular episode ever, and it held that position for many months. If I were smart, I probably would have followed it up with 10 more episodes right then about the Tower of Babel. There was clearly a lot of interest in this subject to know what exactly was going on there. And yet, for me, that was one of my not-so-favorite episodes. Why? Because I really asked more questions than I provided answers. I was questioning why the builders at Babel thought they could somehow make it to heaven by building a tower all the way up there. Were they really that stupid- or was there something more spiritual going on with this tower? And most puzzling to me of all: what was it about this structure that caused God to say inGenesis 11:6…this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. That’s a big claim. Made by no less than God Himself.So I had a lot of questions about this Babel incident, and I didn’t want to explore them further on the podcast until I had time to do. my. research. And that’s what I’ve been up to, for a whole year now, preparing for this series- until today. And here we go.And it starts with a look at the architect of Babel, a guy named Nimrod, who shows up in a few verses in a genealogy of Genesis 10. And yet—if you listen all the way to the end of today’s episode—you will find out why he is actually one of the most significant figures of the story of the Old Testament.Genesis 10:8 saysCush fathered Nimrod; he was the first on earth to be a mighty man.A mighty man, huh? He sounds important, but on first glance, that description is kinda mysterious and vague.Until we look at what these words mean in the original Hebrew and in the Septuagint; then, you’ll know exactly why I find Nimrod to be weird—very weird—and I’d like to explore what he’s doing in the Bible. Turn with me to Genesis 10, and let’s get weird.——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction3:40 - The Genesis 10 Context8:35 - Meet Nimrod10:30 - A Mighty Man16:10 - Began to Be20:20 - A Mighty Hunter23:10 - Before the Lord25:10 - Next Time25:55 - The First on EarthVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comYou can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

I made this podcast to answer all those questions your Sunday School teacher hoped you’d never ask. But today, I remember being a Sunday School teacher myself, and I remember teaching Revelation chapter 20, and here’s the question I was afraid of being asked.Revelation 20:14 saysThen Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.Now, here’s what I didn’t want to have to explain: how do you throw death?If Hades refers to hell, then I can understand Hades being thrown in there, for reasons I’ll get to later.But how can “Death” be dumped in there, too? What does that even mean?And as I said, I puzzled over this verse for years.But in studying the Abyss, as we’ve done the past two weeks, I think I have found an answer to this question.I find the throwing of death to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible.Turn to Revelation 20, and let’s get weird.——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:30 - Greek Mythology and the Bible6:15 - Hades10:35 - Thanatos15:30 - Who is Thanatos?19:30 - Throwing Death26:00 - Next Time28:00 - The Fight We’re InVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comYou can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

There’s a popular teaching in Christianity that there are only three named angels in the Bible. I’ve heard this a million times. I’ve probably even taught it before myself. GotQuestions.org states: Only three angels are identified by name in the Bible: Gabriel (Daniel 8:16), Michael the archangel (Daniel 10:13), and Lucifer the fallen angel (Isaiah 14:12). Unfortunately, this common belief is wrong. The Book of Revelation blows this idea apart. Especially if we’re including fallen angels. Revelation 9 tells us about a swarm of freaky locusts that invade the earth in the end times, and it includes this detail:(Verse 11)They have as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek he is called Apollyon.So who is this guy Apollyon? Why does he have two names? And what is the bottomless pit?I find this to be weird, and I’d like to explore why it’s in the Bible. And our study today will answer ALL those questions—who Apollyon is, where he’s from—and believe it or not, how learning about this location of the Abyss will bring you to a deeper understanding so many other passages in Scripture—and even the Gospel itself.If that sounds like a good time to you, turn with me to Revelation 9, and let’s get weird.——Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:40 - Tartarus4:55 - Apollyon13:15 - Abaddon17:45 - Abussos22:45 - Antichrist27:40 - AbyssVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comYou can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!

We’ve spent a lot of time the past few months talking about this spiritual region called The Underworld, also known as Sheol in the Bible. Now, it’s actually part of something I would call my Underworld series, which started in July and will conclude in a few weeks. Only I didn’t call it that because I thought that saying we would do a 10-week Underworld series would scare a lot of people off. And that’s because most Christians equate the Underworld with Hell. But that would be a gross oversimplification. That would be like saying that going to Texas means you’re going to Dallas. Dallas is a place within Texas, but Dallas is not the same thing as Texas. Now, you might say that driving through Dallas is like going to hell, but that would mix our metaphors, so I’ll try to stay on track. Texas is a big state, and it has a geography. There are different places within Texas beyond just Dallas. Likewise, Hell—as the fiery place of judgment—is actually just one compartment within Sheol. There are other compartments in Sheol that the Bible also tells us about. And not just the Bible; the Book of Enoch also contains a pretty lengthy description of this realm. In fact, Enoch got to take a tour of this region, and he told us all about it in his book. Which is pretty weird. And I’d like to read about that today and see how it lines up with the Bible.  And if you want to find out with me, turn to Revelation 20, and let’s get weird.——Note: Enoch quotations are taken from the Modern Standard Version of the Book of Enoch, available on Amazon (and I highly recommend it if you choose to read Enoch's book!)Sign up for the weekly newsletter! Get additional insights and Bible study tips for unpacking strange things in scripture. Enter your email here:https://weirdstuffinthebible.beehiiv.com/Check out the website! www.weirdstuffinthebible.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction4:15 - A Cosmic Mountain6:35 - The Abyss or Tartarus12:45 - The Lake of Fire14:50 - Abraham’s Bosom21:00 - Hell22:00 - Two More Compartments24:25 - RecapVisit the Weird Stuff store!https://luketaylorpodcasts.creator-spring.comYou can also find a list of past newsletters at that same link so you never have to miss one.If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected] by Luke TaylorIf you’re intrigued by strange Bible stories, uncovering Bible mysteries, or learning about unusual biblical teachings, this podcast is for you! Dive deep into weird Bible facts, biblical controversies, and the supernatural in the Bible, while exploring the hidden stories of the Bible you may have never heard. Get a fresh perspective as we explain the Bible in ways that challenge the norm and uncover the unexpected. I’m so glad you’re here- don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you never miss an episode!