Shinar, shi-när (Heb.)–two rivers; divided stream; wholly severed; wholly cast off; divided mind; overthrow of restraint; revolution.

The ancient name of Babylonia, the country through which the rivers Tigris and Euphrates flow. It includes Babylon and the country round about, with probably Mesopotamia, but not Assyria (Gen. 10:10; Dan. 1:2).

Meta. A divided mind, a belief in two powers, evil as well as good, and the error results. The basis of this word Shinar is two, duality, change, division, and separation. To this is united the idea of that which moves out of its place, with violence and vehemence: a heated mind, ardent passion, enmity, anxiety, terror.