Bible Dictionary
CONFOUND
To confound is to bewilder, confuse, defeat, or put to shame. The Bible uses the term for confused speech, humbled enemies, and people brought into shame or perplexity.
Definition
To confound is to confuse, bewilder, defeat, humble, or put to shame. The word may describe confused speech, disappointed enemies, or those brought into perplexity.
Biblical Usage
The confusion of tongues at Babel is expressed by the idea of mixing or mingling. New Testament usage includes putting opponents to shame and bewildering hearers.
Historical Background
Several Hebrew expressions reflect physical changes such as becoming pale, red, dried up, or blushing, showing the physical origin of terms for shame and confusion.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>kon-found': The physical origin of spiritual terms is well illustrated by the principal Hebrew words for "confounded" (rendered also "ashamed," etc.); bosh, is "to become pale" (2Ki 19:26; Job 6:20; Ps 83:17; 129:5 the King James Version; Isa 19:9, etc.); chapher, "to become red" (Ps 35:4; Isa 1:29; 24:23, "the moon shall be confounded," Mic 3:7); yabhash, "to be dried up" (Jer 46:24 the King James Version; Jer 48:1,20 the King James Version; Jer 50:2 the King James Version; Zec 10:5); kalam, "to blush" (Ps 69:6 the King James Version; Isa 41:11, etc.). In Ge 11:7,9, of the confusion of tongues, the word is balal, "to mix," "mingle." In Jer 1:17 the King James Version it is chathath, "to bring or put down."</p><p>In New Testament, kataischuno, "to put to shame" (1Co 1:27 the King James Version; 1Pe 2:6 the King James Version); and sugchuno, "to pour together," "bewilder' " (Ac 2:6; 9:22). the Revised Version (British and American) frequently gives "ashamed" and "put to shame" instead of "confounded." W. L. Walker</p>