In fact, at a time when all people spoke one tongue, God himself created language differences. And he did it for the good of the human race. How is this?

This was because, following the global flood in the days of Noah, the people rebelled. God had commanded the people to spread out so that, as the population increased, they would carry on true worship throughout the earth. The one language they spoke would have been a great advantage, a unifying force.​—Gen. 9:1.

But Noah’s great-grandson Nimrod did not recognize God’s sovereignty, as Noah did. In a desire to have control of earth’s population at that time, Nimrod saw that it served his purpose better to concentrate the people in one area. So he encouraged the people in their rebelliousness to build a religious tower, so as to hold them in close subjection and under his domination.​—Gen. 11:1-6.

God’s device of confusing their language protected mankind from the iron hand of imperial dictatorship. Jehovah said about this: “Look! They are one people and there is one language for them all, and this is what they start to do. Why, now there is nothing that they may have in mind to do that will be unattainable for them.” So God miraculously caused them to speak new languages.​—Gen. 11:5-8.

For about four thousand years the language barrier that God established has remained. It has served to prevent large-scale regimentation​—yes, widespread regimentation under one false religion, the religion that began in Babylon. Having a common language helps bad men to cooperate more easily in a bad thing.

And later, when God miraculously bestowed new tongues on people at Babel, these were not impure languages, not bad in themselves. They were from God, whose gifts are always good, and they have served a good purpose.​—Jas. 1:17.