In the short story “The Library of Babel” by Jorge Luis Borges, the author depicts the entire universe in the form of a mysterious and complex “Library”. The author brings the library to life by describing fruit-shaped “light bulbs” that emit light, as well as a vestibule that contains two compartments for “sleeping and satisfying one's physical needs.” (Borges 112) This library is lined with “an infinite number of hexagonal galleries” (Borges 112) containing shelves containing an immeasurable quantity of books. However, most of these books are indecipherable and therefore meaningless. Borges' characterization of the library leads the reader to believe that he is referring to the many books of the Bible. It challenges Bible translation by discussing the language barrier that exists in each language and causes the reader to reflect on the validity of the sacred text. The author recreates the story of creation, the Garden of Eden and other stories from the Bible and interweaves the theme of the reliability of the sacred book, while disguising these concepts in the peculiar "Library". Borges begins his short story with a description of the atypical library from which the reader can deduce that the author is referring to the Garden of Eden: “The light is provided by certain spherical fruits which bear the name of bulbs. There are two of these bulbs in each hexagon, attached in a crossed wire. The light they give is insufficient and incessant. (Borges 112) The “fruit” is a symbol of the forbidden fruit in the story of “Adam and Eve.” Borges refers to the passage from the book of Genesis: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. » (Genes...... middle of paper ......ges 118) The narrator shows that although the Bible may be translated inaccurately, centuries of human reinforcement and belief will make the translation true. Borges uses a wide range of allusions to the Bible in order to illustrate and emphasize the eloquent complexities, beauty and divinity of the most infamous text on which humanity has depended for centuries in the past and will continue to do so. look to the future. Works Cited Borges, Jorge Luis and Andrew Hurley. “The Library of Babel”. Collected fiction. New York, NY, USA: Viking, 1998. 112-18. Print.Genesis. The New American Standard Bible. New York: WW Norton, 2009. Print. Hardon, John. “Catholic Culture: Dictionary: FIGURES, RELIGIOUS.” Catholic culture: Home. Eternal Life, 2011. Web. February 11. 2011. .