Genesis 11
“Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.
3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
10 This is the account of Shem’s family line.
Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad. 11 And after he became the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
12 When Arphaxad had lived 35 years, he became the father of Shelah. 13 And after he became the father of Shelah, Arphaxad lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
14 When Shelah had lived 30 years, he became the father of Eber. 15 And after he became the father of Eber, Shelah lived 403 years and had other sons and daughters.
16 When Eber had lived 34 years, he became the father of Peleg. 17 And after he became the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
18 When Peleg had lived 30 years, he became the father of Reu. 19 And after he became the father of Reu, Peleg lived 209 years and had other sons and daughters.
20 When Reu had lived 32 years, he became the father of Serug. 21 And after he became the father of Serug, Reu lived 207 years and had other sons and daughters.
22 When Serug had lived 30 years, he became the father of Nahor. 23 And after he became the father of Nahor, Serug lived 200 years and had other sons and daughters.
24 When Nahor had lived 29 years, he became the father of Terah. 25 And after he became the father of Terah, Nahor lived 119 years and had other sons and daughters.
26 After Terah had lived 70 years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran.
27 This is the account of Terah’s family line.
Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.
31 Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.
32 Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.”
Genesis 11 Meaning
The Bible verses in Genesis 11 describe the story of the Tower of Babel. In this story, the people of the earth decided to build a great city with a tower that would reach the heavens. However, God saw their pride and disobedience, and as a result, He confused their language and scattered them across the earth.
Genesis 11 Commentary and Explanation
Chapter 11 of Genesis presents the iconic narrative of the Tower of Babel, a story rich in symbolism and profound theological implications. As we look into this chapter, we encounter themes of human ambition, divine intervention, and the consequences of pride.
The chapter begins with humanity united in purpose, speaking a common language and dwelling in one place. They decide to build a tower that reaches the heavens, a monument to their collective achievements and aspirations. This endeavor reflects the innate human desire to transcend earthly limitations and attain greatness. However, their motivation seems rooted in self-glory rather than reverence for God.
God observes their undertaking and recognizes the danger inherent in their unity and ambition. He remarks, “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.” (Genesis 11:6). This statement underscores the immense potential of human collaboration and underscores the importance of unity in achieving great feats.
In response to humanity’s hubris, God confounds their language, causing confusion and discord among them. This act of divine intervention disrupts their plans and scatters them across the earth. The dispersion of languages not only impedes their ability to communicate effectively but also fosters division and diversity among different peoples and cultures.
The Tower of Babel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked human ambition and pride. It highlights the consequences of pursuing goals solely for personal glory, rather than aligning with God’s will. Moreover, it underscores the importance of humility and reverence in our endeavors, recognizing that our achievements are ultimately dependent on God’s grace and providence.
Throughout the Bible, we encounter similar themes of pride leading to downfall. Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” The story of the Tower of Babel reminds us of the importance of humility and obedience in our relationship with God.
Furthermore, the scattering of humanity at Babel anticipates the themes of dispersion and redemption found throughout Scripture. It foreshadows the eventual gathering of God’s people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, as prophesied in Revelation 7:9-10. Despite humanity’s attempts to exalt themselves, God’s plan for salvation remains sovereign, encompassing all peoples and languages.
Genesis 11 offers profound insights into the nature of human ambition, divine intervention, and the consequences of pride. It challenges us to examine our motives and align our pursuits with God’s will, recognizing that true greatness comes not from our own efforts, but from humble obedience and trust in Him.
Also Read: Genesis 10 Meaning and Commentary
Context of Genesis 11
The story of the Tower of Babel is found in the book of Genesis, which is the first book of the Bible. This story takes place after the Flood, when Noah and his family were saved in the ark. The people of the earth had descended from Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Genesis 11:1-9 specifically focuses on the events surrounding the building of the Tower of Babel. The people of the earth had settled in a plain in the land of Shinar, and they decided to build a city and a tower that would reach the heavens.
Breaking Down the Key Parts of Genesis 11
Genesis 11:1-2: “Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.”
These verses set the stage for the story of the Tower of Babel. The people of the earth were united in their language and speech, and they journeyed to the land of Shinar and decided to settle there.
Genesis 11:3-4: “Then they said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.’ They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.'”
These verses showcase the people’s plans to build a city and tower. They believed that this would make them great and prevent them from being scattered across the earth. However, their intentions were selfish and focused on their own glory, rather than God’s.
Genesis 11:5-9: “But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the Lord said, ‘Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.’ So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.”
In these verses, we see God’s response to the people’s pride and disobedience. He saw their unity and their plans, and He decided to confuse their language and scatter them across the earth. This was a humbling experience for the people and a reminder of their dependence on God.
Lessons From Genesis 11
The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us several important lessons. Firstly, it reminds us of the danger of pride and self-sufficiency. The people of the earth desired to make a name for themselves and elevate themselves to the heavens. However, they failed to acknowledge God as the ultimate source of greatness and chose to rely on their own abilities and achievements.
Secondly, this story emphasizes the importance of following God’s will and seeking His glory. The people’s plans were not in alignment with God’s purpose, and as a result, they faced consequences. We must always seek to align our desires and plans with God’s will, recognizing that true greatness comes from humbly following Him.
Lastly, the Tower of Babel serves as a reminder of our dependence on God. When God confused the people’s language and scattered them, it was a humbling experience for them. It reminded them that they were not self-sufficient and needed God’s guidance and grace. This is a lesson we can apply in our own lives, recognizing our need for God’s presence and leading in everything we do.
Final Thoughts
The story of the Tower of Babel serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride and disobedience. It reminds us of the importance of humbly following God’s will and seeking His glory, rather than our own. Let us learn from the mistakes of those who built the tower and strive to live in obedience to God’s commands, trusting in His wisdom and guidance.