11:5 And the LORD {f} came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.(f) Meaning, that he declared by effect, that he knew their wicked enterprise; for God’s power is everywhere, and neither ascends nor descends. read more
11:6 And the LORD said, {g} Behold, the people [is] one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.(g) God speaks this in derision, because of their foolish persuasion and enterprise. read more
11:7 Go to, {h} let us go down, and {i} there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.(h) He speaks as though he took counsel with his own wisdom and power: that is, with the Son and holy Spirit: signifying the greatness and certainty of the punishment.(i) By this great plague of the confusion of tongues appears God’s horrible judgment against man’s pride and vain glory. read more
BABEL: THE CITY AND THE TOWER Up to this time there was only one language. In the world today men wish they could have this advantage, but God is wiser than men. Men desire this for the very same reason that Caused God to impose various languages upon them. They are infected by pride that wants to unite independently of God, so as to have a great civilization. They journeyed "from the east," literally "from the sun rising." This is strikingly typical of man's turning his back upon the... read more
THE TOWER OF BABEL The contents of this chapter seem to precede in time those of chapter 10. There we have the story of how the nations were divided, and here why they were divided. What was true of the race linguistically until this time (Genesis 11:1 )? To what locality had they been chiefly attracted (Genesis 11:2 )? What new mechanical science is now named (Genesis 11:3 )? What two-fold purpose was the outcome of this invention (Genesis 11:4 )? What was the object in view? Is there a... read more
On the Building of Babel Genesis 11:0 Comparing this account with our own method of life and art, it is clear that from the beginning of time men have been doing pretty much the same thing all the world over. The world's story is but short; it is very much like a series of repetitions: the actors, indeed, have been innumerable, but the drama has always been contracted, and seldom profound. The actors have made noise enough, but when there has been a little break through the dust, we have... read more
CONTENTS The sacred historian relates in this Chapter an awful proof of man's fallen nature, and thereby confirms the divine declaration concerning it, that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. For notwithstanding that the flood had swept away the whole human race, excepting that part preserved with Noah in the ark; and God's displeasure against sin had manifested itself in this dreadful judgment, yet the sin of man soon broke out afresh; and, in the daring... read more
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. Or journeyed eastward, as Genesis 13:11 . Shinar or Senaar was afterwards called Chaldea or Babylonia. read more
And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. Observe how sinners encourage sinners by their counsel: Proverbs 1:11 . And ought not saints to provoke one another to love and to good works? Hebrews 10:24 . read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 11:4
11:4 And they said, Go to, let us {e} build us a city and a tower, whose top [may reach] unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.(e) They were moved with pride and ambition, preferring their own glory to God’s honour. read more