Genesis 11:5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 11:5-9

We have here the quashing of the project of the Babel-builders, and the turning of the counsel of those froward men headlong, that God's counsel might stand in spite of them. Here is, I. The cognizance God took of the design that was on foot: The Lord came down to see the city, Gen. 11:5. It is an expression after the manner of men; he knew it as clearly and fully as men know that which they come to the place to view. Observe, 1. Before he gave judgment upon their cause, he enquired into it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:5

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower ,.... Not locally or visibly, being immense, omnipresent, and invisible; nor in order to see and take notice of what he otherwise could not see from heaven, for he is omniscient; but this is spoken after the manner of men, and is to be understood of some effects and displays of his power, which were manifest, and showed him to be present: the Targum is,"and the Lord was revealed to take vengeance on them on account of the business of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:5

And the Lord came down - A lesson, says an ancient Jewish commentator, to magistrates to examine every evidence before they decree judgment and execute justice. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:5

Verse 5 5.And the Lord came down. The remaining part of the history now follows, in which Moses teaches us with what ease the Lord could overturn their insane attempts, and scatter abroad all their preparations. There is no doubt that they strenuously set about what they had presumptuously devised. But Moses first intimates that God, for a little while, seemed to take no notice of them, (328) in order that suddenly breaking off their work at its commencement, by the confusion of their tongues,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 11:1-9

Order brought forth. We are now to trace the rise of the kingdom of God among the nations. Already in the case of Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord, that is, by permission of Divine providence, the antagonism between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world has been symbolized. Now we find the concentration of the world's rebellion and ungodliness in the false city, type of the worldly power throughout the Scriptures. It is on the plain of Shinar to which the early... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 11:5

And the Lord came down . Not in visible form, as in Exodus 19:20 ; Exodus 34:5 (Onkelos), but " effectu ostendens se propin quiorem quem absentem esse judicabant " (Poole), an anthropomorphism (cf. Genesis 18:21 ; Psalms 144:5 ). " It is measure for measure ( par pari ). Let us build up, say they, and scale the heavens. Let us go down, says God, and defeat their impious thought" (Rabbi Schelomo, quoted by T . Lewis). To see (with a view to judicial action) the city and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 11:5

The cities of men and the city of God ( Genesis 11:5 ; Hebrews 11:16 ). I. THEIR BUILDERS . Of the first, men—mostly wicked men; of the second, the Architect of the universe. II. THEIR ORIGIN . Of the first (Enoch, Genesis 4:17 ; and Babel, Genesis 11:5 ), hostility to God; of the second, love to man. III. THEIR DESIGN . Of the first, to be a bond of union among sinners; of the second, to be a residence for God's children. IV. THEIR APPEARANCE . Of the first,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 11:1-9

- The Confusion of Tongues1. נסע nāsa‛ “pluck out, break up, journey.” מקדם mı̂qedem “eastward, or on the east side” as in Genesis 2:14; Genesis 13:11; Isaiah 9:11 (12).6. החלם hachı̂lām “their beginning”, for החלם hăchı̂lām, the regular form of this infinitive with a suffix. יזמוּ yāzmû as if from יזם yāzam = זמם zāmam.7. נבלה nābelâh usually said to be for נבלה nābolâh from בלל bālal; but evidently designed by the punctuator to be the third singular feminine perfect of נבל nābal... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 11:5

Genesis 11:5. And the Lord came down to see the city This is an expression after the manner of men; he knew it as clearly as men know that which they come upon the place to view. Genesis 11:6-9 . And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, &c. And if they continue one, much of the earth will be left uninhabited. Let us confound their language This was not spoken to the angels, as if God needed either their advice or their assistance; but God speaks it to himself, or the Father... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:1-9

Rebellion against God at Babel (11:1-9)Babel was one of the cities founded by Nimrod in the land of Shinar, ancient Babylonia (see 10:8-12). The people of this region, proud of the society they had established, displayed the same anti-God spirit as had brought about God’s judgment through the flood. They joined together to build for themselves a new city that would make them famous and give them complete security. They decided to crown their city with what they considered to be a skyscraper, as... read more

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