Genesischapter 11

32 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 163 cross-references outward and receives 144 — heaviest partner: Genesis.

Chapter summary

Babel: the nations from chapter 10 given their theological diagnosis. One language, one purpose — to make a name, to reach the heavens, to avoid scattering. The LORD comes down to see, and disperses them by confusing speech. The promise of Genesis 9 (fill the earth) is enforced by judgment on human ambition. The second half narrows to Shem's line — ten generations from Shem to Terah — and the camera finally rests on Abram, Nahor, and Haran in Ur. The toledoth of Terah closes the primeval history and opens the patriarchal. Gill sees Pentecost's reversal of Babel across this chapter's shadow.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Law · Moses — see the Genesis overview for the book's full setting.

1 And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

3 And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

4 And they said, Come, let us 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.

5 And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

6 And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.

7 Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

8 So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city.

9 Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.