11 6 The building of Babel was the cause of the confusion of tongues. 10 The age and generation of Shem unto Abram. 31 Abram’s departure from Ur with his father Terah, Sarai and Lot. 32 The age and death of Terah.

Then the whole earth was of one language and one speech.

And [a]as [b]they went from the [c]East, they found a plain in the land of [d]Shinar, and there they abode.

And they said one to another, Come, let us make brick and burn it in the fire, so they had brick for stone, and slime had they instead of mortar.

Also they said, Go to, let us [e]build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto the heaven, that we may get us a name, lest we be scattered upon the whole earth.

But the Lord [f]came down, to see the city and tower which the sons of men built.

And the Lord said, [g]Behold, the people is one, and they all have one language, and this they begin to do, neither can they now be stopped from whatsoever they have imagined to do.

Come on, [h]let us go down, and [i]there confound their language, that everyone perceive not another’s speech.

So the Lord scattered them from thence upon all the earth, and they left off to build the city.

Therefore the name of it was called [j]Babel, because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: from thence then did the Lord scatter them upon all the earth.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 11:2 In the year one hundred and thirty after the flood.
  2. Genesis 11:2 To wit, Nimrod and his company.
  3. Genesis 11:2 That is, from Armenia where the Ark stayed.
  4. Genesis 11:2 Which was afterward called Chaldea.
  5. Genesis 11:4 They were moved with pride and ambition, thinking to prefer their own glory to God’s honor.
  6. Genesis 11:5 Meaning, that he declared by effect, that he knew their wicked enterprise: for God’s power is everywhere, and doth neither ascend nor descend.
  7. Genesis 11:6 God speaketh this in derision, because of their foolish persuasion and enterprise.
  8. Genesis 11:7 He speaketh as though he took counsel with his own wisdom and power: to wit, with the Son and holy Ghost: signifying the greatness and certainty of the punishment.
  9. Genesis 11:7 By this great plague of the confusion of tongues appeareth God’s horrible judgment against man’s pride and vain glory.
  10. Genesis 11:9 Or, confusion.

Bible Gateway Recommends