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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 11:7 Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/11-7.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/01_Gen_11_07.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 11:7 - The Tower of Babel" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another's speech." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/11-7.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/11-7.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/11.htm">Chapter 11</a> > Verse 7</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad7.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/11-6.htm" title="Genesis 11:6">◄</a> Genesis 11:7 <a href="/genesis/11-8.htm" title="Genesis 11:8">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/11.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/11.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/11.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Come, let’s go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won’t be able to understand each other.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/11.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/11.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/11.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/11.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another&#8217s speech.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s language.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Come, let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) go down and there confuse <i>and</i> mix up their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let’s go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let Us go down there and confuse their language so that they will not understand one another&#8217s speech.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/11.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/11.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Let's go down and confuse them! We'll make them speak different languages, and they won't be able to understand each other. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/11.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Let us go down there and mix up their language so that they won't understand each other."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/11.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Let us go down and mix up their language so that they will not understand each other." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/11.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Come on! Let's go down there and confuse their language, so that they won't understand each other's speech."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another?s speech.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/11.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Come, let's go down and confuse their language so they won't be able to understand each other." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/11.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Give help, let us go down there and confuse their language, so that a man will not understand the language of his companion.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Give help, let us go down, and mingle there their pronunciation, so that a man doth not understand the pronunciation of his companion.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Come, we will come down and mix their lip that they shall not hear a man the lip of his neighbor.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Come ye, therefore, let us go down, and there may not understand one another's speech. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Therefore, come, let us descend, and in that place confound their tongue, so that they may not listen, each one to the voice of his neighbor.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/11.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that no one will understand the speech of another.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us go down, and there divide their language so that they may not understand one another's speech.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/11.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Come, let us descend and we will divide there the language so that a man will not hear his neighbor's language.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/11.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/11.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Come, and having gone down let us there confound their tongue, that they may not understand each the voice of his neighbour.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/11-7.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=2358" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/11.htm">The Tower of Babel</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">6</span>And the LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them. <span class="reftext">7</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3051.htm" title="3051: hā·ḇāh (V-Qal-Imp-ms:: 3fs) -- To give. A primitive root; to give; generally, to put; imperatively come.">Come,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: nê·rə·ḏāh (V-Qal-Imperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To come or go down, descend. ">let Us go down</a> <a href="/hebrew/8033.htm" title="8033: šām (Adv) -- There, thither. A primitive particle; there then; often thither, or thence."></a> <a href="/hebrew/1101.htm" title="1101: wə·nā·ḇə·lāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjImperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To mingle, mix, confuse, confound. A primitive root; to overflow; by implication, to mix; also to fodder.">and confuse</a> <a href="/hebrew/8193.htm" title="8193: śə·p̄ā·ṯām (N-fsc:: 3mp) -- Or sepheth; probably from caphah or shaphah through the idea of termination; the lip; by implication, language; by analogy, a margin.">their language,</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">so that</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">they will not</a> <a href="/hebrew/8085.htm" title="8085: yiš·mə·‘ū (V-Qal-Imperf-3mp) -- To hear. A primitive root; to hear intelligently.">understand</a> <a href="/hebrew/376.htm" title="376: ’îš (N-ms) -- Man. Contracted for 'enowsh; a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term.">one</a> <a href="/hebrew/7453.htm" title="7453: rê·‘ê·hū (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Friend, companion, fellow. Or reya2; from ra'ah; an associate.">another’s</a> <a href="/hebrew/8193.htm" title="8193: śə·p̄aṯ (N-fsc) -- Or sepheth; probably from caphah or shaphah through the idea of termination; the lip; by implication, language; by analogy, a margin.">speech.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">8</span>So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/2-4.htm">Acts 2:4-11</a></span><br />And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. / Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. / And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/zephaniah/3-9.htm">Zephaniah 3:9</a></span><br />For then I will restore pure lips to the peoples, that all may call upon the name of the LORD and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/14-10.htm">1 Corinthians 14:10-11</a></span><br />Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. / If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/32-8.htm">Deuteronomy 32:8</a></span><br />When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when He divided the sons of man, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/55-9.htm">Psalm 55:9</a></span><br />O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/19-18.htm">Isaiah 19:18</a></span><br />In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to the LORD of Hosts. One of them will be called the City of the Sun.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/33-19.htm">Isaiah 33:19</a></span><br />You will no longer see the insolent, a people whose speech is unintelligible, who stammer in a language you cannot understand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/7-9.htm">Revelation 7:9</a></span><br />After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-26.htm">Acts 17:26</a></span><br />From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/7-43.htm">John 7:43</a></span><br />So there was division in the crowd because of Jesus.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/1-10.htm">1 Corinthians 1:10</a></span><br />I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/28-11.htm">Isaiah 28:11</a></span><br />Indeed, with mocking lips and foreign tongues, He will speak to this people<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/66-18.htm">Isaiah 66:18</a></span><br />“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/5-15.htm">Jeremiah 5:15</a></span><br />Behold, I am bringing a distant nation against you, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD. “It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/daniel/3-4.htm">Daniel 3:4-7</a></span><br />Then the herald loudly proclaimed, “O people of every nation and language, this is what you are commanded: / As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. / And whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into the blazing fiery furnace.” ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.</p><p class="hdg">Go to.</p><p class="hdg">let.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5</a></b></br> And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">Genesis 1:26</a></b></br> And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/3-22.htm">Genesis 3:22</a></b></br> And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:</p><p class="hdg">confound.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/5-12.htm">Job 5:12,13</a></b></br> He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform <i>their</i> enterprise… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/12-20.htm">Job 12:20</a></b></br> He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/2-4.htm">Psalm 2:4</a></b></br> He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.</p><p class="hdg">may.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/10-5.htm">Genesis 10:5,20,32</a></b></br> By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/42-23.htm">Genesis 42:23</a></b></br> And they knew not that Joseph understood <i>them</i>; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/28-49.htm">Deuteronomy 28:49</a></b></br> The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, <i>as swift</i> as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/revelation/15-8.htm">Able</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-10.htm">Another's</a> <a href="/revelation/22-1.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/revelation/1-9.htm">Companion</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/1-27.htm">Confound</a> <a href="/isaiah/3-12.htm">Confuse</a> <a href="/genesis/4-1.htm">Help</a> <a href="/genesis/11-4.htm">Let's</a> <a href="/revelation/18-6.htm">Mingle</a> <a href="/genesis/11-6.htm">Pronunciation</a> <a href="/genesis/2-25.htm">Sense</a> <a href="/genesis/11-1.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/genesis/10-18.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/jude/1-10.htm">Understand</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/13-6.htm">Able</a> <a href="/genesis/31-49.htm">Another's</a> <a href="/genesis/20-5.htm">Clear</a> <a href="/genesis/13-11.htm">Companion</a> <a href="/genesis/11-9.htm">Confound</a> <a href="/exodus/23-27.htm">Confuse</a> <a href="/genesis/39-15.htm">Help</a> <a href="/genesis/13-9.htm">Let's</a> <a href="/psalms/102-9.htm">Mingle</a> <a href="/genesis/11-1.htm">Pronunciation</a> <a href="/genesis/11-9.htm">Sense</a> <a href="/exodus/4-10.htm">Speech</a> <a href="/genesis/11-29.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/genesis/41-15.htm">Understand</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 11</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/11-1.htm">One language in the world.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/11-2.htm">The building of Babel.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/11-5.htm">It is interrupted by the confusion of tongues, and the builders dispersed.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/11-10.htm">The generations of Shem.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">27. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/11-27.htm">The generations of Terah, the father of Abram.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/11-31.htm">Terah, with Abram and Lot, move from Ur to Haran.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/11.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/11.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Come, let Us go down</b><br>This phrase reflects the divine council, suggesting a plurality within the Godhead, often interpreted as a reference to the Trinity. The use of "Us" echoes <a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">Genesis 1:26</a>, where God says, "Let Us make man in Our image." This indicates a collaborative action within the Godhead. The descent of God signifies His direct intervention in human affairs, emphasizing His sovereignty and authority over creation. The idea of God "going down" also contrasts with humanity's attempt to ascend to heaven through the Tower of Babel, highlighting the futility of human pride and ambition.<p><b>and confuse their language,</b><br>The confusion of language is a direct response to humanity's unified rebellion against God. By disrupting their communication, God effectively halts their plans and disperses them across the earth. This act of divine judgment serves as a reminder of God's control over human history and His ability to thwart human pride. The confusion of language at Babel is later reversed at Pentecost (<a href="/acts/2.htm">Acts 2:1-12</a>), where the Holy Spirit enables the apostles to speak in various tongues, symbolizing the unifying power of the Gospel.<p><b>so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”</b><br>The inability to understand one another's speech leads to the scattering of people across the earth, fulfilling God's original command to "fill the earth" (<a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a>). This scattering results in the formation of different nations and cultures, each with its own language. The division of languages serves as a barrier to human collaboration in rebellion against God, but it also sets the stage for the diversity of cultures that will later be united in Christ (<a href="/revelation/7-9.htm">Revelation 7:9</a>). The confusion at Babel underscores the importance of communication and unity in fulfilling God's purposes, which is ultimately realized through the Church.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God (Us)</a></b><br>The use of "Us" suggests the divine council or the Trinity, indicating a plurality in the Godhead. This reflects the unity and diversity within the Godhead, as seen in the creation account.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_people_of_babel.htm">The People of Babel</a></b><br>These were the descendants of Noah who settled in Shinar and sought to build a city and a tower to make a name for themselves, demonstrating human pride and self-reliance.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_tower_of_babel.htm">The Tower of Babel</a></b><br>A symbol of human ambition and defiance against God’s command to fill the earth. The tower represents humanity's attempt to reach the heavens and establish their own identity apart from God.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_city_of_babel.htm">The City of Babel</a></b><br>The location where the people gathered to build the tower. It later became known as Babylon, a city often associated with rebellion against God throughout the Bible.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_confusion_of_languages.htm">The Confusion of Languages</a></b><br>An act of divine intervention where God confounded the language of the people, causing them to scatter across the earth, fulfilling His original command to fill the earth.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_pride_and_self-sufficiency.htm">The Danger of Pride and Self-Sufficiency</a></b><br>The account of Babel warns against the dangers of pride and the desire to make a name for oneself apart from God. It serves as a reminder that human achievements should glorify God, not self.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_sovereignty_of_god.htm">The Sovereignty of God</a></b><br>God's intervention at Babel demonstrates His sovereignty over human affairs. Despite human plans, God's purposes will prevail, and His will cannot be thwarted.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience.htm">The Importance of Obedience</a></b><br>The scattering of the people at Babel highlights the importance of obedience to God's commands. When God instructs us to "fill the earth," it is a call to spread His glory and truth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/unity_in_diversity.htm">Unity in Diversity</a></b><br>While Babel resulted in the division of languages, the gospel brings unity in diversity. In Christ, people from every tribe and language are united, reflecting the ultimate purpose of God's redemptive plan.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_11.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 11</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_record_of_sudden_language_split.htm">If God instantly confused their language (Genesis 11:7), why is there no historical or archaeological record of such a sudden, universal linguistic divergence? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_defines_utopianism.htm">What defines Utopianism?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_babel_fit_linguistic_evolution.htm">How do we reconcile linguistic evolution with the Tower of Babel story?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_so_much_genetic_diversity_from_noah.htm">If all humans descend from Noah’s family, why do we see genetic diversity that requires much more time to develop?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/11.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 7.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Go to</span>. An ironical contrast to the "Go to" of the builders (Lange). <span class="cmt_word">Let us</span> (cf. <a href="/genesis/1-26.htm">Genesis 1:26</a>) <span class="cmt_word">go down, and there confound their language</span> (<span class="accented">vide</span> <span class="accented">infra, ver</span>. 9), <span class="cmt_word">that they may not understand</span> (literally, <span class="accented">hear</span>; so <a href="/genesis/42-23.htm">Genesis 42:23</a>; <a href="/isaiah/36-11.htm">Isaiah 36:11</a>; <a href="/1_corinthians/14-2.htm">1 Corinthians 14:2</a>) <span class="cmt_word">one another's speech.</span> <span class="accented">Not referring to individuals</span> (<span class="accented">singuli homines</span>), since then society were impossible, but to families or nations (<span class="accented">singulae cognationes</span>), which each had its own tongue (Poole). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/11-7.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Come,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָ֚בָה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3051.htm">Strong's 3051: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, to put, imperatively, come</span><br /><br /><span class="word">let Us go down</span><br /><span class="heb">נֵֽרְדָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(nê·rə·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and confuse</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנָבְלָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nā·ḇə·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1101.htm">Strong's 1101: </a> </span><span class="str2">To mingle, mix, confuse, confound</span><br /><br /><span class="word">their language,</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׂפָתָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(śə·p̄ā·ṯām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8193.htm">Strong's 8193: </a> </span><span class="str2">The lip, language, a margin</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so that</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁר֙</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they will not</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֣א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">understand</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׁמְע֔וּ</span> <span class="translit">(yiš·mə·‘ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8085.htm">Strong's 8085: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hear intelligently</span><br /><br /><span class="word">one</span><br /><span class="heb">אִ֖ישׁ</span> <span class="translit">(’îš)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_582.htm">Strong's 582: </a> </span><span class="str2">Man, mankind</span><br /><br /><span class="word">another’s</span><br /><span class="heb">רֵעֵֽהוּ׃</span> <span class="translit">(rê·‘ê·hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7453.htm">Strong's 7453: </a> </span><span class="str2">Friend, companion, fellow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">speech.”</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׂפַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(śə·p̄aṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8193.htm">Strong's 8193: </a> </span><span class="str2">The lip, language, a margin</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/11-7.htm">Genesis 11:7 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/11-7.htm">OT Law: Genesis 11:7 Come let's go down and there confuse (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/11-6.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 11:6"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 11:6" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/11-8.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 11:8"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 11:8" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>