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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 />But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/11.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/11.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/11.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/11.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the men had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/11.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />The LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD came down to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/11.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Jehovah came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/11.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But when the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/11.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the descendants of Adam were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/11.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which they had built, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/11.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />However, the LORD descended to look over the city and the tower that the humans were building. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/11.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the people had started building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And God came down to see the city and the tower, that humankind was building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/11.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And YHWH comes down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men have built;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Jehovah cometh down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men have builded;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Jehovah will come down to see the city, and the tower which the sons of men built.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of Adam were building. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Then the Lord descended to see the city and the tower, which the sons of Adam were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/11.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />The LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the people had built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />The LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which men were building.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/11.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And LORD JEHOVAH came down to see the city and the tower that the children of men were building.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/11.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/11.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the sons of men built.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/11-5.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=2342" 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">4</span>“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.” <span class="reftext">5</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">Then the LORD</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: way·yê·reḏ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come or go down, descend. ">came down</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: lir·’ōṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">to see</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/5892.htm" title="5892: hā·‘îr (Art:: N-fs) -- Excitement. Or par; or ayar; from uwr a city in the widest sense.">the city</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4026.htm" title="4026: ham·miḡ·dāl (Art:: N-ms) -- A tower. Also feminine migdalah; from gadal; a tower; by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a bed of flowers.">and the tower</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.">that</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: bə·nê (N-mpc) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">the sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/120.htm" title="120: hā·’ā·ḏām (Art:: N-ms) -- Man, mankind. From 'adam; ruddy i.e. A human being.">of men</a> <a href="/hebrew/1129.htm" title="1129: bā·nū (V-Qal-Perf-3cp) -- To build. A primitive root; to build.">were building.</a> </span><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.…<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="/psalms/33-13.htm">Psalm 33:13-14</a></span><br />The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. / From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/11-4.htm">Psalm 11:4</a></span><br />The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/15-3.htm">Proverbs 15:3</a></span><br />The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/16-9.htm">2 Chronicles 16:9</a></span><br />For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/28-24.htm">Job 28:24</a></span><br />For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/32-19.htm">Jeremiah 32:19</a></span><br />the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Exodus 3:8</a></span><br />I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/64-1.htm">Isaiah 64:1-2</a></span><br />If only You would rend the heavens and come down, so that mountains would quake at Your presence, / as fire kindles the brushwood and causes the water to boil, to make Your name known to Your enemies, so that the nations will tremble at Your presence!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/26-15.htm">Deuteronomy 26:15</a></span><br />Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people Israel and the land You have given us as You swore to our fathers—a land flowing with milk and honey.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/63-15.htm">Isaiah 63:15</a></span><br />Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/14-2.htm">Psalm 14:2</a></span><br />The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/53-2.htm">Psalm 53:2</a></span><br />God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-30.htm">Acts 17:30</a></span><br />Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/4-13.htm">Hebrews 4:13</a></span><br />Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-10.htm">Matthew 6:10</a></span><br />Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-21.htm">Genesis 18:21</a></b></br> I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/exodus/19-11.htm">Exodus 19:11</a></b></br> And be ready against the third day: for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/11-4.htm">Psalm 11:4</a></b></br> The LORD <i>is</i> in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne <i>is</i> in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/10-11.htm">Builded</a> <a href="/genesis/10-11.htm">Building</a> <a href="/genesis/10-11.htm">Built</a> <a href="/genesis/10-23.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/11-4.htm">City</a> <a href="/genesis/11-4.htm">Tower</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/12-7.htm">Builded</a> <a href="/genesis/11-8.htm">Building</a> <a href="/genesis/12-7.htm">Built</a> <a href="/genesis/11-30.htm">Children</a> <a href="/genesis/11-8.htm">City</a> <a href="/genesis/35-21.htm">Tower</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'; 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It suggests a divine intervention, highlighting that God is not distant but intimately aware of human actions. The anthropomorphic language ("came down") is used to convey God's inspection and judgment. This mirrors other instances in Scripture where God "comes down" to assess situations, such as in <a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Exodus 3:8</a> when God comes down to deliver Israel from Egypt.<p><b>to see the city and the tower</b><br>The city and the tower refer to Babel, a symbol of human pride and rebellion against God. The tower, often associated with a ziggurat, was an architectural structure common in ancient Mesopotamia, intended to reach the heavens. This reflects humanity's attempt to assert independence and achieve greatness apart from God. The act of God "seeing" is reminiscent of <a href="/genesis/18-21.htm">Genesis 18:21</a>, where God investigates Sodom and Gomorrah, indicating a thorough examination before judgment.<p><b>that the sons of men were building</b><br>"Sons of men" underscores the human origin and effort behind the construction, contrasting divine creation with human ambition. This phrase highlights the collective human endeavor, emphasizing unity in rebellion. It connects to the broader biblical theme of humanity's fallen nature and the tendency to seek self-glorification. The construction of the tower can be seen as a type of human attempts to reach God through their own means, contrasting with the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the only way to God (<a href="/john/14-6.htm">John 14:6</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal involvement and authority over creation. In this passage, He actively observes human actions.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_city_and_the_tower.htm">The City and the Tower</a></b><br>Refers to the city of Babel and the tower within it, which the people were building to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered over the earth.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_sons_of_men.htm">The Sons of Men</a></b><br>This phrase refers to humanity collectively, emphasizing their unity and shared purpose in building the tower.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/b/babel.htm">Babel</a></b><br>The location where the events of <a href="/bsb/genesis/11.htm">Genesis 11</a> take place, later known as Babylon. It symbolizes human pride and rebellion against God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_event_of_divine_observation.htm">The Event of Divine Observation</a></b><br>God's action of "coming down" to see the city and the tower highlights His sovereignty and the futility of human efforts to reach divine status.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_and_omniscience.htm">God's Sovereignty and Omniscience</a></b><br>God is fully aware of human actions and intentions. His "coming down" is a reminder that nothing escapes His notice, and He is actively involved in the affairs of the world.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/human_pride_and_rebellion.htm">Human Pride and Rebellion</a></b><br>The building of the tower represents humanity's pride and desire for self-sufficiency apart from God. This serves as a warning against the dangers of pride and the pursuit of self-glorification.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_futility_of_human_efforts_against_god's_will.htm">The Futility of Human Efforts Against God’s Will</a></b><br>Despite human efforts to establish their own plans, God's purposes will prevail. This encourages believers to align their goals with God's will rather than pursuing their own ambitions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_obedience_to_god's_commands.htm">The Importance of Obedience to God’s Commands</a></b><br>The people’s attempt to avoid being scattered was in direct disobedience to God’s command to fill the earth. This highlights the importance of trusting and obeying God’s directives.<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/who_is_angel_moroni.htm">What does the Bible say about Babylon?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_the_bible_say_on_arrogance.htm">What does the Bible say about arrogance?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_must_god_'stoop'_if_omnipresent.htm">(Psalm 113:6) Why does an omnipresent God need to “stoop down” to look at the heavens and the earth, implying a physical movement that seems contradictory to an all-seeing deity? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_don't_languages_change_suddenly.htm">If the Tower of Babel story is historical, why do linguistic studies show languages developing gradually rather than suddenly?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/11.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(5-7) <span class= "bld">The Lord came down.</span>--The narrative is given in that simple anthropological manner usual in the Book of Genesis, which so clearly sets before us God's loving care of man, and here and in <a href="/genesis/18-21.htm" title="I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come to me; and if not, I will know.">Genesis 18:21</a> the equity of Divine justice. For Jehovah is described as a mighty king, who, hearing in His upper and heavenly dwelling of man's ambitious purpose, determines to go and inspect the work in person, that having seen, he may deal with the offenders justly. He views, therefore, "the city and the tower;" for the city was as important a portion of their purpose as the tower, or even more so. The tower, which, no doubt, was to be the citadel and protection of the city, was for the latter's sake to give the people a sense of strength and security. Having, then, inspected the tower and the city nestling round it, the Deity affirms that this centralisation is injurious to man's best interests, and must be counteracted by an opposite principle, namely, the tendency of mankind to make constant changes in language, and thereby to break up into different communities, kept permanently apart by the use of different tongues. At present "it is one people, and there is one lip to all of them, and this is what they begin to do," &c. Already there are thoughts among them of universal empire, and if thus the spread of mankind be hindered, and its division into numerous nations, each contributing its share to the progress and welfare of the world, be stopped, man will remain a poor debased creature, and will fail utterly in accomplishing the purpose for which he was placed upon earth. <span class= "ital">"Go </span>to," therefore, He says, in irony of their twice repeated phrase, "we will go down, and make their speech unintelligible to one another." Now, though there is no assertion of a miracle here, yet we may well believe that there was an extraordinary quickening of a natural law which existed from the first. This, however, is but a secondary question, and the main fact is the statement that the Divine means for counteracting man's ambitious and ever-recurring dream of universal sovereignty is the law of diversity of speech. In ancient times there was little to counteract this tendency, and each city and petty district had its own dialect, and looked with animosity upon its neighbours who differed from it in pronunciation, if not in vocabulary. In the present day there are counteracting influences; and great communities, by the use of the same Bible and <span class= "ital">the </span>possession of the same classical literature, may long continue to speak the same language. In days also when communication is so easy, not only do men travel much, but newspapers and serials published at the centre are dispersed to the most distant portions of the world. In old time it was not so, and probably Isaiah would not have been easily understood thirty miles from Jerusalem, nor Demosthenes a few leagues; from Athens. Without books or literature, a little-band of families wandering about with their cattle, with no communication with other tribes, would quickly modify both the grammar and the pronunciation of their language; and when, after a year or two, they revisited the tower, they would feel like foreigners in the new city, and quickly depart with the determination never to return. And to this day diversity of language is a powerful factor in keeping nations apart, or in preventing portions of the same kingdom from agreeing heartily together. And thus at Babel the first attempt to bind the human family into one whole came to an ignominious end.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/11.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 5.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And the Lord came down</span>. Not in visible form, as in <a href="/exodus/19-20.htm">Exodus 19:20</a>; <a href="/exodus/34-5.htm">Exodus 34:5</a> (Onkelos), but "<span class="accented">effectu</span> <span class="accented">ostendens se propin quiorem quem absentem esse judicabant"</span> (Poole), an anthropomorphism (cf. <a href="/genesis/18-21.htm">Genesis 18:21</a>; <a href="/psalms/144-5.htm">Psalm 144:5</a>). "<span class="accented">It</span> is measure for measure (<span class="accented">par pari</span>). 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). <span class="cmt_word">To see</span> (with a view to judicial action) <span class="cmt_word">the city and the tower which the children of men</span> - <span class="accented">sons of Adam</span>; neither the posterity of Cain, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the Hamites exclusively, as the Sethites were called sons of God, <a href="/genesis/6-2.htm">Genesis 6:2</a> (Augustine), nor wicked men in general (Junius, Piscator), imitators of Adam, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> <span class="accented">rebellantes Dee</span> (Mode, Lyre), since then the Shemites would not have been participators in the undertaking (Drusius), which some think, to have been their work exclusively (Inglis); but the members of the human race, or at least their leaders - <span class="cmt_word">builded</span>. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/11-5.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">Then the LORD</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><br /><span class="word">came down</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֵּ֣רֶד</span> <span class="translit">(way·yê·reḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<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">to see</span><br /><span class="heb">לִרְאֹ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(lir·’ōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the city</span><br /><span class="heb">הָעִ֖יר</span> <span class="translit">(hā·‘îr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5892.htm">Strong's 5892: </a> </span><span class="str2">Excitement</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and the tower</span><br /><span class="heb">הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miḡ·dāl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4026.htm">Strong's 4026: </a> </span><span class="str2">A tower, a rostrum, a, bed of flowers</span><br /><br /><span class="word">that</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֥ר</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">the sons</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּנֵ֥י</span> <span class="translit">(bə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of men</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָדָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_120.htm">Strong's 120: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ruddy, a human being</span><br /><br /><span class="word">were building.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּנ֖וּ</span> <span class="translit">(bā·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1129.htm">Strong's 1129: </a> </span><span class="str2">To build</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/11-5.htm">Genesis 11:5 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/11-5.htm">OT Law: Genesis 11:5 Yahweh came down to see the city (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/11-4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 11:4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 11:4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/11-6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 11:6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 11:6" /></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>