Bible Commentaries
Genesis 11

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 11:1, One language in the world; Genesis 11:2, The building of Babel; Genesis 11:5, It is interrupted by the confusion of tongues, and the builders dispersed; Genesis 11:10, The generations of Shem; Genesis 11:27, The generations of Terah, the father of Abram; Genesis 11:31, Terah, with Abram and Lot, remove from Ur to Haran.

Verse 1

am 1757, bc 2247

was: Isaiah 19:18, Zephaniah 3:9, Acts 2:6

language: Heb. lip

speech: Heb. words

Reciprocal: Genesis 10:5 - after his Genesis 10:20 - General Genesis 11:6 - the people

Verse 2

from the east: or, eastward, Genesis 13:11

Shinar: Genesis 11:9, Genesis 10:10, Genesis 14:1, Isaiah 11:11, Daniel 1:2, Zechariah 5:11

Reciprocal: Daniel 4:30 - great

Verse 3

they said one to another: Heb. a man said to his neighbour, Go to. Genesis 11:4, Genesis 11:7, Psalms 64:5, Proverbs 1:11, Ecclesiastes 2:1, Isaiah 5:5, Isaiah 41:6, Isaiah 41:7, James 4:13, James 5:1, not as, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:24

burn thoroughly: Heb. burn to a burning

brick: Exodus 1:14, Exodus 5:7-18, 2 Samuel 12:31, Isaiah 9:10, Isaiah 65:3, Nahum 3:14

slime: Genesis 14:10, Exodus 2:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:32 - Come 2 Kings 5:5 - go Jeremiah 18:11 - go to

Verse 4

whose: Deuteronomy 1:28, Deuteronomy 9:1, Daniel 4:11, Daniel 4:22

and let: 2 Samuel 8:13, Psalms 49:11-13, Proverbs 10:7, Daniel 4:30, John 5:44

lest: Genesis 11:8, Genesis 11:9, Psalms 92:9, Luke 1:51

Reciprocal: Genesis 4:17 - and he Genesis 6:4 - men of Genesis 11:3 - they said one to another Genesis 42:4 - Lest 2 Samuel 18:18 - he called 2 Chronicles 28:9 - reacheth Job 20:6 - his excellency Ecclesiastes 2:1 - Go to Ecclesiastes 2:4 - made Ecclesiastes 7:29 - they Isaiah 5:5 - go to Jeremiah 18:11 - go to Jeremiah 51:25 - O destroying Jeremiah 51:53 - mount Matthew 5:14 - a city Luke 10:15 - which Luke 14:28 - intending James 4:13 - Go to

Verse 5

Genesis 18:21, Exodus 19:11, Psalms 11:4, Psalms 33:13, Psalms 33:14, Jeremiah 23:23, Jeremiah 23:24, John 3:13, Hebrews 4:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:9 - General Genesis 11:7 - let Genesis 31:42 - hath seen Genesis 35:13 - General Exodus 3:8 - I am Numbers 11:17 - I will come Deuteronomy 9:13 - I have Psalms 14:2 - The Lord Acts 7:34 - and am Ephesians 4:9 - he also

Verse 6

Behold: Genesis 3:22, Judges 10:14, 1 Kings 18:27, Ecclesiastes 11:9

the people: Genesis 11:1, Genesis 9:19, Acts 17:26

imagined: Genesis 6:5, Genesis 8:21, Psalms 2:1-4, Luke 1:51

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:9 - pressed Daniel 4:9 - no secret Habakkuk 2:13 - is it John 1:10 - was in Acts 2:3 - cloven Acts 14:18 - scarce

Verse 7

Go to: The Hebrew word signifies, "Come," or, "make preparation," as for a journey or the execution of a purpose.

let: Genesis 11:5, Genesis 1:26, Genesis 3:22, Isaiah 6:8

confound: Job 5:12, Job 5:13, Job 12:20, Psalms 2:4, Psalms 33:10, Acts 2:4-11

may: Genesis 10:5, Genesis 10:20, Genesis 10:32, Genesis 42:23, Deuteronomy 28:49, Psalms 55:9, Jeremiah 5:15, 1 Corinthians 14:2-11, 1 Corinthians 14:23

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:3 - they said one to another Genesis 18:21 - I will go down Exodus 3:8 - I am 2 Kings 5:5 - go Ecclesiastes 2:1 - Go to Isaiah 5:5 - go to Jeremiah 18:11 - go to John 14:23 - make Acts 7:34 - and am James 4:13 - Go to

Verse 8

Lord: Genesis 11:4, Genesis 11:9, Genesis 49:7, Deuteronomy 32:8, Luke 1:51

upon: Genesis 10:25, Genesis 10:32

Verse 9

Babel: that is, Confusion, The tower of Babel, Herodotus informs us, was a furlong or 660 feet, in length and breadth; and, according to Strabo, it rose to the same altitude. It was of a pyramidical form, consisting of eight square towers, gradually decreasing in breadth, with a winding ascent on the outside, so very broad as to allow horses and carriages to pass each other, and even to turn. This magnificent structure is so completely destroyed that its very site is doubtful; and when supposed to be discovered, in all cases exhibiting a heap of rubbish. Genesis 10:5, Genesis 10:10, Genesis 10:20, Genesis 10:31, Isaiah 13:1 - Isaiah 14:32, Jeremiah 50:1 - Jeremiah 51:64, 1 Corinthians 14:23

the face: Genesis 10:25, Genesis 10:32, Acts 17:26

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:2 - Shinar Genesis 11:4 - lest Genesis 11:8 - Lord Deuteronomy 32:8 - divided 2 Samuel 18:18 - Absalom's place 2 Kings 20:12 - Babylon Isaiah 23:13 - the Assyrian Isaiah 24:10 - of confusion Ezekiel 23:17 - Babylonians James 3:16 - there

Verse 10

am 1658, bc 2346, Genesis 11:27, Genesis 10:21, Genesis 10:22, 1 Chronicles 1:17-27, Luke 3:34-36

Reciprocal: Genesis 2:4 - the generations 1 Chronicles 1:24 - Shem Luke 3:36 - Sem

Verse 11

am 2158, bc 1846

Shem: Genesis 5:4-32

begat sons: Genesis 1:28, Genesis 5:4, Genesis 9:7, Psalms 127:3, Psalms 127:4, Psalms 128:3, Psalms 128:4, Psalms 144:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 9:29 - nine Genesis 47:9 - have not

Verse 12

am 1693, bc 2311

begat: Luke 3:36

Reciprocal: Genesis 5:4 - and he Genesis 10:24 - Salah 1 Chronicles 1:18 - Shelah Luke 3:35 - Sala

Verse 13

am 2096, bc 1908, Genesis 11:13

Verse 14

am 1723, bc 2281, Genesis 11:14

Verse 15

am 2126, bc 1878, Genesis 11:15

Verse 16

am 1757, bc 2247

Eber: Genesis 10:21, Genesis 10:25, Numbers 24:24, 1 Chronicles 1:19

Peleg: Luke 3:35, Phalec

Verse 17

am 2187, bc 1817, Genesis 11:17

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 1:19 - Eber Luke 3:35 - Heber

Verse 18

am 1787, bc 2217

Reu: Luke 3:35, Ragau

Verse 19

am 1996, bc 2008, Genesis 11:19

Verse 20

am 1819, bc 2185

Serug: Luke 3:35, Saruch.

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 1:4 - One generation

Verse 21

am 2026, bc 1978, Genesis 11:21

Verse 22

am 1849, bc 2155

Nahor: Joshua 24:2, Nachor

Verse 23

am 2049, bc 1955, Genesis 11:23

Verse 24

am 1878, bc 2126

Terah: Luke 3:34, Thara

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:53 - God of Abraham Genesis 47:9 - have not

Verse 25

am 1997, bc 2007, Genesis 11:25

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:4 - to my kindred Genesis 47:9 - have not Ezekiel 16:3 - Thy birth

Verse 26

am 1948, bc 2056

Abram: Genesis 12:4, Genesis 12:5, Genesis 22:20-24, Genesis 29:4, Genesis 29:5, Joshua 24:2, 1 Chronicles 1:26, 1 Chronicles 1:27

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:31 - took

Verse 27

am 2008, bc 1996

Lot: Genesis 11:31, Genesis 12:4, Genesis 13:1-11, Genesis 14:12, Genesis 19:1-29, 2 Peter 2:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:10 - General Genesis 13:8 - brethren Genesis 14:14 - his brother Genesis 24:15 - Milcah 1 Chronicles 1:27 - Abram

Verse 28

Ur: Genesis 15:7, Nehemiah 9:7, Acts 7:2-4

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:31 - they went Job 1:17 - The Chaldeans Isaiah 23:13 - land

Verse 29

Sarai: Genesis 17:15, Genesis 20:12

Milcah: Genesis 22:20, Genesis 24:15

Iscah: Iscah is called the daughter-in-law of Terah - Genesis 11:31, as being Abram's wife; yet Abram afterwards said, "she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother" - Genesis 20:12. Probably Haran was the eldest son of Terah, and Abram his youngest by another wife; and thus Sarai was the daughter, or grand-daughter of Terah, Abram's father, but not of his mother.

Reciprocal: Genesis 12:13 - thou Genesis 24:24 - General Genesis 24:36 - Sarah Ezekiel 16:3 - Thy birth

Verse 30

barren: Genesis 15:2, Genesis 15:3, Genesis 16:1, Genesis 16:2, Genesis 18:11, Genesis 18:12, Genesis 21:1, Genesis 21:2, Genesis 25:21, Genesis 29:31, Genesis 30:1, Genesis 30:2, Judges 13:2, 1 Samuel 1:2, Psalms 113:9, Luke 1:7, Luke 1:36

Reciprocal: Genesis 24:36 - Sarah

Verse 31

am 2078, bc 1926

took: Genesis 11:26, Genesis 11:27, Genesis 12:1

they went: Genesis 11:28, Genesis 12:1, Joshua 24:2, Joshua 24:3, Hebrews 11:8

Ur: Ur was probably the place called Ouri, in Mesopotamia, two days' journey from Nisibis, in the way to the river Tigris. Joshua 24:2, Nehemiah 9:7, Acts 7:2-4

the land: Genesis 10:19, Genesis 24:10, bc cir, 1923, am cir, 2081

Haran: Genesis 11:32, Genesis 12:4, Genesis 24:10, Genesis 24:15, Genesis 27:43, Genesis 29:4, Genesis 29:5, Acts 7:2-4, Charran

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:29 - Iscah Genesis 12:5 - in Genesis 28:10 - General Genesis 31:53 - God of Abraham 2 Kings 19:12 - Haran Isaiah 23:13 - land Isaiah 37:12 - Haran Isaiah 41:2 - Who raised Jeremiah 50:1 - the land Ezekiel 27:23 - Haran Acts 7:4 - came Hebrews 11:15 - mindful

Verse 32

am 2083, bc 1921, Genesis 11:32

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:31 - Haran Genesis 12:1 - had Job 42:16 - an Ezekiel 27:23 - Haran Acts 7:4 - came