genesis-11:4,-genesis-11:6,-genesis-11:8-niv

Sermon Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:1-9

Genesis 11:1-9 . From the text we gather these practical suggestions: I. Examine carefully the quality and meaning of every new plan of life. II. Beware of the sophism that Heaven helps those who help themselves. III. Regulate ambition by the Divine will. IV. If we make great plans, let us make them in God's name and carry them out in God's strength. V. Let us learn what is meant by all the unfinished towers that we see around us. VI. Co-operation with God will alone secure the entire... read more

William Nicoll

Sermon Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:4

Genesis 11:4 (with Acts 2:3-4 ) I. Three motives may have led to the building of the Tower of Babel: (1) a feeling that in union and communion lay the secret of man's renown and strength that to disperse the family was to debilitate it; (2) a remembrance of the deluge, and a guilty dread of some similar judgment, leading them to draw close to each other for support; (3) man was awaking to self-consciousness and a knowledge of his own resources. He was gaining a glimpse into the possible... read more

Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith Bible Commentary - Genesis 11:1-32

Chapter 11Now in chapter eleven.The whole earth was of one language, and one speech ( Genesis 11:1 ).Probably Hebrew because in the earlier record of the book of Genesis, the names of the people were Hebrew names that have Hebrew meanings. And so the original language was perhaps the Hebrew language itself. "The whole earth was of one language, one speech."And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. And they said one... read more

Joseph Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 11:1-32

Genesis 11:1. One language or lip. These words are to be literally understood, because it is added, God confounded their language. There has been a long and unavailing dispute whether the Chaldaic, the Hebrew, or the Arabic was the most ancient language. But since the oriental languages were studied, this subject has been discussed with more success. Epiphanius, a bishop of the fourth age, wrote in five languages, and he gives the name of dialects, not distinct languages, to the families... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - Genesis 11:4

Genesis 11:4Go to, let us build us a city and a towerThe tower of BabelI.Three motives may have led to the building of the tower of Babel. 1. A feeling that in union and communion lay the secret of man’s renown and strength; that to disperse the family was to debilitate it. 2. A remembrance of the deluge, and a guilty dread of some similar judgment, leading them to draw close to each other for support. 3. Man was awaking to self-consciousness and a knowledge of his own resources. He was gaining... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - Genesis 11:4

Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, 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. Ver. 4. Let us build us a city and a tower. ] This tower raised a head of majesty, 5164 paces from the ground, having its basis and circumference equal to the height. The passage to go up, went winding about the outside, and was of an exceeding great breadth, there being not only room for horses, carts,... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - Genesis 11:4

whose: Deuteronomy 1:28, Deuteronomy 9:1, Daniel 4:11, Daniel 4:22 and let: 2 Samuel 8:13, Psalms 49:11-1 Chronicles :, 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... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 11:1-9

THE CONFUSION OF TONGUES, Genesis 11:1-9. The narrative here again doubles back upon itself to give the cause of the national divisions described in chap. 10. It reverts to an event which took place in the days of Peleg, (Genesis 10:25,) the fourth in descent from Shem . As the unity of the human race, in the strictest sense of the word, is declared by the account of the deluge, which reduced all mankind to a single family from which the whole world was repeopled, so in this chapter the unity... read more