Genesis 11:7

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Genesis 11:5–9 · Berean Standard Bible

5 Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.

6 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.

7 Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”

8 So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

9 That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.

Hebrew words

Data created by STEPBible.org based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).

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Cross-references

The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.

Genesis 11:5

Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.

Genesis 1:26

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”

Genesis 3:22

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”

Isaiah 6:8

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”

Job 5:12

He thwarts the schemes of the crafty, so that their hands find no success.

Job 5:13

He catches the wise in their craftiness, and sweeps away the plans of the cunning.

Job 12:20

He deprives the trusted of speech and takes away the discernment of elders.

Psalms 2:4

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.

Psalms 33:10

The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples.

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:5

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.

Acts 2:6

And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.

Acts 2:7

Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

Acts 2:8

How is it then that each of us hears them in his own native language?

Acts 2:9

Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

Acts 2:10

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome,

Acts 2:11

both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

Genesis 10:5

From these, the maritime peoples separated into their territories, according to their languages, by clans within their nations.

Genesis 10:20

These are the sons of Ham according to their clans, languages, lands, and nations.

Genesis 10:32

All these are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their generations and nations. From these the nations of the earth spread out after the flood.

Genesis 42:23

They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.

Deuteronomy 28:49

The LORD will bring a nation from afar, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down upon you like an eagle—a nation whose language you will not understand,

Psalms 55:9

O Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city.

Jeremiah 5:15

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.

1 Corinthians 14:2

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:3

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:4

The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

1 Corinthians 14:5

I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

1 Corinthians 14:6

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

1 Corinthians 14:7

Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

1 Corinthians 14:8

Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:9

So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

1 Corinthians 14:10

Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

1 Corinthians 14:11

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.

1 Corinthians 14:23

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?