Then the LORD
The phrase "the LORD" refers to Yahweh, the covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal and relational nature. In Hebrew, this is "YHWH," the tetragrammaton, which signifies God's eternal existence and His role as the Creator and Sustainer. This name is used to highlight God's sovereignty and authority over human affairs, reminding us that He is intimately involved in the world He created.

came down
The phrase "came down" is anthropomorphic, attributing human characteristics to God to convey His actions in a way that humans can understand. In the Hebrew context, this suggests God's active involvement and concern with human activities. It implies that God is not distant or detached but is willing to engage directly with His creation. This descent signifies divine intervention and judgment, as God assesses the actions of humanity.

to see
The word "to see" in Hebrew is "ra'ah," which means to observe or inspect. This indicates God's omniscience and His ability to perceive all things. It is not that God needs to physically come down to see, but this language is used to emphasize His thorough examination and understanding of human endeavors. It serves as a reminder that nothing is hidden from God's sight, and He evaluates the intentions and actions of humanity.

the city and the tower
The "city and the tower" refer to the construction project undertaken by the people in the land of Shinar, known as Babel. Historically and archaeologically, this is associated with the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia, which were massive structures built to reach the heavens. Theologically, the city and tower symbolize human pride and the desire to make a name for themselves apart from God. This construction represents humanity's attempt to assert independence and self-sufficiency, challenging God's authority.

that the sons of men
The phrase "the sons of men" is a Hebraic expression referring to humanity in general. It underscores the collective nature of this endeavor, highlighting the unity and cooperation of people in their rebellion against God. This term also serves to contrast human frailty and mortality with the eternal and omnipotent nature of God. It reminds us of the limitations of human efforts when they are not aligned with God's will.

were building
The word "building" indicates an ongoing action, suggesting that the construction was in progress. This reflects the determination and ambition of humanity to achieve their goals. However, it also serves as a cautionary tale about the futility of human endeavors that are rooted in pride and defiance against God. The act of building without divine guidance ultimately leads to confusion and dispersion, as seen later in the narrative. This reminds believers of the importance of seeking God's direction and purpose in all our undertakings.

(5-7) The Lord came down.--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 Genesis 18:21 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. "Go 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 the 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.

Verse 5. - And the Lord came down. Not in visible form, as in Exodus 19:20; Exodus 34:5 (Onkelos), but "effectu ostendens se propin quiorem quem absentem esse judicabant" (Poole), an anthropomorphism (cf. Genesis 18:21; Psalm 144:5). "It is measure for measure (par pari). 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). To see (with a view to judicial action) the city and the tower which the children of men - sons of Adam; neither the posterity of Cain, i.e. the Hamites exclusively, as the Sethites were called sons of God, Genesis 6:2 (Augustine), nor wicked men in general (Junius, Piscator), imitators of Adam, i.e. rebellantes Dee (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 - builded.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Then the LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

came down
וַיֵּ֣רֶד (way·yê·reḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to see
לִרְאֹ֥ת (lir·’ōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7200: To see

the city
הָעִ֖יר (hā·‘îr)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

and the tower
הַמִּגְדָּ֑ל (ham·miḡ·dāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4026: A tower, a rostrum, a, bed of flowers

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

the sons
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of men
הָאָדָֽם׃ (hā·’ā·ḏām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120: Ruddy, a human being

were building.
בָּנ֖וּ (bā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1129: To build


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OT Law: Genesis 11:5 Yahweh came down to see the city (Gen. Ge Gn)