So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city. So the LORDThis phrase introduces the divine action and authority of God. In Hebrew, "LORD" is "YHWH," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal presence and faithfulness. This highlights God's sovereignty and His active role in human history. The use of "So" indicates a direct consequence of the preceding events, showing God's response to human actions. scattered them
The Hebrew root for "scattered" is "פּוּץ" (puts), which conveys the idea of dispersing or spreading out. This action by God is a direct intervention to counteract human pride and disobedience. It reflects God's intention to fulfill His command to "fill the earth" (Genesis 1:28), ensuring that humanity does not remain concentrated in one place, which would lead to self-reliance and rebellion. from there
This phrase indicates the specific location from which the people were scattered, namely, the city and tower of Babel. It serves as a geographical and spiritual marker of human ambition and divine intervention. The scattering from "there" signifies a turning point in human history, where God redirects human plans to align with His divine purpose. over the face of all the earth
This expression emphasizes the extent of the scattering. The phrase "face of all the earth" suggests a comprehensive and complete dispersal, fulfilling God's original mandate for humanity to populate the earth. It underscores the vastness of God's creation and His desire for it to be inhabited and stewarded by humanity. and they stopped building the city
The cessation of building the city marks the end of human defiance against God's will. The Hebrew verb "חָדַל" (chadal) for "stopped" implies a forced cessation, indicating that the project was abandoned due to divine intervention. This outcome serves as a reminder of the futility of human efforts that oppose God's plans. The unfinished city stands as a testament to the limits of human ambition when it conflicts with divine purpose. Persons / Places / Events 1. The LORD (Yahweh)The sovereign God who intervenes in human affairs, demonstrating His authority and purpose. 2. The People of BabelA unified group of people who sought to build a city and a tower to make a name for themselves, acting in defiance of God's command to fill the earth. 3. The City of BabelThe location where the people attempted to build a tower reaching the heavens, symbolizing human pride and rebellion. 4. The ScatteringThe divine act of dispersing the people across the earth, resulting in the cessation of their building project. 5. The EarthThe broader setting where humanity was meant to spread and fulfill God's command to multiply and fill the earth. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over Human PlansGod's intervention at Babel reminds us that He is ultimately in control of human history and plans. We should seek His will rather than pursue our own ambitions apart from Him. The Dangers of Pride and Self-SufficiencyThe Babel account warns against the dangers of pride and the desire to make a name for ourselves. True significance is found in obedience to God and humility. The Importance of Obedience to God's CommandsThe scattering at Babel underscores the importance of obeying God's commands, such as spreading across the earth, rather than resisting His purposes. Unity in God's Purpose, Not Human AmbitionWhile unity is valuable, it must be centered on God's purposes rather than human ambition. The church is called to unity in Christ, not in self-serving goals. God's Redemptive Plan Through DiversityThe scattering led to the diversity of languages and cultures, which God uses in His redemptive plan, ultimately bringing unity in diversity through Christ. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the scattering at Babel demonstrate God's sovereignty over human plans, and how can we apply this understanding to our own lives? 2. In what ways do we see the dangers of pride and self-sufficiency in our culture today, and how can we guard against these in our personal walk with God? 3. How does the Babel account challenge us to consider our own obedience to God's commands, particularly in areas where we might be resisting His will? 4. What lessons can we learn from Babel about the importance of unity in God's purposes, and how can we foster this unity within our church communities? 5. How does the diversity resulting from Babel's scattering play a role in God's redemptive plan, and how can we celebrate and embrace this diversity in the body of Christ? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 1:28God's original command to humanity to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, which the people of Babel resisted. Acts 17:26Paul's teaching that God determined the times and places for all nations, reflecting God's sovereignty over human habitation. Proverbs 16:9The principle that while humans plan their ways, it is the LORD who establishes their steps, as seen in the thwarting of Babel's plans. James 4:6The theme of God opposing the proud but giving grace to the humble, relevant to the prideful ambitions of Babel's builders. People Abram, Arphaxad, Eber, Haran, Iscah, Lot, Milcah, Nahor, Peleg, Reu, Salah, Sarai, Serug, Shelah, Shem, TerahPlaces Babel, Canaan, Haran, Mesha, Shinar, UrTopics Abroad, Build, Building, Cease, Face, Scatter, Scattered, Stopped, Surface, Thence, TownDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 11:8 1305 God, activity of
5630 work, divine and human Genesis 11:1-9 5004 human race, and sin Genesis 11:3-9 5849 exaltation Genesis 11:4-9 6125 condemnation, divine Genesis 11:5-9 4029 world, human beings in Genesis 11:7-9 5815 confusion Genesis 11:8-9 5044 names, giving of
7212 exile Library The Church.
FROM THE PREFACE TO THE "HOLY CITY." UPON a certain First-day, I being together with my brethren in our prison-chamber, they expected that, according to our custom, something should be spoken out of the word for our mutual edification; but at that time I felt myself--it being my turn to speak--so empty, spiritless, and barren, that I thought I should not have been able to speak among them so much as five words of truth, with life and evidence: but at last it so fell out that providentially I cast …
John Bunyan—The Riches of BunyanMeditations to Stir us up to Morning Prayer.
1. If, when thou art about to pray, Satan shall suggest that thy prayers are too long, and that therefore it were better either to omit prayers, or else to cut them shorter, meditate that prayer is thy spiritual sacrifice, wherewith God is well pleased (Heb. xiii. 15, 16;) and therefore it is so displeasing to the devil, and so irksome to the flesh. Bend therefore thy affections (will they, nill they) to so holy an exercise; assuring thyself, that it doth by so much the more please God, by how much …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
Syria: the part played by it in the ancient world--Babylon and the first Chaldaean empire--The dominion of the Hyksos: Ahmosis. Some countries seem destined from their origin to become the battle-fields of the contending nations which environ them. Into such regions, and to their cost, neighbouring peoples come from century to century to settle their quarrels and bring to an issue the questions of supremacy which disturb their little corner of the world. The nations around are eager for the possession …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 4 The Promise to the Patriarchs.
A great epoch is, in Genesis, ushered in with the history of the time of the Patriarchs. Luther says: "This is the third period in which Holy Scripture begins the history of the Church with a new family." In a befitting manner, the representation is opened in Gen. xii. 1-3 by an account of the first revelation of God, given to Abraham at Haran, in which the way is opened up for all that follows, and in which the dispensations of God are brought before us in a rapid survey. Abraham is to forsake …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Book of the First Generations of Man, and the Glory of the Cainites.
I. THE BOOK OF THE FIRST GENERATIONS OF MAN, AND THE GLORY OF THE CAINITES. A. THE BOOK OF THE FIRST GENERATIONS OF MAN. 1. The reasons why Moses records the generations of Adam 1. 2. Why he so particularly gives the years, and in the case of each patriarch adds "and he died" 1-2. 3. Why Enoch is placed in the records of the dead 3-4. * Was Enoch a sinner, and do sinners have hope of eternal life 4. * Of death. a. How we are to comfort ourselves against death 5. b. How reason views death, and how …
Martin Luther—Commentary on Genesis, Vol. II Appendix xii. The Baptism of Proselytes
ONLY those who have made study of it can have any idea how large, and sometimes bewildering, is the literature on the subject of Jewish Proselytes and their Baptism. Our present remarks will be confined to the Baptism of Proselytes. 1. Generally, as regards proselytes (Gerim) we have to distinguish between the Ger ha-Shaar (proselyte of the gate) and Ger Toshabh (sojourner,' settled among Israel), and again the Ger hatstsedeq (proselyte of righteousness) and Ger habberith (proselyte of the covenant). …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Cain Murders his Brother; Called to Account.
IV. CAIN MURDERS HIS BROTHER; CALLED TO ACCOUNT. A. HOW CAIN MURDERED HIS BROTHER. 1. What moved Cain to commit murder 107. 2. Cain's hypocritical actions in concealing his anger that he might the more easily commit the murder 108-109. * Cain the picture of all hypocrites 110-129. * The attitude of hypocrites to their neighbors. Also, how we are to view the efforts of the pope and bishops in behalf of peace and unity 111-112. * Against what people we should most guard 112. 3. How Cain listened to …
Martin Luther—Commentary on Genesis, Vol. II An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of the Eleventh
An unfinished commentary on the Bible, found among the author's papers after his death, in his own handwriting; and published in 1691, by Charles Doe, in a folio volume of the works of John Bunyan. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR Being in company with an enlightened society of Protestant dissenters of the Baptist denomination, I observed to a doctor of divinity, who was advancing towards his seventieth year, that my time had been delightfully engaged with John Bunyan's commentary on Genesis. "What," …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3 Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 11:8 NIVGenesis 11:8 NLTGenesis 11:8 ESVGenesis 11:8 NASBGenesis 11:8 KJV
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