Genesis 11:7 - Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
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What does "Genesis 11:7" mean?
This verse, Genesis 11:7, is part of the story of the Tower of Babel. To understand it, we need to look at the context of the entire story.
Here's a breakdown:
The Setup: After the flood, humanity, united by a single language, began to migrate eastward. They settled in the land of Shinar and decided to build a city and a tower "whose top may reach unto heaven." Their motivation, according to the text, was to "make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." This went against God's commandment to "be fruitful and increase and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1).
God's Observation: God saw their ambition and their united effort and recognized the potential consequences. He understood that their unity, combined with their technological progress, would allow them to accomplish whatever they set their minds to, which might lead them further away from God's purpose.
The Verse (Genesis 11:7): "Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
"Come, let's go down...": This phrasing suggests a divine council. It's a common literary device used in the Hebrew Bible to portray God as consulting with his heavenly court or representatives. The "let us" can also be interpreted as a reference to the Trinity by some Christians.
"...and there confuse their language...": This is the core action. God intentionally disrupts their ability to communicate.
"...that they may not understand one another's speech.": This explains the purpose of the language confusion. It was to break their unity and halt their ambitious project.
The Result: God's plan worked. The people could no longer understand each other, so they stopped building the tower and scattered across the earth. This is how the city came to be known as Babel (meaning "confusion") because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth.
In summary, the verse means that God decided to disrupt the unified language of humanity as a way to stop them from building the Tower of Babel and to force them to fulfill his command to spread across the earth.
Interpretations and Significance:
Limiting Human Pride and Ambition: The Tower of Babel is often seen as a symbol of human pride and an attempt to reach God on human terms. God's intervention serves as a reminder that humans cannot attain godhood through their own efforts and must be humble before him.
The Importance of Communication: The story highlights the power of communication and unity, but also the potential dangers when these are used for purposes contrary to God's will.
The Origin of Languages: The story is a popular, though non-scientific, explanation for the diversity of human languages.
Dispersal and Fulfillment of God's Command: By scattering humanity and causing them to speak different languages, God ensured that they would fulfill his command to populate the earth.
In conclusion, Genesis 11:7 is a pivotal verse in the Tower of Babel narrative, explaining the divine action that led to the end of the project and the diversification of languages, all aimed at curbing human pride and fulfilling God's will.
Genesis 11:7 - Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
What does "Genesis 11:7" mean?
This verse, Genesis 11:7, is part of the story of the Tower of Babel. To understand it, we need to look at the context of the entire story.
Here's a breakdown:
The Setup: After the flood, humanity, united by a single language, began to migrate eastward. They settled in the land of Shinar and decided to build a city and a tower "whose top may reach unto heaven." Their motivation, according to the text, was to "make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." This went against God's commandment to "be fruitful and increase and fill the earth" (Genesis 9:1).
God's Observation: God saw their ambition and their united effort and recognized the potential consequences. He understood that their unity, combined with their technological progress, would allow them to accomplish whatever they set their minds to, which might lead them further away from God's purpose.
The Verse (Genesis 11:7): "Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
"Come, let's go down...": This phrasing suggests a divine council. It's a common literary device used in the Hebrew Bible to portray God as consulting with his heavenly court or representatives. The "let us" can also be interpreted as a reference to the Trinity by some Christians.
"...and there confuse their language...": This is the core action. God intentionally disrupts their ability to communicate.
"...that they may not understand one another's speech.": This explains the purpose of the language confusion. It was to break their unity and halt their ambitious project.
The Result: God's plan worked. The people could no longer understand each other, so they stopped building the tower and scattered across the earth. This is how the city came to be known as Babel (meaning "confusion") because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth.
In summary, the verse means that God decided to disrupt the unified language of humanity as a way to stop them from building the Tower of Babel and to force them to fulfill his command to spread across the earth.
Interpretations and Significance:
Limiting Human Pride and Ambition: The Tower of Babel is often seen as a symbol of human pride and an attempt to reach God on human terms. God's intervention serves as a reminder that humans cannot attain godhood through their own efforts and must be humble before him.
The Importance of Communication: The story highlights the power of communication and unity, but also the potential dangers when these are used for purposes contrary to God's will.
The Origin of Languages: The story is a popular, though non-scientific, explanation for the diversity of human languages.
Dispersal and Fulfillment of God's Command: By scattering humanity and causing them to speak different languages, God ensured that they would fulfill his command to populate the earth.
In conclusion, Genesis 11:7 is a pivotal verse in the Tower of Babel narrative, explaining the divine action that led to the end of the project and the diversification of languages, all aimed at curbing human pride and fulfilling God's will.