Genesis 11

Genesis 11

1. Genesis 11:1–4 (KJV) – “And the whole earth was of one language, and of 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 to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 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.”
   • (possible) The tower of Babel is a symbol of human pride and false unity apart from God. It contrasts with Christ, who alone unites mankind under God’s rule.
   • Cross-references: Psalm 2:1–6; John 17:21–23; Philippians 2:9–11.
2. Genesis 11:5–9 (KJV) – “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”
   • God’s scattering of languages sets the stage for Christ to bring true unity at Pentecost by reversing Babel’s division. In Christ, divided nations and tongues are gathered into one body.
   • Cross-references: Acts 2:4–11; Ephesians 1:10; Revelation 7:9.
3. Genesis 11:10–26 (KJV) – “These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood: And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah: And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg: And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu: And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug: And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor: And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah: And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.”
   • This genealogy bridges Shem to Abram, establishing the line through which Christ would come. It confirms God’s faithfulness in preserving the chosen seed.
   • Cross-references: Luke 3:34–36; Galatians 3:16.
4. Genesis 11:27–30 (KJV) – “Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot. And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. But Sarai was barren; she had no child.”
   • The barrenness of Sarai foreshadows God’s miraculous work in bringing forth the promised seed. Just as Isaac’s birth required divine intervention, so too did the incarnation of Christ.
   • Cross-references: Galatians 4:22–23; Luke 1:34–35.
5. Genesis 11:31–32 (KJV) – “And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.”
   • The movement toward Canaan sets the stage for God’s covenant with Abram — pointing forward to Christ, who fulfills the promises tied to the land, seed, and blessing.
   • Cross-references: Genesis 12:1–3; Hebrews 11:8–10; Galatians 3:14.

Genesis 11 Christ-Pointers (KJV)

1. Genesis 11:5-9 KJV: And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Explanation: The LORD, as Christ, the divine Word (John 1:1-3), comes down to judge the Tower of Babel, reflecting His role as creator and sovereign over human endeavors. The phrase “let us go down” suggests a divine counsel, pointing to Christ’s preincarnate activity within the Godhead. The confounding of languages and scattering of people prefigure Christ’s work of uniting all nations through the Gospel, reversing Babel’s division at Pentecost. Conservative scholarship often identifies Christ in such theophanies, where the LORD interacts directly with creation. Cross-references: John 1:1-3 (“In the beginning was the Word…”), Acts 2:4-11 (Pentecost uniting languages through the Spirit sent by Christ), Colossians 1:16-17 (“For by him were all things created…”), Isaiah 11:10 (Christ as the root of Jesse, gathering nations).
2. Genesis 11:31-32 (possible) KJV: And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. Explanation: While “the LORD” or “God” is not explicitly mentioned, this passage sets the stage for God’s call to Abram in Genesis 12, which conservative scholars see as initiated by Christ, the divine Word, who establishes the covenant with Abraham. The movement from Ur toward Canaan prefigures Christ’s redemptive plan to bless all nations through Abraham’s seed, Christ Himself. This connection is less certain, as the text lacks a direct divine reference, but it contextually points to Christ’s covenantal work. Cross-references: Galatians 3:16 (“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made… which is Christ”), John 8:56 (“Abraham rejoiced to see my day…”), Hebrews 11:8-10 (Abraham’s faith looking to Christ’s city), Genesis 12:1-3 (God’s call to Abram).