Genesis 11:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Adonai said, “Look, the people are united, they all have a single language, and see what they’re starting to do! At this rate, nothing they set out to accomplish will be impossible for them!

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the LORD^{H3068} said^{H559}, Behold, the people^{H5971} is one^{H259}, and they have all one^{H259} language^{H8193}; and this they begin^{H2490} to do^{H6213}: and now nothing^{{H3808}{H3605}} will be restrained^{H1219} from them, which they have imagined^{H2161} to do^{H6213}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 11:6

1. **Themes:**
- **Human Unity and Potential:** The verse highlights the power of unity and shared language, indicating that when people work together towards a common goal, they can achieve remarkable things.
- **Divine Concern Over Human Ambition:** It reflects God's recognition of human potential and ambition, which, if left unchecked, could lead to pride and defiance of divine will.
- **Divine Intervention:** The statement suggests an impending divine action to prevent humans from reaching a point of self-sufficiency that might challenge the divine order.

2. **Historical Context:**
- **Post-Flood Civilization:** This event occurs in the aftermath of Noah's flood, when humanity was repopulating the earth.
- **The Tower of Babel:** Genesis 11:1-9 describes the story of the Tower of Babel, where the people of the city of Babel decided to build a tower to reach the heavens, displaying their unity and technological prowess.
- **Cultural and Linguistic Diversity:** The historical context of this verse is often associated with an etiological explanation for the diversity of languages and cultures in the world, as God's response to human pride was to confuse their language and scatter them across the earth.

In summary, Genesis 11:6 captures a moment of divine reflection on human unity and ambition, immediately preceding the divine intervention that led to the creation of multiple languages and the dispersion of peoples, thereby shaping the cultural and linguistic landscape of human history.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
2. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
4. Strong's Number: H259
   There are 801 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶחָד
   Transliteration: ʼechâd
   Pronunciation: ekh-awd'
   Description: a numeral from אָחַד; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first; a, alike, alone, altogether, and, any(-thing), apiece, a certain, (dai-) ly, each (one), [phrase] eleven, every, few, first, [phrase] highway, a man, once, one, only, other, some, together,
   
5. Strong's Number: H8193
   There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׂפָה
   Transliteration: sâphâh
   Pronunciation: saw-faw'
   Description: or (in dual and plural) שֶׂפֶת; probably from סָפָה or שָׁפָה through the idea of termination (compare סוֹף); the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.); band, bank, binding, border, brim, brink, edge, language, lip, prating, (sea-)shore, side, speech, talk, (vain) words.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2490
   There are 131 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָלַל
   Transliteration: châlal
   Pronunciation: khaw-lal'
   Description: a primitive root (compare חָלָה); also denominative (from חָלִיל); properly, to bore, i.e. (by implication) to wound, to dissolve; figuratively, to profane (a person, place or thing), to break (one's word), to begin (as if by an 'opening wedge'); to play (the flute); begin ([idiom] men began), defile, [idiom] break, defile, [idiom] eat (as common things), [idiom] first, [idiom] gather the grape thereof, [idiom] take inheritance, pipe, player on instruments, pollute, (cast as) profane (self), prostitute, slay (slain), sorrow, stain, wound.
   
7. Strong's Number: H6213
   There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עָשָׂה
   Transliteration: ʻâsâh
   Pronunciation: aw-saw'
   Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3808
   There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לֹא
   Transliteration: lôʼ
   Pronunciation: lo
   Description: or לוֹא; or לֹה; (Deuteronomy 3:11), a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles; [idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as truly as, [phrase] of a truth, [phrase] verily, for want, [phrase] whether, without.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3605
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כֹּל
   Transliteration: kôl
   Pronunciation: kole
   Description: or (Jeremiah 33:8) כּוֹל; from כָּלַל; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense); (in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).
   
10. Strong's Number: H1219
    There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּצַר
    Transliteration: bâtsar
    Pronunciation: baw-tsar'
    Description: a primitive root; to clip off; specifically (as denominative from בָּצִיר); to gather grapes; also to be isolated (i.e. inaccessible by height or fortification); cut off, (de-) fenced, fortify, (grape) gather(-er), mighty things, restrain, strong, wall (up), withhold.
    
11. Strong's Number: H2161
    There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זָמַם
    Transliteration: zâmam
    Pronunciation: zaw-mam'
    Description: a primitive root; to plan, usually in a bad sense; consider, devise, imagine, plot, purpose, think (evil).