Genesis 11:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Complete Jewish Bible:

So from there Adonai scattered them all over the earth, and they stopped building the city.

Berean Standard Bible:

So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city.

American Standard Version:

So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

So the LORD^{H3068} scattered them abroad^{H6327} from thence^{H8033} upon the face^{H6440} of all the earth^{H776}: and they left off^{H2308} to build^{H1129} the city^{H5892}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 11:8

Genesis 11:8 is part of the narrative known as the Tower of Babel, which is set in the generations following the Great Flood. The historical context of this verse is rooted in the primeval history of the Bible, which seeks to explain the origins of human civilization and the diversity of languages and nations.

Themes of Genesis 11:8 include:

1. **Human Pride and Ambition**: The people of Babel sought to build a city and a tower "whose top may reach unto heaven" (Genesis 11:4), an act of hubris that challenged God's authority and sought to make a name for themselves.

2. **Divine Judgment**: God responds to human arrogance by confusing their language, which leads to the abandonment of the city and tower project, symbolizing divine retribution for human overreach.

3. **Dispersion of Peoples**: The scattering of the people across the earth is a direct consequence of their actions, which explains the biblical perspective on the origin of different nations and languages.

4. **Loss of Unity**: The unity that enabled the people to commence such a grand project becomes the source of their downfall, as their inability to communicate leads to division and dispersion.

5. **Sovereignty of God**: The narrative underscores God's sovereignty over human endeavors, demonstrating that He can frustrate human plans that are contrary to His will.

The historical context reflects ancient Near Eastern practices of building ziggurats, which were massive temple complexes dedicated to gods, often with the intention of reaching the heavens. The Tower of Babel story serves as an etiology, providing a religious explanation for the existence of multiple languages and cultures in the world, a reality that the ancient Israelites would have been familiar with.

*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: H6327
   There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פּוּץ
   Transliteration: pûwts
   Pronunciation: poots
   Description: a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse); break (dash, shake) in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive, retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad.
   
3. Strong's Number: H8033
   There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁם
   Transliteration: shâm
   Pronunciation: shawm
   Description: a primitive particle (rather from the relative pronoun, אֲשֶׁר); there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence; in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither.
   
4. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
5. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
6. Strong's Number: H2308
   There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָדַל
   Transliteration: châdal
   Pronunciation: khaw-dal'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to be flabby, i.e. (by implication) desist; (figuratively) be lacking or idle; cease, end, fall, forbear, forsake, leave (off), let alone, rest, be unoccupied, want.
   
7. Strong's Number: H1129
   There are 345 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בָּנָה
   Transliteration: bânâh
   Pronunciation: baw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; to build (literally and figuratively); (begin to) build(-er), obtain children, make, repair, set (up), [idiom] surely.
   
8. Strong's Number: H5892
   There are 937 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עִיר
   Transliteration: ʻîyr
   Pronunciation: eer
   Description: or (in the plural) עָר; or עָיַר; (Judges 10:4), from עוּר; a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post); Ai (from margin), city, court (from margin), town.