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):

Luke 1:51

  • He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Deuteronomy 32:8

  • When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

Genesis 10:25

  • And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one [was] Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name [was] Joktan.

Genesis 10:32

  • These [are] the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

Genesis 11:9

  • 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.

Genesis 11:4

  • 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.

Genesis 49:7

  • Cursed [be] their anger, for [it was] fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:


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.