Genesis 11:7

KJV

Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.

KJV (with Strong's)

Go to {H3051}, let us go down {H3381}, and there confound {H1101} their language {H8193}, that {H834} they may not understand {H8085} one {H376} another's {H7453} speech {H8193}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Come, let’s go down and confuse their language, so that they won’t understand each other’s speech.”

Berean Standard Bible

Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”

American Standard Version

Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 11:7 marks the decisive moment of divine intervention at the Tower of Babel, where the Lord directly acts to thwart humanity's unified, prideful ambition. This verse describes God's deliberate descent to introduce linguistic confusion, thereby dismantling their collective project, preventing further rebellion, and compelling their dispersion across the earth as originally intended.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climax of the Tower of Babel narrative found in [Genesis 11:1-9](/genesis/11-1-9 "The Tower of Babel Narrative"). It immediately follows humanity's declaration of their rebellious intent to build a city and a tower "whose top may reach unto heaven" to "make us a name" and avoid being "scattered abroad" ([Genesis 11:4](/genesis/11-4 "Human ambition at Babel")). The preceding chapters, particularly [Genesis 9](/genesis/9 "God's Covenant with Noah and his Descendants"), establish God's post-Flood command for humanity to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth" ([Genesis 9:1](/genesis/9-1 "God's command to Noah to multiply and fill the earth")). The Babel project, therefore, stands in direct defiance of this divine mandate, presenting a unified human effort to centralize and self-exalt, rather than disperse and populate the globe under God's sovereignty.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The narrative of Babel is set in the "land of Shinar" ([Genesis 11:2](/genesis/11-2 "The plain in the land of Shinar")), a region historically identified with Mesopotamia, particularly Babylonia. This area was renowned for its ziggurats—massive, stepped temple towers—which were central to ancient Mesopotamian religious and civic life. These structures were built to reach the heavens, not necessarily to physically touch them, but to serve as a symbolic link between the divine and human realms, often associated with astral worship and the power of kings. The human ambition to "make us a name" resonates with ancient Near Eastern monumental inscriptions and royal ideologies that sought to immortalize rulers and their achievements. The unified language described in [Genesis 11:1](/genesis/11-1 "The whole earth had one language") reflects a primal unity, which, in this context, becomes a tool for collective rebellion rather than cooperative stewardship.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 11:7 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. It underscores the theme of **divine sovereignty** over human affairs, demonstrating God's active intervention to thwart human pride and rebellion, as seen throughout the early chapters of Genesis, such as in the expulsion from Eden ([Genesis 3](/genesis/3 "The Fall of Man")) and the Flood ([Genesis 6](/genesis/6 "The Corruption of Humanity and the Flood")). It highlights the **consequences of human sin and pride**, showing how self-exaltation and defiance of God's will lead to confusion and division, a stark contrast to the harmonious unity God intended. Furthermore, this passage serves as the biblical explanation for the **origin of linguistic and ethnic diversity**, detailing how a once unified humanity was scattered across the globe, thereby fulfilling God's original command to "fill the earth" ([Genesis 9:1](/genesis/9-1 "God's command to Noah to multiply and fill the earth")) through divine judgment rather than human obedience.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Go to (Hebrew, _yâhab'_):** This imperative, often translated as "come now" or "let us," is a call to action or a summons. Here, it signifies a divine resolve and initiative, indicating that the Lord is about to undertake a significant, deliberate act. The use of this word emphasizes the immediate and intentional nature of God's intervention in response to humanity's rebellion.
* **go down (Hebrew, _yârad'_):** This verb literally means "to descend" or "to go downwards." In this context, it describes God's physical or manifest presence entering the earthly realm to observe and act upon human affairs. It signifies God's direct engagement with the human project at Babel, underscoring His immanence and His active involvement in history, rather than a distant, detached observation.
* **confound (Hebrew, _bâlal'_):** This primitive root means "to mix, mingle, confuse, or make unintelligible." It is the very word from which the name "Babel" (בָּבֶל) is derived, meaning "confusion." The divine act of "confounding" their language is not merely a disruption but a fundamental alteration of their shared means of communication, directly targeting the source of their unified rebellious power.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Go to, let us go down,"**: This opening phrase reveals a divine deliberation, echoing the plural expressions of God in creation ("Let us make man" in [Genesis 1:26](/genesis/1-26 "The divine counsel during creation")) and judgment ("The man has become like one of us" in [Genesis 3:22](/genesis/3-22 "The divine counsel after the Fall")). It indicates a counsel within the Godhead or a majestic plural, emphasizing the gravity and authority of the impending action. The "going down" signifies God's direct, personal intervention into the human sphere, not merely observing from a distance but actively engaging with the situation at Babel.
* **"and there confound their language,"**: This clause states the precise nature of God's intervention. The verb "confound" (Hebrew *balal*) highlights the divine intention to introduce chaos and unintelligibility into humanity's previously unified communication. This act directly targets the foundation of their collective strength and their ability to cooperate in their rebellious project, making their shared purpose impossible to execute.
* **"that they may not understand one another's speech."**: This final clause articulates the immediate and intended consequence of God's action. The inability to comprehend each other's language directly leads to the cessation of their unified building project and, subsequently, their dispersion. It demonstrates God's strategic wisdom in using their very means of unity (language) as the instrument of their division and scattering, thereby enforcing His original mandate to fill the earth.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices. **Anthropomorphism** is evident in the phrase "let us go down," attributing human-like action (descent) to God, making His intervention relatable and immediate. This emphasizes God's active engagement with human history. There is also profound **Irony** at play: humanity's attempt to achieve unity and "make a name" for themselves through a monumental structure ultimately results in their fragmentation and the very scattering they sought to avoid. The name Babel itself serves as a **Pun** and a **Symbol**, deriving from the Hebrew *balal* (to confound) and becoming a perpetual reminder of the confusion and division that resulted from human pride. The tower, an emblem of human ambition, thus becomes a monument to divine judgment and the origin of linguistic diversity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 11:7 is a pivotal theological statement, illustrating God's unwavering sovereignty over human endeavors and His commitment to His redemptive plan. It demonstrates that human unity, when directed toward self-exaltation and rebellion against divine mandates, will be met with divine judgment, leading to confusion and dispersion rather than the intended glory. This event underscores that true unity can only be found in submission to God's will, not in collective defiance. The scattering of humanity and the diversification of languages, though a judgment, also served God's broader purpose of populating the earth, preventing a centralized, godless human empire from forming prematurely.
* [Psalm 33:10-11](/psalms/33-10-11 "The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations")
* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Pride goes before destruction")
* [Acts 17:26](/acts/17-26 "God determined the times and boundaries of nations")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 11:7 serves as a timeless cautionary tale, reminding us that human ambition, when untethered from divine purpose and fueled by pride, inevitably leads to fragmentation and futility. The unified effort at Babel, though seemingly powerful, was fundamentally flawed because it sought to establish human glory apart from God. This narrative challenges us to examine our own collective and individual pursuits: Are they aligned with God's purposes, or are they driven by a desire to "make a name for ourselves" independent of Him? True progress and lasting unity are found not in human self-sufficiency or defiance, but in humble obedience and reliance on God. When we build according to God's blueprint, even diverse individuals can achieve harmonious unity; when we build against it, even a unified people will descend into confusion. This passage calls us to reflect on the dangers of collective pride and the importance of seeking God's will in all our endeavors, recognizing that His ways, though sometimes involving judgment, ultimately lead to the fulfillment of His good purposes.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might modern society or even the church exhibit a "Babel spirit" of unity for self-exaltation rather than God's glory?**
* **How does the scattering at Babel inform our understanding of God's sovereignty over human history and His ultimate plan for humanity's dispersion and diversity?**
* **What personal or communal projects might I be pursuing that are driven by pride or a desire to "make a name" for myself, rather than humble service to God?**

### FAQ
**Who is the "us" in "let us go down" in Genesis 11:7?**

Answer: The use of the plural pronoun "us" in [Genesis 11:7](/genesis/11-7 "The divine counsel at Babel") (and similarly in [Genesis 1:26](/genesis/1-26 "God's plural address during creation") and [Isaiah 6:8](/isaiah/6-8 "Isaiah's call: 'Who will go for us?'")) is a significant theological point. While various interpretations exist, the most prominent include: 1) The **Plural of Majesty**, a grammatical form in Hebrew where God speaks of Himself using a plural to denote His supreme greatness, authority, and comprehensive power. 2) The **Divine Council**, suggesting God is consulting with His heavenly court, such as angels, who are often depicted as carrying out His will. 3) The **Intimation of the Trinity**, where many Christian theologians see this as an early, subtle hint of the multi-personal nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—working in unity. While not an explicit declaration of the Trinity, this interpretation views it as consistent with later New Testament revelation, where the three persons of the Godhead are shown to be active in creation and judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While the Tower of Babel narrative culminates in the division of languages and the scattering of peoples due to human pride and rebellion, the New Testament presents a profound Christ-centered reversal of this curse. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit supernaturally enabled the apostles to speak in diverse languages, allowing people from "every nation under heaven" ([Acts 2:5](/acts/2-5 "Devout Jews from every nation")) to miraculously [understand the Gospel message](/acts/2-11 "People from all nations understand the Gospel at Pentecost"), each in their own native tongue. This miraculous event, often hailed as the "undoing" of Babel, highlights God's ultimate desire to unite humanity, not through human-centric ambition or a forced, godless uniformity, but through a shared understanding of His truth and a common faith in Christ. In Christ, the barriers of language and culture, which originated at Babel, are overcome, as all believers are united into one body through the Spirit, forming a new spiritual temple not built by human hands. This anticipates the glorious future described in Revelation, where a great multitude from "every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages" will stand before the throne and before the Lamb, [worshiping Him in perfect unity](/revelation/7-9-10 "The multitude from every nation worships the Lamb"). Thus, what began in confusion at Babel finds its ultimate reconciliation and true unity in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 33:10

The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

Psalms 55:9

¶ Destroy, O Lord, [and] divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

Job 5:12

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform [their] enterprise.

Job 5:13

He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.

Genesis 1:26

¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Acts 2:4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 2:11

Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.