Genesis 11:8

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Context

Genesis 11:8 marks the immediate and dramatic consequence of God's intervention at the Tower of Babel. Prior to this, humanity, unified by a single language, had congregated in the plain of Shinar. Their ambitious project was to build a city and a tower "whose top may reach unto heaven," not primarily for worship, but to "make us a name" and prevent being "scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." This collective ambition directly defied the divine command given after the flood to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth" (Genesis 9:1). Seeing their unified defiance and potential for unchecked human pride, the LORD declared, "Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech" (Genesis 11:7). Verse 8 is the direct fulfillment of this divine judgment, halting the construction and initiating the dispersion of humanity.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: This verse powerfully demonstrates God's ultimate authority over human plans and ambitions. He effectively thwarts human pride and rebellion, ensuring His will prevails.
  • Consequences of Human Pride and Disobedience: The scattering is a direct result of humanity's attempt to establish a self-sufficient kingdom and reputation apart from God, thereby defying His command to spread out and fill the earth.
  • Origin of Linguistic and National Diversity: The event at Babel, culminating in this scattering, explains the origin of the world's diverse languages and the subsequent formation of distinct nations and cultures, fulfilling God's original intention for humanity to spread out.
  • God's Control Over Human History: Even when humanity acts in defiance, God orchestrates events to guide history according to His purposes, turning rebellion into the means of fulfilling His larger plan for dispersion.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "scattered them abroad" translates the Hebrew verb Χ€Χ•Χ₯ (puts), which carries the meaning of being dispersed, broken up, or spread out forcibly. It emphasizes the active, decisive nature of God's action in scattering the people. The phrase "left off to build the city" highlights the immediate and complete cessation of their ambitious project, underscoring the effectiveness of divine intervention.

Practical Application

Genesis 11:8 serves as a timeless reminder of the dangers of collective human pride and the futility of defying God's ordained purposes. It teaches us that:

  • Humility is Essential: We should approach life with humility, recognizing God's supreme authority and aligning our ambitions with His will, rather than seeking glory for ourselves.
  • God's Plan Will Prevail: Despite human attempts to establish self-sufficient systems or defy divine commands, God's ultimate plan for humanity and the earth will always come to pass.
  • Understanding Diversity: This passage provides a foundational understanding for the diversity of languages and nations. While born out of judgment, this diversity is now a part of God's design, which can be overcome through spiritual unity in Christ, as foreshadowed by the miracle of Pentecost (Acts 2:4-6), where linguistic barriers were temporarily overcome for the sake of the Gospel.
  • Embrace God's Commission: Just as God intended humanity to spread across the earth, believers today are commissioned to take the Gospel to all nations, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 1:51 (10 votes)

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

  • Deuteronomy 32:8 (5 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (2 votes)

    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 (1 votes)

    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.