Genesis 11 · Verse 9

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 11:9, King James Version

Genesis 11:9 in other translations

BSBThat is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth.
WEBTherefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. From there, the LORD scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.
ASVTherefore was the name of it called Babel; because Jehovah did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did Jehovah scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
YLTtherefore hath one called its name Babel, for there hath Jehovah mingled the pronunciation of all the earth, and from thence hath Jehovah scattered them over the face of all the earth.
DARBYTherefore was its name called Babel; because Jehovah there confounded the language of the whole earth. And Jehovah scattered them thence over the face of the whole earth.
BBESo it was named Babel, because there the Lord took away the sense of all languages and from there the Lord sent them away over all the face of the earth.
WebsterTherefore is the name of it called Babel, because the LORD there confounded the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

What does Genesis 11:9 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel - בבל babel, from בל bal, to mingle, confound, destroy; hence Babel, from the mingling together and confounding of the projects and language of these descendants of Noah; and this confounding did not so much imply the producing new languages, as giving them a different method of pronouncing the same words, and leading them to affix different ideas to them. Besides Mr. Hutchinson's opinion, (see on Gen 11:4 (note)), there have been various conjectures concerning the purpose for which this tower was built. Some suppose it was intended to prevent the effects of another flood, by affording an asylum to the builders and their families in case of another general deluge. Others think that it was designed to be a grand city, the seat of government, in order to prevent a general dispersion. This God would not permit, as he had purposed that men should be dispersed over the earth, and therefore caused the means which they were using to prevent it to become the grand instrument of its accomplishment. Humanly speaking, the earth could not have so speedily peopled, had it not been for this very circumstance which the counsel of man had devised to prevent it. Some say that these builders were divided into seventy-two nations, with seventy-two different languages; but this is an idle, unfounded tale.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 11:5-9

Here is an expression after the manner of men; The Lord came down to see the city. God is just and fair in all he does against sin and sinners, and condemns none unheard. Pious Eber is not found among this ungodly crew; for he and his are called the children of God; their souls joined not themselves to the assembly of these children of men. God suffered them to go on some way, that the works of their hands, from…

Read the full comment on Genesis 11:5-9 →

Genesis 11:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

עַל\־'al-there-H5921
כֵּ֞ןken-foreH3651
קָרָ֤אka.Ra'someone calledH7121
שְׁמָהּ֙she.Mahname itsH8034
בָּבֶ֔לba.VelBabelH894
כִּי\־ki-forH3588
שָׁ֛םshamthereH8033
בָּלַ֥לba.Lalhe confusedH1101
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
שְׂפַ֣תse.Fat[the] language ofH8193
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzthe earthH776
וּמִשָּׁם֙u.mi.Shamand from thereH8033
הֱפִיצָ֣םhe.fi.Tzamhe scattered themH6327
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
עַל\־'al-overH5921
פְּנֵ֖יpe.Nei[the] surface ofH6440
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הָאָֽרֶץ\׃\ \פha.'A.retzthe earthH776

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 11:9

  • Genesis 10:10

    And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

  • Genesis 10:5

    By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

  • Acts 17:26

    And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

  • Genesis 10:20

    These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:23

    If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

  • 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.

  • Jeremiah 50:1-46

    The word that the Lord spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast. In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. …

  • Isaiah 13:1-14

    The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. …

  • Genesis 10:31-32

    These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations. 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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Babel. that is, Confusion.The tower of Babel, Herodotus informs us, was a furlong or 660 feet, in length and breadth; and, according to Strabo, it rose to the same altitude. It was of a pyramidical form, consisting of eight square towers, gradually decreasing in breadth, with a winding ascent on the outside, so very broad as to allow horses and carriages to pass each other, and even to turn. This magnificent structure is so completely destroyed that its very site is doubtful; and when supposed to be discovered, in all cases exhibiting a heap of rubbish.
10:5,10,20,31; Isa 13:1-14:32; Jer 50:1-51:64; 1Co 14:23
the face.
10:25,32; Ac 17:26

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 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.

  • 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 11:10

    These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

Read all of Genesis 11

Genesis 11:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Por esto fué llamado el nombre de ella Babel, porque allí confundió Jehová el lenguaje de toda la tierra, y desde allí los esparció sobre la faz de toda la tierra.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		C’est pourquoi on appela son nom Babel, car là l’ Éternel confondit le langage de toute la terre; et de là l’ Éternel les dispersa sur la face de toute la terre.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Darum gab man ihr den Namen Babel; denn daselbst verwirrte Jehova die Sprache der ganzen Erde, und von dannen zerstreute sie Jehova über die ganze Erde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et idcirco vocatum est nomen ejus Babel, quia ibi confusum est labium universæ terræ: et inde dispersit eos Dominus super faciem cunctarum regionum.