Genesis 11

Genesis 11:1

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

Then, all the men upon the whole earth had but one common language, and one fashion of speech.

Genesis 11:2

And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.

And as they spread themselves from that eastern mountainous country, where the ark first stayed, they found a large and fruitful plain, since called Shinar, now Mesopotamia, and there they settled their abode.

Genesis 11:3

And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

And some years after they had there well seated themselves, they said one to another, Come let us make brick, and burn it in the fire. So they had brick for stone, the fittest matter that this fat plain would afford, for building; and a cleaving pitchy slime, which that soil yieldeth, instead of mortar.

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.

Then Nimrod, as their ringleader, and the rest of his followers, said thus in consultation among themselves, Go to, let us build us a large city, and a tower therein, of an exceeding height; partly, that we may make ourselves famous; and partly, that we may unite our power and society, and prevent the danger of being dispersed one from another.

Genesis 11:5

And the LORD came down to see the city, and the tower, which the children of men builded.

But the Lord, who is every where and seeth all things, to speak of him after the manner of men, as if he should come down and look upon the city and tower which these vain men,

Genesis 11:6

And the LORD said, Behold the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

And the Lord decreed thus with himself; Behold the people is one in heart, joining together in one common resolution of this work; and they all have one language, that they may the better perform it; and this they have, through our permission, begun and proceeded to do; and now nothing appears, which may stop them in all that vain project they have imagined to themselves.

Genesis 11:7

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

Come, let us, as if we should go down amongst them, so from heaven cause their languages to be confounded, &c.