Genesis 11:6 “And the LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaki…”

Genesis 11:6

And the LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them.

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

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.

World English Bible

The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.

American Standard Version

And Jehovah said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do: and now nothing will be withholden from them, which they purpose to do.

Geneva Bible 1599

And the Lord said, Beholde, the people is one, and they all haue one language, and this they begin to doe, neither can they now be stopped from whatsoeuer they haue imagined to do.

Darby Translation

And Jehovah said, Behold, the people is one, and have all one language; and this have they begun to do. And now will they be hindered in nothing that they meditate doing.

Young's Literal Translation

and Jehovah saith, 'Lo, the people [is] one, and one pronunciation [is] to them all, and this it hath dreamed of doing; and now, nothing is restrained from them of that which they have purposed to do.

Bible in Basic English

And the Lord said, See, they are all one people and have all one language; and this is only the start of what they may do: and now it will not be possible to keep them from any purpose of theirs.

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Cross references

“Behold”

Genesis 3:22 Ecclesiastes 11:9 Judges 10:14 1 Kings 18:27

Genesis 3:22 · BSB

Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”

Ecclesiastes 11:9 · BSB

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and in the sight of your eyes, but know that for all these things God will bring you to judg…

Judges 10:14 · BSB

Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

1 Kings 18:27 · BSB

At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

“the people”

Genesis 11:1 Genesis 9:19 Acts 17:26

Genesis 11:1 · BSB

Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech.

Genesis 9:19 · BSB

These three were the sons of Noah, and from them the whole earth was populated.

Acts 17:26 · BSB

From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

“imagined”

Psalm 2:1–4 Luke 1:51 Genesis 6:5 Genesis 8:21

Psalm 2:1–4 · BSB

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Luke 1:51 · BSB

He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

Genesis 6:5 · BSB

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time.

Genesis 8:21 · BSB

When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, “Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from his youth. And never again will I destroy all l…

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

5Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.

7Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”

Read Genesis 11