Then the LORD came downThis phrase emphasizes God's active involvement in human affairs. It suggests a divine intervention, highlighting that God is not distant but intimately aware of human actions. The anthropomorphic language ("came down") is used to convey God's inspection and judgment. This mirrors other instances in Scripture where God "comes down" to assess situations, such as in
Exodus 3:8 when God comes down to deliver Israel from Egypt.
to see the city and the tower
The city and the tower refer to Babel, a symbol of human pride and rebellion against God. The tower, often associated with a ziggurat, was an architectural structure common in ancient Mesopotamia, intended to reach the heavens. This reflects humanity's attempt to assert independence and achieve greatness apart from God. The act of God "seeing" is reminiscent ofGenesis 18:21, where God investigates Sodom and Gomorrah, indicating a thorough examination before judgment.
that the sons of men were building
"Sons of men" underscores the human origin and effort behind the construction, contrasting divine creation with human ambition. This phrase highlights the collective human endeavor, emphasizing unity in rebellion. It connects to the broader biblical theme of humanity's fallen nature and the tendency to seek self-glorification. The construction of the tower can be seen as a type of human attempts to reach God through their own means, contrasting with the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as the only way to God (John 14:6).
Persons / Places / Events
1.
The LORD (Yahweh)The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal involvement and authority over creation. In this passage, He actively observes human actions.
2.
The City and the TowerRefers to the city of Babel and the tower within it, which the people were building to make a name for themselves and avoid being scattered over the earth.
3.
The Sons of MenThis phrase refers to humanity collectively, emphasizing their unity and shared purpose in building the tower.
4.
BabelThe location where the events of
Genesis 11 take place, later known as Babylon. It symbolizes human pride and rebellion against God.
5.
The Event of Divine ObservationGod's action of "coming down" to see the city and the tower highlights His sovereignty and the futility of human efforts to reach divine status.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty and OmniscienceGod is fully aware of human actions and intentions. His "coming down" is a reminder that nothing escapes His notice, and He is actively involved in the affairs of the world.
Human Pride and RebellionThe building of the tower represents humanity's pride and desire for self-sufficiency apart from God. This serves as a warning against the dangers of pride and the pursuit of self-glorification.
The Futility of Human Efforts Against God’s WillDespite human efforts to establish their own plans, God's purposes will prevail. This encourages believers to align their goals with God's will rather than pursuing their own ambitions.
The Importance of Obedience to God’s CommandsThe people’s attempt to avoid being scattered was in direct disobedience to God’s command to fill the earth. This highlights the importance of trusting and obeying God’s directives.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Genesis 11:5?
2.How does Genesis 11:5 demonstrate God's awareness of human actions and intentions?
3.What can we learn about God's sovereignty from Genesis 11:5?
4.How does Genesis 11:5 connect to God's omniscience in Psalm 139:1-4?
5.How should God's intervention in Genesis 11:5 influence our daily decision-making?
6.What practical steps can we take to align our plans with God's will?
7.Why did God need to "come down" to see the city and tower in Genesis 11:5?
8.Does Genesis 11:5 imply limitations on God's omniscience?
9.How does Genesis 11:5 relate to the theme of divine intervention?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 11?
11.What does the Bible say about Babylon?
12.What does the Bible say about arrogance?
13.(Psalm 113:6) Why does an omnipresent God need to “stoop down” to look at the heavens and the earth, implying a physical movement that seems contradictory to an all-seeing deity?
14.If the Tower of Babel story is historical, why do linguistic studies show languages developing gradually rather than suddenly?What Does Genesis 11:5 Mean
Then the LORD- The verse opens with God’s covenant name, underscoring His personal involvement (Genesis 2:4; 12:1).
- He is not a distant observer; He enters human history whenever His purposes require direct action (Exodus 3:7-8;Psalm 113:5-6).
- The same Lord who walked with Adam and promised Noah now turns His attention to Babel, reminding us that no human endeavor is outside His jurisdiction (Psalm 33:13-15).
came down- Scripture often uses this phrase to describe the Lord’s gracious condescension, not a limitation of His omnipresence (Exodus 19:20;Micah 1:3).
- It anticipates the ultimate “coming down” inJohn 1:14: “The Word became flesh.”
- God steps into the scene to confront human pride and protect His redemptive plan (Isaiah 64:1-2).
to see- Anthropomorphic language stresses careful examination rather than ignorance; the all-knowing God still “investigates” before acting (Genesis 18:21;2 Chronicles 16:9).
- His sight is perfect: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, observing the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
- Divine assessment precedes divine judgment, highlighting His justice and patience (Psalm 11:4-6).
the city and the tower- Babel’s city represents collective security; its tower symbolizes self-exalting religion, “making a name” apart from God (Genesis 11:4).
- Human structures can never reach heaven; only God can bridge that gap (John 3:13).
- Similar prideful projects fall under judgment throughout Scripture—think of Nineveh (Nahum 3:1-7) or the end-time Babylon (Revelation 18:10).
that the sons of men were building- “Sons of men” highlights the merely human origin of the project, contrasting with the “sons of God” who trust Him (John 1:12).
- Their unity was fueled by rebellion, echoing pre-Flood corruption (Genesis 6:1-5).
- God intervenes whenever human ambition threatens to eclipse His glory or hinder His plan of salvation (Jeremiah 17:5;1 John 2:16).
summary- The verse portrays the Lord personally engaging a proud generation, examining their work, and preparing to act for the sake of His name and His redemptive purposes.
- It assures us that God sees every human endeavor, opposes self-exalting pride, and graciously intervenes to keep history on the track He has ordained.
(5-7)
The Lord came down.--The narrative is given in that simple anthropological manner usual in the Book of Genesis, which so clearly sets before us God's loving care of man, and here and in
Genesis 18:21 the equity of Divine justice. For Jehovah is described as a mighty king, who, hearing in His upper and heavenly dwelling of man's ambitious purpose, determines to go and inspect the work in person, that having seen, he may deal with the offenders justly. He views, therefore, "the city and the tower;" for the city was as important a portion of their purpose as the tower, or even more so. The tower, which, no doubt, was to be the citadel and protection of the city, was for the latter's sake to give the people a sense of strength and security. Having, then, inspected the tower and the city nestling round it, the Deity affirms that this centralisation is injurious to man's best interests, and must be counteracted by an opposite principle, namely, the tendency of mankind to make constant changes in language, and thereby to break up into different communities, kept permanently apart by the use of different tongues. At present "it is one people, and there is one lip to all of them, and this is what they begin to do," &c. Already there are thoughts among them of universal empire, and if thus the spread of mankind be hindered, and its division into numerous nations, each contributing its share to the progress and welfare of the world, be stopped, man will remain a poor debased creature, and will fail utterly in accomplishing the purpose for which he was placed upon earth.
"Goto," therefore, He says, in irony of their twice repeated phrase, "we will go down, and make their speech unintelligible to one another." Now, though there is no assertion of a miracle here, yet we may well believe that there was an extraordinary quickening of a natural law which existed from the first. This, however, is but a secondary question, and the main fact is the statement that the Divine means for counteracting man's ambitious and ever-recurring dream of universal sovereignty is the law of diversity of speech. In ancient times there was little to counteract this tendency, and each city and petty district had its own dialect, and looked with animosity upon its neighbours who differed from it in pronunciation, if not in vocabulary. In the present day there are counteracting influences; and great communities, by the use of the same Bible and
thepossession of the same classical literature, may long continue to speak the same language. In days also when communication is so easy, not only do men travel much, but newspapers and serials published at the centre are dispersed to the most distant portions of the world. In old time it was not so, and probably Isaiah would not have been easily understood thirty miles from Jerusalem, nor Demosthenes a few leagues; from Athens. Without books or literature, a little-band of families wandering about with their cattle, with no communication with other tribes, would quickly modify both the grammar and the pronunciation of their language; and when, after a year or two, they revisited the tower, they would feel like foreigners in the new city, and quickly depart with the determination never to return. And to this day diversity of language is a powerful factor in keeping nations apart, or in preventing portions of the same kingdom from agreeing heartily together. And thus at Babel the first attempt to bind the human family into one whole came to an ignominious end.
Verse 5. -
And the Lord came down. Not in visible form, as in
Exodus 19:20;
Exodus 34:5 (Onkelos), but "
effectuostendens se propin quiorem quem absentem esse judicabant" (Poole), an anthropomorphism (cf.
Genesis 18:21;
Psalm 144:5). "
It is measure for measure (
par pari). Let us build up, say they, and scale the heavens. Let us go down, says God, and defeat their impious thought" (Rabbi Schelomo, quoted by T. Lewis).
To see (with a view to judicial action)
the city and the tower which the children of men -
sons of Adam; neither the posterity of Cain,
i.e. the Hamites exclusively, as the Sethites were called sons of God,
Genesis 6:2 (Augustine), nor wicked men in general (Junius, Piscator), imitators of Adam,
i.e.rebellantes Dee (Mode, Lyre), since then the Shemites would not have been participators in the undertaking (Drusius), which some think, to have been their work exclusively (Inglis); but the members of the human race, or at least their leaders -
builded.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
Then the LORDיְהוָ֔ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelcame downוַיֵּ֣רֶד(way·yê·reḏ)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3381:To come or go down, descendto seeלִרְאֹ֥ת(lir·’ōṯ)Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7200:To seethe cityהָעִ֖יר(hā·‘îr)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892:Excitementand the towerהַמִּגְדָּ֑ל(ham·miḡ·dāl)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4026:A tower, a rostrum, a, bed of flowersthatאֲשֶׁ֥ר(’ă·šer)Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834:Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order thatthe sonsבְּנֵ֥י(bə·nê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A sonof menהָאָדָֽם׃(hā·’ā·ḏām)Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 120:Ruddy, a human beingwere building.בָּנ֖וּ(bā·nū)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 1129:To build
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OT Law: Genesis 11:5 Yahweh came down to see the city (Gen. Ge Gn) 
