Genesis Chapter Eleven Bible Reading

Genesis 11 begins by describing a time when all humanity spoke one language and settled together in the land of Shinar. United in purpose, the people built a city and a great tower to make a name for themselves rather than obey God's command to spread throughout the earth. Seeing their pride and rebellion, God confused their language, causing them to no longer understand one another, and scattered them across the face of the earth. The place was called Tower of Babel, because there the Lord confused the languages of the people.

The chapter concludes with the genealogy of Shem, tracing the family line to Terah and his son Abram, preparing the reader for God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 and the unfolding story of redemption.

Genesis 11:1

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

• The whole earth was of ?_____________________________________________

  
  

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.

The Hebrew word Shinar is שִׁנְעָר (Šinʿār / Shin'ar).

1. Shinar is understood as another name for the region of Babylon, where cities such as Babel, Erech (Uruk), and Accad were located (Genesis 10:10).

Biblical Significance

In Scripture, Shinar represents more than a geographical location. It becomes a symbol of:

• Human pride and self-exaltation (Genesis 11:1–9).

• Organized rebellion against God.

• The birthplace of Babylonian civilization.

• Worldly power opposed to God's kingdom.

Shinar does not have a universally agreed-upon literal translation, it is most commonly identified with Babylonia (ancient Mesopotamia) and serves in Scripture as a symbol of humanity's collective rebellion against God.

Out of Noah's three sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—which son's descendants established the land of Shinar? (Genesis chapter 10:10)

Genesis 11:3

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

• This is the first time we read where man is using brick for stone and slime for morter to build. Man made buildings.

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.

Why did this people want to build this city and tower?__________________________

Genesis 11:5

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

Why did the LORD come down?________________________________________

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.

• What did the LORD say about this people?__________________________________

Genesis 11:7

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

• What did God say He would do to the people's language?

• Why did God decide to confuse their language?

• What was the immediate effect of people no longer understanding one another?

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.

Reflection Question:

Are we trying to "reach heaven" through our own accomplishments, reputation, or strength, or are we humbly depending on God and following His will?

Genesis 11:10 – Brief Introduction

Genesis 11:11 continues the genealogy of Shem's descendants, tracing the covenant line through which God would preserve His promise of redemption. After the account of Babel, the focus shifts from the scattered nations to the family through whom God's covenant purposes would unfold.

This verse records the remaining years of Shem's son Arphaxad after the birth of Shelah, emphasizing God's faithfulness in preserving each generation that would eventually lead to Abraham and, ultimately, to the Messiah. It reminds us that even while nations rise and fall, God faithfully accomplishes His redemptive plan through the lineage He has chosen.

Genesis 11:10

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

Genesis 11:11

And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:12

And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

Genesis 11:13

And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:14

And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

Genesis 11:15

And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:16

And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

Genesis 11:17

And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:18

And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

Genesis 11:19

And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:20

And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

Genesis 11:21

And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:22

And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

Genesis 11:23

And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:24

And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

Genesis 11:25

And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 11:26

And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Genesis 11:27

Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

Genesis 11:28

And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

Genesis 11:29

And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Genesis 11:30

But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Genesis 11:31

And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Genesis 11:32

And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

(KJV)