Genesis 11:9

KJV1611 – Modern English

Therefore its name is called Babel, because the LORD confused the language of all the earth there, and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

עַל־כֵּ֞ן קָרָ֤א שְׁמָהּ֙ בָּבֶ֔ל כִּי־שָׁ֛ם בָּלַ֥ל יְהוָ֖ה שְׂפַ֣ת כָּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ וּמִשָּׁם֙ הֱפִיצָ֣ם יְהוָ֔ה עַל־פְּנֵ֖י כָּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ פ

Transliteration

Therefore qārāʾ šᵊmāh bābel because-there bālal YHWH śᵊpat all-the-ʾāreṣ and-from-there hēpîṣām YHWH upon-pᵊnê all-the-ʾāreṣ

Grammar Details

• *qārāʾ*: qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - he called
• *šᵊmāh*: noun masculine singular + 3rd feminine singular suffix - its name
• *bābel*: proper noun - Babel
• *bālal*: qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - he confused
• *YHWH*: proper noun - the LORD
• *śᵊpat*: noun feminine singular construct - language of
• *ʾāreṣ*: noun feminine singular - earth/land
• *hēpîṣām*: hiphil perfect 3rd masculine singular + 3rd masculine plural suffix - he scattered them
• *pᵊnê*: noun masculine plural construct - face of

Word Meanings

• *qārāʾ*: he called/named
• *šᵊmāh*: its name
• *bābel*: Babel/Babylon
• *bālal*: he confused/mixed/confounded
• *YHWH*: the LORD/Yahweh
• *śᵊpat*: language/speech of
• *ʾāreṣ*: earth/land/ground
• *hēpîṣām*: he scattered them/dispersed them
• *pᵊnê*: face/surface of

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  That is why it was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the langua of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Therefore 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.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  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.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Wherfore the name of it is called Babell because that the LORDE there confounded the tonge of all the world. And because that the LORde from thence skatered them abrode vppon all the erth.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Therfore is it called Babell, because the LORDE cofounded there the language of all the worlde, and from thece scatred them abrode in to all londes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because the Lorde did there confounde the language of all the earth: from thence then did the Lord scatter them vpon all the earth.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And therfore is the name of it called Babel, because the Lord dyd there confounde the language of all the earth: and from thence dyd the Lorde scatter them abrode vpon the face of all the earth.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because Yahweh confused the language of all the earth, there. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  therefore 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Therefore 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Therefore 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  So 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.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  That is why its name was called Babel– because there the LORD confused the language of the entire world, and from there the LORD scattered them across the face of the entire earth.

Referenced Verses

• Gen 10:10 : 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
• Gen 10:20 : 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their languages, in their countries, and in their nations.
• Gen 10:5 : 5 By these were the islands of the Gentiles divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.
• Acts 17:26 : 26 And has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings;
• 1 Cor 14:23 : 23 Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?
• Gen 10:25 : 25 And to Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
• Gen 10:31-32 : 31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations. 32 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.
• Isa 13:1-9 : 1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. 2 Lift up a banner on the high mountain, exalt the voice to them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. 3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for my anger, even those who rejoice in my exaltation. 4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like that of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts musters the host of battle. 5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. 6 Howl; for the day of the LORD is near; it will come as a destruction from the Almighty. 7 Therefore all hands will be feeble, and every man's heart will melt: 8 And they will be afraid: pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; they will be in pain as a woman in labor: they will be amazed at one another; their faces will be like flames. 9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he will destroy the sinners out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light: the sun will be darkened in its rising, and the moon will not cause its light to shine. 11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. 12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth will move out of its place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. 14 And it will be as the hunted roe, and as a sheep that no man takes up: every man will turn to his own people, and everyone will flee to his own land.
• Jer 50:1-9 : 1 The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. 2 Declare among the nations and publish, and set up a banner; publish, and do not hide it: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces. 3 For out of the north a nation comes against her, which shall make her land desolate, and no one shall dwell therein: they shall move away, they shall depart, both man and beast. 4 In those days and at that time, says 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. 5 They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces toward it, saying, Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten. 6 My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. 7 All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. 8 Move out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be like he-goats before the flocks. 9 For, behold, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in battle array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be like those of a mighty expert warrior; none shall return empty. 10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, says the LORD. 11 Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, O you destroyers of my heritage, because you have grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow like bulls; 12 Your mother shall be greatly ashamed; she that bore you shall be confounded: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be utterly desolate: everyone who passes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. 14 Put yourselves in battle array against Babylon all around: all you that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she has sinned against the LORD. 15 Shout against her all around: she has surrendered: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she has done, do unto her. 16 Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handles the sickle in the harvest time: for fear of the oppressing sword everyone shall turn to his own people, and they shall flee to their own land. 17 Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven them away: first the king of Assyria has devoured him; and last this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones. 18 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. 19 And I will bring Israel again to his dwelling place, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied on Mount Ephraim and Gilead. 20 In those days and at that time, says the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon those whom I reserve. 21 Go up against the land of Merathaim, against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, says the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded you. 22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. 23 How the hammer of the whole earth is cut apart and broken! how Babylon has become a desolation among the nations! 24 I have set a trap for you, and you are also caught, O Babylon, and you were not aware: you are found, and also caught, because you have fought against the LORD. 25 The LORD has opened his armory, and has brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. 26 Come against her from the furthest border, open her storehouses: pile her up as heaps, and utterly destroy her: let nothing of her be left. 27 Slay all her bulls; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation. 28 The voice of those who flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple. 29 Call together the archers against Babylon: all you that bend the bow, camp against it all around; let none of them escape: repay her according to her work; according to all that she has done, do unto her: for she has been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, says the LORD. 31 Behold, I am against you, O most proud, says the Lord GOD of hosts: for your day has come, the time that I will visit you. 32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall help him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all around him. 33 Thus says the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all who took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go. 34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. 35 A sword is upon the Chaldeans, says the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men. 36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall turn foolish: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed. 37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mixed people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become like women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed. 38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of carved images, and they are mad upon their idols. 39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited forever; neither shall it be lived in from generation to generation. 40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, says the LORD; so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any son of man live there. 41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the ends of the earth. 42 They shall hold the bow and the spear: they are cruel, and will show no mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one set in order, like a man to the battle, against you, O daughter of Babylon. 43 The king of Babylon has heard the report of them, and his hands grew feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in labor. 44 Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the dwelling of the strong: but I will suddenly make them run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd who will stand before me? 45 Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall drag them out: surely he shall make their dwelling desolate with them. 46 At the noise of the capture of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.