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.

◄ Genesis 11:6 ►

New International Version
The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

New Living Translation
“Look!” he said. “The people are united, and they all speak the same language. After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them!

English Standard Version
And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them.

New American Standard Bible
And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they have started to do, and now nothing which they plan to do will be impossible for them.

NASB 1995
The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

NASB 1977
And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they have begun to do. So now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them.

Amplified Bible
And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one [unified] people, and they all have the same language. This is only the beginning of what they will do [in rebellion against Me], and now no evil thing they imagine they can do will be impossible for them.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people all having the same language, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

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.

Contemporary English Version
he said: These people are working together because they all speak the same language. This is just the beginning. Soon they will be able to do anything they want.

English Revised Version
And the LORD 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said, "They are one people with one language. This is only the beginning of what they will do! Now nothing they plan to do will be too difficult for them.

Good News Translation
and he said, "Now then, these are all one people and they speak one language; this is just the beginning of what they are going to do. Soon they will be able to do anything they want!

International Standard Version
The LORD said, "Look! They are one people with the same language for all of them, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. Nothing that they have a mind to do will be impossible for them!

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
And the LORD said, "If as one people all sharing a common language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be beyond them.

New Heart English Bible
And God said, "Look, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. So now nothing which they plan to do will be too difficult for them.

Webster's Bible Translation
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
Yahweh 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.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and YHWH says, “Behold, the people [is] one, and one language [is] to them all, and this it has dreamed of doing; and now, nothing is restrained from them of that which they have purposed to do.

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.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say, Behold, the people one, and one lip to them all; and this they begin to do: and now it will not be restrained from them all which they shall imagine to do.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said: Behold, it is one people, and all have one tongue: and they have begun to do this, neither will they leave off from their designs, till they accomplish them in deed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said: “Behold, the people are united, and all have one tongue. And since they have begun to do this, they will not desist from their plans, until they have completed their work.

New American Bible
Then the LORD said: If now, while they are one people and all have the same language, they have started to do this, nothing they presume to do will be out of their reach.

New Revised Standard Version
And the LORD said, “Look, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said, Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and they have reasoned to do this thing; and now nothing will prevent them from doing that which they have imagined to do.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said, “Behold, the people are one and they all have one language and thus they have conceived to do, therefore nothing would be taken from them that they have conceived to do.

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the LORD 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said, Behold, there is one race, and one lip of all, and they have begun to do this, and now nothing shall fail from them of all that they may have undertaken to do.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The Tower of Babel
…5Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building. 6And 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. 7Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Genesis 1:26
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.”

Genesis 3:22
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...”

Psalm 2:1-4
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: / “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.” ...

Psalm 33:10-11
The LORD frustrates the plans of the nations; He thwarts the devices of the peoples. / The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the purposes of His heart to all generations.

Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

Isaiah 8:10
Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”

Isaiah 14:13-14
You said in your heart: “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. / I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

Isaiah 46:10
I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish.’

Jeremiah 51:29
The earth quakes and writhes because the LORD’s intentions against Babylon stand: to make the land of Babylon a desolation, without inhabitant.

Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’”

Matthew 19:26
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.

Mark 10:27
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Luke 1:37
For no word from God will ever fail.”

John 17:21
that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

Treasury of Scripture

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.

Behold.

Genesis 3:22
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Judges 10:14
Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

1 Kings 18:27
And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

the people.

Genesis 11:1
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

Genesis 9:19
These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth overspread.

Acts 17:26
And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

imagined.

Genesis 6:5
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Genesis 8:21
And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Psalm 2:1-4
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? …

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Begin Beginning Begun Hindered Imagined Impossible Intend Language Meditate Plan Possible Pronunciation Propose Purpose Purposed Restrained Speaking Start Theirs Withheld Withholden

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Genesis 11

1. One language in the world.
2. The building of Babel.
5. It is interrupted by the confusion of tongues, and the builders dispersed.
10. The generations of Shem.
27. The generations of Terah, the father of Abram.
31. Terah, with Abram and Lot, move from Ur to Haran.

Berean Study Bible

And the LORD said
This phrase introduces a divine observation and decision. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "YHWH," the personal name of God, emphasizing His sovereignty and intimate involvement with humanity. The use of "said" indicates a divine decree or judgment, reflecting God's active role in human affairs. This moment underscores the belief in a God who is not distant but deeply engaged with His creation.

If they have begun
The phrase suggests the commencement of a significant action. The Hebrew root "chalal" can mean to begin or to profane, indicating that their actions, while innovative, may also be seen as a transgression against divine order. This duality highlights the potential for human creativity to either align with or deviate from God's will.

to do this
"This" refers to the construction of the Tower of Babel, a symbol of human ambition and unity apart from God. The act of building the tower was not merely architectural but represented a collective human effort to assert independence from divine authority. It serves as a cautionary tale about the limits of human achievement when divorced from spiritual obedience.

as one people
The unity of the people is emphasized here. The Hebrew word "echad" denotes oneness or unity, reflecting a powerful collective identity. This unity, while impressive, becomes problematic when it leads to self-reliance and pride, rather than reliance on God. It serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of human unity when it is not grounded in divine purpose.

speaking the same language
Language is a powerful tool for communication and collaboration. The Hebrew term "saphah" refers to lip or language, symbolizing shared understanding and purpose. This common language facilitated their unified effort but also their collective rebellion. It illustrates the power of language to unite or divide, depending on its use.

then nothing they devise
The word "devise" comes from the Hebrew "zamam," meaning to plan or plot. It suggests intentionality and purpose in human actions. The implication is that human potential is vast, but without divine guidance, it can lead to hubris and rebellion. This serves as a reminder of the need for humility and submission to God's will in all human endeavors.

will be beyond them
This phrase indicates the limitless potential of humanity when united. However, it also serves as a warning about the potential for overreach and the consequences of attempting to operate outside of God's ordained boundaries. It underscores the belief that true fulfillment and success come from aligning human ambition with divine purpose.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 6. - And the Lord said - within himself, and to himself (vide ver. 8); expressive of the formation of a Divine resolution (cf. Genesis 6:7) - Behold, the people - עַס, from root signifying to bind together, expresses the idea of association; גּוי, from a root signifying to swell (Lange), to flow together (Gesenius), to gather together (Furst), conveys the notion of a confluxus hominum. T. Lewis connects it with the sense of interiority, or exclusion, which is common in the Chaldee and Syriac - is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do. One race, one tongue, one purpose. The words indicate unity of effort, as well as concentration of design, on the part of the builders, and a certain measure of success in the achievement of their work. And now nothing will be restrained from them. Literally, there will not be cut off from them anything; οὐκ ἐκλείψει ἀπ αὐτῶν πάντα (LXX.); non desistent a cogitationibus suis (Vulgate, Luther); i.e. nothing will prove too hard for their dating. It can hardly imply that their impious design was on the eve of completion. Which they have imagined to do.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

And the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“If
הֵ֣ן (hên)
Interjection
Strong's 2005: Lo! behold!

they have begun
הַחִלָּ֣ם (ha·ḥil·lām)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

to do
לַעֲשׂ֑וֹת (la·‘ă·śō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this
וְזֶ֖ה (wə·zeh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

as one
אֶחָד֙ (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

people
עַ֤ם (‘am)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

speaking the same
לְכֻלָּ֔ם (lə·ḵul·lām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

language,
וְשָׂפָ֤ה (wə·śā·p̄āh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin

then
וְעַתָּה֙ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

nothing
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

they devise
יָזְמ֖וּ (yā·zə·mū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2161: To consider, purpose, devise

will be beyond
יִבָּצֵ֣ר (yib·bā·ṣêr)
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1219: To cut off, make inaccessible, enclose

them.
מֵהֶ֔ם (mê·hem)
Preposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

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OT Law: Genesis 11:6 Yahweh said Behold they are one people (Gen. Ge Gn)