Genesis 11:5 kjv

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

Genesis 11:5 nkjv

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.

Genesis 11:5 niv

But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower the people were building.

Genesis 11:5 esv

And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.

Genesis 11:5 nlt

But the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower the people were building.

Genesis 11 verses

Genesis 11 5 Meaning

Genesis 11:5 presents the sovereign God, Yahweh, actively intervening and personally observing the audacious project of humanity—the city and the tower of Babel. It underscores the divine scrutiny of human endeavors and signals the impending divine response to mankind's collective ambition and defiance against His original command to spread across the earth. Despite His omnipresence, God "comes down" to emphasize the thoroughness of His righteous judgment, showcasing His meticulous observation before acting.

Genesis 11 5 Context

Genesis chapter 11 opens with "the whole earth" having one language and a unified purpose. This sets the stage for humanity's decision to settle in the plain of Shinar, driven by a desire to build a "city and a tower whose top will reach into heaven." Their explicit motive, as stated in the preceding verse (11:4), is "to make a name for ourselves" and prevent dispersion across the earth—directly opposing God's command given to Adam (Gen 1:28) and re-issued to Noah (Gen 9:1). Genesis 11:5, therefore, marks the pivotal moment of God's active, direct engagement with this human enterprise, serving as the immediate prelude to His intervention that will ultimately scatter the unified population and confuse their languages, bringing an end to the project. It reveals God's continuous oversight and non-tolerance for rebellion disguised as ambition.

Genesis 11 5 Word Analysis

• But the LORD (וַיֵּרֶד יְהוָה, wayyered Yahweh):

  • "But" (וַ, wa-, conjunction): This conjunction introduces a sharp contrast and immediate divine counter-action to humanity's plans outlined in the previous verses. It signifies a divine shift from observation to decisive intervention.
  • "the LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the covenant name of God, revealing His personal, sovereign, and relational nature. The use of Yahweh here emphasizes His unchangeable character, His divine authority over His creation, and His righteous commitment to His purposes, which cannot be thwarted by human schemes. It highlights a personal and powerful engagement.

• came down (וַיֵּרֶד, wayyered from יָרַד yarad):

  • This is an anthropomorphism, attributing human-like movement to God who is omnipresent and does not have a physical body to move. It vividly conveys God's personal involvement and active engagement. It signifies that God drew near to the situation on earth to directly deal with it, making His presence palpable and His scrutiny unmistakable before enacting judgment or intervention. It also emphasizes the shift from His transcendent position to His immanent action within history.

• to see (לִרְאֹת, lir'ot from רָאָה ra'ah):

  • While God is omniscient and already knows everything, the phrase "to see" indicates His judicial, investigative, and deliberate observation. It stresses that God's actions are never arbitrary or impulsive but are based on perfect knowledge and just assessment. It makes explicit that His ensuing judgment is fully warranted and transparently fair. It's for the human record, not for God's discovery, demonstrating His righteous procedure.

• the city and the tower (הָעִיר וְהַמִּגְדָּל, hāʿîr wəhammiḡdal):

  • "the city" (הָעִיר, hāʿîr): Represents collective human organization, settled living, cultural development, and human-centered social structures. At Babel, it symbolized a consolidated humanity seeking power and fame apart from God. It also defied God's command to fill the earth.
  • "the tower" (וְהַמִּגְדָּל, wəhammiḡdal): This particular tower was intended to reach "into heaven" (Gen 11:4). It symbolizes human technological ambition, defiance of divine limits, and a spiritual pride that sought to transcend earthly boundaries through human effort, effectively attempting to ascend to divine status or build an idol of human achievement. It embodied a desire for self-glorification and independence from God.

• which the sons of men (אֲשֶׁר בָּנוּ בְּנֵי הָאָדָם, ʾăšer bānû bənê hāʾādām):

  • "sons of men" (בְּנֵי הָאָדָם, bənê hāʾādām): This Hebrew idiom for "humanity" or "people" often contrasts the frail, earthly nature of humankind with the exalted, divine nature of God. Here, it underscores the vast chasm between human limitation and divine majesty, highlighting the folly of their ambitious pride when undertaken without God's authorization or for His glory.

• had built (בָּנוּ, bānû from בָּנָה banah):

  • Emphasizes the completed act of human creation and unified effort. It signifies that the rebellion was not merely in thought but materialized in physical construction, making it an undeniable act of defiance and a tangible monument to human hubris.

Genesis 11 5 Bonus Section

• The Tower of Babel narrative, including verse 5, contrasts sharply with God's ultimate solution for human division and sin through Abraham (Gen 12) and, ultimately, Christ. While Babel failed to make a name for humanity, God makes a name for Abram, linking divine action to His redemptive purposes.
• The "coming down" of the LORD foreshadows future divine descents, notably Christ's incarnation (Phil 2:5-8), where God Himself literally "comes down" not for judgment but for redemption and humbling service, offering a reversal of humanity's prideful aspirations.
• The incident at Babel sets a precedent for God's pattern of judgment when humanity unifies in rebellion against His commands. Conversely, the Holy Spirit's descent at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-11) is often seen as God's answer to Babel, restoring communication and unity in Him, where the prior unity was based on defiance.
• The "city" imagery also subtly challenges the idolatry of ancient city-states and their impressive ziggurats (tower temples), which often served as symbols of human power and attempts to control divine favor or reach the gods, rather than worshiping the one true God who comes to them on His own terms.

Genesis 11 5 Commentary

Genesis 11:5 serves as a profound theological statement on God's sovereignty and His immediate opposition to human rebellion expressed through collective pride. Despite humanity's ambition to create a unified, self-glorifying civilization and make a "name" for themselves through monumental construction, God is depicted as actively and meticulously observing their efforts. His "coming down" is not a physical necessity for an omniscient God, but an anthropomorphic representation highlighting His deliberate, judicial inspection before dispensing justice. It assures the reader that God is intimately involved in human affairs, aware of all actions, and meticulously weighs them against His divine standards. The "city" represents human civilization's collective power and rebellion, while the "tower" embodies its pride and attempt to reach self-sufficiency or divine status. This divine observation underscores God's absolute authority over all creation and provides the necessary premise for the righteous judgment that immediately follows in the narrative, preventing humanity from progressing further in their defiance. It is a timeless warning against the dangers of human pride and attempts to usurp God's unique place or build lasting monuments that are not consecrated to Him.