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NASB | Genesis 11:1 Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 11:1 Now the whole earth spoke one language and used the same words (vocabulary). |
Bible Question: Genesis ch 10 covers the geneology of the sons of Noah. Concluding each geneology is a statement saying that these nations were separated by their lands, families, and their languages (ch 10 v. 5, 20, and 31). Then in Genesis ch 11 v. 1, it says the whole earth was of one language - using "the same words" (nas) or "a common speech" (niv). How can the nations of the world be separated by language in ch 10 and in ch 11 be "unified by one language and one accent and one mode of expression" (amp)? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Proffitt_79! The most likely explanation is found in Gen. 11:4: "Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.'" The fear of men at this time was that they would be scattered, so apparently they had not yet scattered. Therefore, Chapter 10 must be describing the nations and languages in existence after the tower of Babel. I hope this helps! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |