Genesis 11:4
BSB · Public Domain (CC0)““Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.””
A short, plain-language explanation of Genesis 11:4 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.
““Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.””
Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)“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.”
King James Version · Public Domain“And they said, Come, 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.”
American Standard Version · Public Domain“And they say, `Give help, let us build for ourselves a city and tower, and its head in the heavens, and make for ourselves a name, lest we be scattered over the face of all the earth.'”
Young's Literal Translation · Public DomainOther passages that echo Genesis 11:4 — 15 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 6:4The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and afterward as well—when the sons of God had relations with the daughters of men. And they bore them children who became the mighty men of old, men of renown.
- Genesis 11:8So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city.
- Deuteronomy 1:28Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’”
- Deuteronomy 4:27Then the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the LORD will drive you.
- Deuteronomy 9:1Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens.
- 2 Samuel 8:13And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
- Psalms 49:11Their graves are their eternal homes— their dwellings for endless generations— even though their lands were their namesakes.
- Psalms 92:9For surely Your enemies, O LORD, surely Your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
- Proverbs 10:7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
- Daniel 4:11The tree grew large and strong; its top reached the sky, and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
- Daniel 4:22you, O king, are that tree! For you have become great and strong; your greatness has grown to reach the sky, and your dominion extends to the ends of the earth.
- Daniel 4:27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
- Daniel 4:30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
- Luke 1:51He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
- John 5:44How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).