Genesis 11:1-19 (NKJV)

[1] Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. [2] And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. [3] Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. [4] And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” [5] But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. [6] 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. [7] Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” [8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. [9] Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

[10] This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old, and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood. [11] After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. [12] Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah. [13] After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. [14] Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber. [15] After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and begot sons and daughters. [16] Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg. [17] After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and begot sons and daughters. [18] Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu. [19] After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and begot sons and daughters.

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🎯 Warm-Up Question

Think about a time when you worked really hard on a project or goal that was important to you, but things didn’t turn out the way you planned. How did that make you feel, and what did you learn from the experience?

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🔍 Exploring the Passage

1. What were the people trying to build, and what were their stated reasons for building it? (verses 3-4)
2. How did God respond to their building project, and what specific action did He take? (verses 5-7)
3. Looking at the genealogy in verses 10-19, what do you notice about God’s faithfulness in continuing the family line despite what happened at Babel?

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💬 Discussion Questions

1. Where do you see the desire to “make a name for ourselves” (v. 4) showing up in our culture—and in our own hearts—and why is that spiritually dangerous?
2. How does God’s response at Babel show both judgment and mercy, and what does that tell you about trusting His wisdom over human plans?
3. The genealogy (vv. 10–19) continues God’s story toward salvation (ultimately to Abram and, later, Christ). How does seeing God’s steady plan through history help you trust the Bible and consider a personal response to Jesus today?

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🗝 Main Takeaway

The Tower of Babel reveals the futility of human attempts to reach God through our own achievements and the danger of pride-driven unity apart from God’s will. While people sought to make a name for themselves and avoid God’s command to fill the earth, God scattered them according to His purposes. Yet the genealogy immediately following shows God’s unwavering faithfulness to His salvation plan through the chosen line leading to Abraham. This passage reminds us that our greatest security comes not from building our own towers of achievement, but from trusting in God’s plan to reach down to us through His chosen way of salvation.

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📘 Commentary

• One language, one pride: The problem isn’t technology (bricks, asphalt) but motivation—“let us make a name for ourselves” (v. 4). Human greatness without God becomes idolatry and rebellion.
• God comes down: The language of the Lord “coming down” (v. 5) underlines the smallness of human pride before His majesty. What looks monumental to us is minuscule to Him.
• Merciful restraint: By confusing language (v. 7), God limits coordinated evil. Judgment here protects humanity from a faster, deeper ruin—discipline with redemptive purpose.
• Scattered yet sent: The scattering (v. 8) ironically fulfills God’s original intention for humanity to fill the earth (cf. Gen 1:28). God’s purpose stands—even through our resistance.
• Babel to blessing: Verse 9 names the city “Babel” (confusion), but verses 10–19 pivot to clarity—the ordered genealogy of Shem. God’s plan is not derailed by human confusion.
• The preserved seed: The names from Shem to Peleg (vv. 10–19) keep the promise-line alive. This continuity anticipates Abram (vv. 27ff) and, in the long arc of Scripture, the Messiah.
• Pride vs. promise today: Modern “towers” (achievement, platforms, reputations) cannot secure identity or salvation. The gospel offers a better name—received by grace, not built by self.

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Tagalog

Ang Tower of Pride

Genesis 11:1-19 (Taglish Version)

[1] Noong time na iyon, ang buong mundo ay may isang language lang at isang way of speaking. [2] At habang naglalakbay sila from the east, nakahanap sila ng isang plain sa land of Shinar; at doon sila tumira. [3] Tapos sabi nila sa isa’t isa, “Come on, gumawa tayo ng mga bricks at i-bake natin ng mabuti.” Ginagamit nila ang brick as stone, at ang asphalt as mortar. [4] At sabi nila, “Come, gumawa tayo ng city para sa amin, at ng tower na aabot hanggang heaven; gumawa tayo ng name para sa sarili natin, baka kasi ma-scatter tayo all over the world.” [5] Pero bumaba ang LORD para tingnan ang city at tower na ginawa ng mga sons of men. [6] At sabi ng LORD, “Indeed nagkakaisa ang people at lahat sila ay may one language, at ito pa lang ang start ng ginagawa nila; ngayon walang magiging impossible sa kanila sa lahat ng mga plano nila.” [7] “Come, bumaba tayo at i-confuse natin ang language nila, para hindi na nila ma-understand ang speech ng isa’t isa.” [8] So pinagkalat ng LORD ang mga tao from there all over the world, at tumigil sila sa pagtatayo ng city. [9] Kaya tinawag itong Babel, dahil doon ginulo ng LORD ang language ng buong mundo; at from there pinagkalat niya ang mga tao all over the world.

[10] Ito ang genealogy ni Shem: Si Shem ay one hundred years old, at naging father ni Arphaxad two years after ng flood. [11] After niya maging father ni Arphaxad, nabuhay pa si Shem ng five hundred years, at nagkaroon pa ng mga sons and daughters. [12] Si Arphaxad ay nabuhay ng thirty-five years, at naging father ni Salah. [13] After niya maging father ni Salah, nabuhay pa si Arphaxad ng four hundred and three years, at nagkaroon pa ng mga sons and daughters. [14] Si Salah ay nabuhay ng thirty years, at naging father ni Eber. [15] After niya maging father ni Eber, nabuhay pa si Salah ng four hundred and three years, at nagkaroon pa ng mga sons and daughters. [16] Si Eber ay nabuhay ng thirty-four years, at naging father ni Peleg. [17] After niya maging father ni Peleg, nabuhay pa si Eber ng four hundred and thirty years, at nagkaroon pa ng mga sons and daughters. [18] Si Peleg ay nabuhay ng thirty years, at naging father ni Reu. [19] After niya maging father ni Reu, nabuhay pa si Peleg ng two hundred and nine years, at nagkaroon pa ng mga sons and daughters.

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🎯 Warm-Up Question

Naalala mo ba yung time na super sipag mo sa isang project o goal na importante sa’yo, pero hindi naman pala naging maganda ang result? Ano ang naramdaman mo nun, at ano yung natutunan mo dun sa experience na yun?

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🔍 Exploring the Passage

1. Ano yung tinitayo ng mga tao, at bakit nila gustong itayo yun? (verses 3-4)
2. Paano naman naging reaction ni God sa project nila, at ano yung specific na ginawa Niya? (verses 5-7)
3. Tignan mo yung genealogy sa verses 10-19, ano yung napapansin mo about sa faithfulness ni God na itinuloy pa rin Niya yung family line kahit may nangyari sa Babel?

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💬 Discussion Questions

1. Saan mo nakikita ngayon yung desire na “gumawa ng pangalan para sa sarili natin” sa ating culture—at sa mga puso natin—at bakit delikado yun spiritually?
2. Paano nagpapakita yung response ni God sa Babel ng both judgment at mercy, at ano yung sinasabi nun sa atin about trusting His wisdom over sa mga plano natin?
3. Yung genealogy (vv. 10-19) ay patuloy na nagkukwento about sa salvation plan ni God (na eventually magiging kay Abram at, later on, kay Cristo). Paano nakakatulong sa’yo yung pagkakita na steady ang plan ni God throughout history para magtiwala sa Bible at mag-consider ng personal response kay Jesus ngayon?

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🗝 Main Takeaway

Ang Tower of Babel ay nagpapakita ng walang-kwentang pagtatangka ng mga tao na maabot si God through sa sarili nating mga achievements at ang panganib ng pride-driven unity na wala si God sa gitna. Habang gusto ng mga tao na gumawa ng pangalan para sa sarili nila at iwas sa command ni God na palakasin ang buong mundo, ginulo sila ni God ayon sa Kanyang mga layunin. Pero yung genealogy na sumusunod agad ay nagpapakita ng unwavering faithfulness ni God sa Kanyang salvation plan through sa chosen line papunta kay Abraham. Ang passage na ito ay nagrereremind sa atin na ang pinakamalaking security natin ay hindi galing sa pagtatayo ng sarili nating mga towers of achievement, kundi sa pagtitiwala sa plan ni God na bumaba sa atin through sa Kanyang chosen way of salvation.

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📘 Commentary

• “Gumawa tayo ng pangalan para sa amin” – Itong phrase na ito ay nagpapakita ng heart ng human pride: yung desire para sa self-glorification instead na magbigay ng glory kay God. Hanggang ngayon, nag-struggle pa rin tayo sa pagtatayo ng sarili nating mga “towers” ng reputation, success, at achievement instead na hanapin ang pangalan at glory ni God.

• “Baka makalat tayo” – Directly sinuway ng mga tao ang command ni God na palakasin ang mundo (Genesis 9:1), pinili nila yung human security over divine purpose. Nagpapakita ito kung paano ang takot at self-preservation ay pwedeng mag-lead sa atin palayo sa will ni God para sa buhay natin.

• “Bumaba ang PANGINOON para makita” – Ang personal involvement ni God sa human affairs ay nagdedemonstrate ng Kanyang active care at sovereignty over history. Hindi Niya iniignore ang human rebellion pero sumasagot Siya ng both justice at mercy.

• “Halika, bumaba tayo” – Ang paggamit ng “tayo” ay nagsusuggest ng Trinity’s involvement sa decisive moment na ito, nagpapakita na ang confusion ng mga wika ay hindi arbitrary pero deliberate divine intervention para ma-redirect ang human history.

• “Walang mapipigilan sa kanila” – Ang human unity na walang guidance ni God ay pwedeng maging incredibly powerful pero potentially destructive. Nire-highlight nito yung need natin ng divine direction at moral boundaries sa mga endeavors natin.

• “Kaya tinawag itong Babel” – Ang pangalan ay nangangahulugang “confusion,” serving as permanent reminder na ang human attempts na maabot ang heaven through sa sarili nating works ay nagtatapos sa chaos. Si God lang ang pwedeng mag-bridge ng gap between heaven and earth.

• “Ito ang genealogy ni Shem” – Immediately after ng failure sa Babel, itinuloy ni God ang Kanyang covenant line through kay faithful Shem, nagpapakita na ang human failure ay hindi nakakapag-derail sa salvation plan ni God. Ang genealogy na ito ay direktang nagtutungo kay Abraham at ultimately kay Cristo, ang aming tunay na tower na nag-coconnect ng earth sa heaven.