Lesson 06 – The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1–32)
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OPEN IT
1. To what sort of things do people in our society commit themselves in order to find meaning in life?
EXPLORE IT
2. What did the author say that the whole world had? (Gen.11:1)
3. What did the men in the plain of Shinar set out to do? (Gen.11:2-4)
4. What did the Lord see, and what did He say about it? (Gen.11:5-6)
5. What did the Lord do, and why did He do it? (Gen.11:7-9)
6. What happened to Shem? (Gen.11:10-26)
7. To what person did the author trace Shem's descendants? (Gen.11:10-26)
8. Where did Abram live? (Gen.11:27-28)
9. Whom did Abram marry? (Gen.11:29)
10. What did the author say about Abram's wife? (Gen.11:30)
11. Where did Abram's father take his family? (Gen.11:31)
GET IT
12. In what sort of activities do you engage in order to increase your sense of self-worth?
13. With what or whom are you sometimes tempted to replace God in your life?
APPLY IT
14. What achievement, possession, or relationship might be competing with God for first place in your life?
Explore It Answers
This section is designed to prompt thoughts about how and why to derive each scripture-based answer, so the actual answer is based upon individual study and may not be fully disclosed here. Here, also, are parallel verses for the key scripture texts.
Biblical Answer 2
What did the author say that the whole world had? (Gen.11:1)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:1 | Parallel Texts: Genesis 9:13; Isaiah 54:9-10; Revelation 4:3
Biblical Answer 3
What did the men in the plain of Shinar set out to do? (Gen.11:2-4)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:2-4 | Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 4
What did the Lord see, and what did He say about it? (Gen.11:5-6)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:5-6 | Parallel Texts: Daniel 4:30; James 4:6; Acts 2:5-11
Biblical Answer 5
What did the Lord do, and why did He do it? (Gen.11:7-9)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:7-9 | Parallel Texts: James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:31-32
Biblical Answer 6
What happened to Shem? (Gen.11:10-26)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:10-26 | Parallel Texts: Romans 12:18; Proverbs 16:7; Matthew 5:9
Biblical Answer 7
To what person did the author trace Shem's descendants? (Gen.11:10-26)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:10-26 | Parallel Texts: Genesis 10:32; Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 2:6-11
Biblical Answer 8
Where did Abram live? (Gen.11:27-28)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:27-28 | Parallel Texts: Hebrews 11:7; Luke 17:26-27; 1 Peter 3:20
Biblical Answer 9
Whom did Abram marry? (Gen.11:29)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:29 | Parallel Texts: Matthew 24:37-39; 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:6
Biblical Answer 10
What did the author say about Abram's wife? (Gen.11:30)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:30 | Parallel Texts: Genesis 9:13; Isaiah 54:9-10; Revelation 4:3
Biblical Answer 11
Where did Abram's father take his family? (Gen.11:31)
Key Scripture: Genesis 11:31 | Parallel Texts: Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:6; James 3:9
Commentary Summary
In Genesis 11:1-32, The Tower of Babel highlights doctrinal themes such as God’s character, human accountability, and the certainty of His redemptive purpose. God judges pride. The emphasis is theological, asking what the text teaches about creation, covenant, judgment, grace, salvation, and the trustworthiness of God. This summary is designed to identify the major truths being taught, not merely repeat the narrative details. It therefore reads as a concise doctrinal overview suitable for the commentary summary section.
In The Tower of Babel, the flow of Genesis 11:1-32 emphasizes practical faith, obedience, and response to God. How wicked and rebellious is the natural heart of man! The focus here is pastoral and applicational, showing how the lesson challenges the reader to trust, repent, endure, worship, and walk in obedience. This summary is intentionally more devotional and exhortational so it does not simply duplicate the doctrinal wording used in the other commentary summaries. It aims to sound more like a practical Bible study note directed toward daily Christian living.
Within the broader storyline of Genesis and the Bible as a whole, Genesis 11:1-32 helps move forward the pattern of promise, failure, mercy, and restoration that runs through Scripture. It is not long since the flood, and yet man is again rebelling. This summary is shaped to sound more like a Bible Project overview by emphasizing literary flow, biblical themes, and how the lesson contributes to the unified story of Scripture. The goal is to locate the passage in the wider narrative rather than repeat the same doctrinal or devotional emphasis.
Last Week
A few of Joktan's sons can be associated with known places, but most are probably associated with Arabia. Sheleph has been associated with the Yemenite tribes called Salf or Sulf. Hadoram is the area of Hadramaut east of Yemen.
This Week
How wicked and rebellious is the natural heart of man! It is not long since the flood, and yet man is again rebelling. Our own hearts will always naturally turn from the Lord's love and grace to our own schemes of self-exaltation.
Next Week
But Abram's life was not simply a straight line of ever-increasing faith. As the very next incident in his life demonstrates, he, like all believers, struggled with the challenges of life. These challenges led him to rely on cunning and deception rather than simply trusting that God would keep his promise of blessings and curses on those who interacted with Abram (12:3).
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