Genesis 11:2
Genesis 11:2 in Multiple Translations
And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
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.
And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
And it came about that in their wandering from the east, they came to a stretch of flat country in the land of Shinar, and there they made their living-place.
As they moved east they discovered a plain in the land of Shinar so they settled there.
And as they went from the East, they found a plaine in the land of Shinar, and there they abode.
and it cometh to pass, in their journeying from the east, that they find a valley in the land of Shinar, and dwell there;
As they traveled east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.
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.
And when they removed from the east, they found a plain in the land of Sennaar, and dwelt in it.
As people moved further east, they arrived at a plain in Babylonia region and began to live there.
And as people moved from place to place in the east, they got to some flat country in Babylonia, and they stayed there.
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 11:2
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 11:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַֽ/יְהִ֖י
בְּ/נָסְעָ֣/ם
מִ/קֶּ֑דֶם
וַֽ/יִּמְצְא֥וּ
בִקְעָ֛ה
בְּ/אֶ֥רֶץ
שִׁנְעָ֖ר
וַ/יֵּ֥שְׁבוּ
שָֽׁם
וַֽ/יְהִ֖י
hâyâh
H1961
to be
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
בְּ/נָסְעָ֣/ם
nâçaʻ
H5265
to set out
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
מִ/קֶּ֑דֶם
qedem
H6924
front
Prep | N-ms
וַֽ/יִּמְצְא֥וּ
mâtsâʼ
H4672
to find
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
בִקְעָ֛ה
biqʻâh
H1237
valley
N-fs
בְּ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
land
Prep | N-cs
שִׁנְעָ֖ר
Shinʻâr
H8152
Shinar
N-proper
וַ/יֵּ֥שְׁבוּ
yâshab
H3427
to dwell
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
there
Adv
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 11:2
וַֽ/יְהִ֖י
hâyâh
H1961
"to be"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
The Hebrew word for to be means to exist or come into being. It is used to describe something that happens or comes to pass, like in Genesis where God creates the world.
Definition: 1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out 1a) (Qal) 1a1) --- 1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass 1a1b) to come about, come to pass 1a2) to come into being, become 1a2a) to arise, appear, come 1a2b) to become 1a2b1) to become 1a2b2) to become like 1a2b3) to be instituted, be established 1a3) to be 1a3a) to exist, be in existence 1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time) 1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality) 1a3d) to accompany, be with 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about 1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
Usage: Occurs in 3131 OT verses. KJV: beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 17:4; Genesis 36:11.
בְּ/נָסְעָ֣/ם
nâçaʻ
H5265
"to set out"
Prep | V-Qal-Inf-a | Suff
In the Bible, this word means to set out or start a journey, like the Israelites departing from Egypt, or to remove something, as in pulling up tent pins.
Definition: 1) to pull out, pull up, set out, journey, remove, set forward, depart 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to pull out or up 1a2) to set out, depart 1a3) to journey, march 1a4) to set forth (of wind) 1b) (Niphal) to be pulled up, be removed, be plucked up 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to set out, lead out, cause to spring up 1c2) to remove, quarry
Usage: Occurs in 140 OT verses. KJV: cause to blow, bring, get, (make to) go (away, forth, forward, onward, out), (take) journey, march, remove, set aside (forward), [idiom] still, be on his (go their) way. See also: Genesis 11:2; Numbers 33:9; Psalms 78:26.
מִ/קֶּ֑דֶם
qedem
H6924
"front"
Prep | N-ms
The front or east direction, often used to describe a location or time, such as in the book of Ezekiel where it describes the direction of the temple. It can also mean something is ancient or from the past, like the stories in Genesis.
Definition: : east 1) east, antiquity, front, that which is before, aforetime 1a) front, from the front or east, in front, mount of the East 1b) ancient time, aforetime, ancient, from of old, earliest time 1c) anciently, of old (adverb) 1d) beginning 1e) east
Usage: Occurs in 83 OT verses. KJV: aforetime, ancient (time), before, east (end, part, side, -ward), eternal, [idiom] ever(-lasting), forward, old, past. Compare H6926 (קִדְמָה). See also: Genesis 2:8; Nehemiah 12:46; Psalms 44:2.
וַֽ/יִּמְצְא֥וּ
mâtsâʼ
H4672
"to find"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
Matsa means to find or attain something, whether it is a physical object, a person, or a condition, as seen in various KJV translations.
Definition: 1) to find, attain to 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to find 1a1a) to find, secure, acquire, get (thing sought) 1a1b) to find (what is lost) 1a1c) to meet, encounter 1a1d) to find (a condition) 1a1e) to learn, devise 1a2) to find out 1a2a) to find out 1a2b) to detect 1a2c) to guess 1a3) to come upon, light upon 1a3a) to happen upon, meet, fall in with 1a3b) to hit 1a3c) to befall 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to be found 1b1a) to be encountered, be lighted upon, be discovered 1b1b) to appear, be recognised 1b1c) to be discovered, be detected 1b1d) to be gained, be secured 1b2) to be, be found 1b2a) to be found in 1b2b) to be in the possession of 1b2c) to be found in (a place), happen to be 1b2d) to be left (after war) 1b2e) to be present 1b2f) to prove to be 1b2g) to be found sufficient, be enough 1c) (Hiphil) 1c1) to cause to find, attain 1c2) to cause to light upon, come upon, come 1c3) to cause to encounter 1c4) to present (offering)
Usage: Occurs in 425 OT verses. KJV: [phrase] be able, befall, being, catch, [idiom] certainly, (cause to) come (on, to, to hand), deliver, be enough (cause to) find(-ing, occasion, out), get (hold upon), [idiom] have (here), be here, hit, be left, light (up-) on, meet (with), [idiom] occasion serve, (be) present, ready, speed, suffice, take hold on. See also: Genesis 2:20; Deuteronomy 22:3; 2 Kings 9:35.
בִקְעָ֛ה
biqʻâh
H1237
"valley"
N-fs
A valley is a low area of land between hills or mountains, and in the Bible, it can also mean a plain or level area, as seen in Ezekiel 3:22-23.
Definition: 1) valley 2) plain, level valley Aramaic equivalent: biq.a (בִּקְעָא "plain" H1236)
Usage: Occurs in 20 OT verses. KJV: plain, valley. See also: Genesis 11:2; Isaiah 40:4; Psalms 104:8.
בְּ/אֶ֥רֶץ
ʼerets
H776
"land"
Prep | N-cs
The land or earth refers to the soil or ground, and can also mean a country, territory, or region. In the Bible, it is used to describe the earth and its inhabitants, and is often translated as 'land' or 'country'.
Definition: : soil 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1) whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth (as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth (inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory 1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory 1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan, Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol, land without return, (under) world 1b8) city (-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1) ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people of the land 1d2) space or distance of country (in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5) end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in contrast to Canaan
Usage: Occurs in 2190 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. See also: Genesis 1:1; Genesis 18:18; Genesis 42:13.
שִׁנְעָ֖ר
Shinʻâr
H8152
"Shinar"
N-proper
Shinar is an ancient name for Babylonia, a region in the Bible where the tower of Babel was built. It is mentioned in Genesis 10:10 and 11:2. Shinar is also known as the country of two rivers.
Definition: § Shinar = "country of two rivers" the ancient name for the territory later known as Babylonia or Chaldea
Usage: Occurs in 8 OT verses. KJV: Shinar. See also: Genesis 10:10; Joshua 7:21; Isaiah 11:11.
וַ/יֵּ֥שְׁבוּ
yâshab
H3427
"to dwell"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp
This verb means to sit or dwell, and can also mean to remain or abide. It's used in the Bible to describe people living in a place or staying with someone, like in the book of Genesis.
Definition: 1) to dwell, remain, sit, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to sit, sit down 1a2) to be set 1a3) to remain, stay 1a4) to dwell, have one's abode 1b) (Niphal) to be inhabited 1c) (Piel) to set, place 1d) (Hiphil) 1d1) to cause to sit 1d2) to cause to abide, set 1d3) to cause to dwell 1d4) to cause (cities) to be inhabited 1d5) to marry (give an dwelling to) 1e) (Hophal) 1e1) to be inhabited 1e2) to make to dwell Aramaic equivalent: ye.tiv (יְתִב "to dwell" H3488)
Usage: Occurs in 977 OT verses. KJV: (make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(-tle), (down-) sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry. See also: Genesis 4:16; Leviticus 25:18; Joshua 13:6.
שָֽׁם
shâm
H8033
"there"
Adv
The Hebrew word sham means there or then, often used to describe a location or point in time. It can also mean thither or thence, indicating movement or direction. This word is used frequently in the Bible to provide context and clarify the setting of a story.
Definition: 1) there, thither 1a) there 1b) thither (after verbs of motion) 1c) from there, thence 1d) then (as an adverb of time) Aramaic equivalent: tam.mah (תַּמָּה "there" H8536)
Usage: Occurs in 732 OT verses. KJV: in it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither. See also: Genesis 2:8; Exodus 21:33; Deuteronomy 19:4.
Study Notes — Genesis 11:2
Show Verse Quote Highlights
- Context
- Cross References
- Genesis 11:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Genesis 11:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 11:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
- Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
- Cambridge Bible on Genesis 11:2
- Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
- Sermons on Genesis 11:2
Context — The Tower of Babel
1Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech.
2And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
3And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” So they used brick instead of stone, and tar instead of mortar. 4“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.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 10:10 | His kingdom began in Babylon, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. |
| 2 | Daniel 1:2 | And the Lord delivered into his hand Jehoiakim king of Judah, along with some of the articles from the house of God. He carried these off to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, where he put them in the treasury of his god. |
| 3 | Genesis 14:1 | In those days Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim |
| 4 | Isaiah 11:11 | On that day the Lord will extend His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. |
| 5 | Zechariah 5:11 | “To build a house for it in the land of Shinar, ” he told me. “And when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its pedestal.” |
| 6 | Genesis 13:11 | So Lot chose the whole plain of the Jordan for himself and set out toward the east. And Abram and Lot parted company. |
| 7 | Genesis 11:9 | That is why it is called Babel, for there the LORD confused the language of the whole world, and from that place the LORD scattered them over the face of all the earth. |
Genesis 11:2 Summary
Genesis 11:2 tells us that as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. This verse shows that people have always been looking for a place to call home, just like the Israelites were looking for a promised land, as described in Exodus 3:8. However, as we see in the following verses, Genesis 11:3-4, our desires and actions must be guided by God's will, rather than our own selfish desires, as warned in Jeremiah 17:9. By trusting in God's provision and guidance, we can find true rest and peace, as promised in Matthew 11:28-30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the people in Genesis 11:2 journey eastward and settle in the land of Shinar?
The Bible doesn't give a specific reason for their journey, but it's possible that they were looking for a place to establish a new home, as described in Genesis 11:2, and the plain in the land of Shinar provided them with the resources they needed, similar to how God provided for Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3.
What is the significance of the land of Shinar in the Bible?
The land of Shinar is also known as Babylon, and it plays a significant role in the Bible as a place of rebellion against God, as seen in Genesis 11:2 and later in Daniel 1:1-2, where the Israelites were taken into exile.
How does this verse relate to the concept of unity and cooperation among people?
Genesis 11:2 shows that when people work together towards a common goal, they can accomplish great things, as they did when they settled in the land of Shinar, but as seen in the following verses, Genesis 11:3-4, their unity and cooperation can also lead to rebellion against God if not guided by His will.
What can we learn from the fact that the people settled in a plain, rather than a mountainous region?
The fact that they settled in a plain, as described in Genesis 11:2, may indicate that they were looking for a place of comfort and ease, rather than a place of challenge and spiritual growth, which can be a lesson for us today, as we are called to trust in God's provision and guidance, as in Psalm 37:3-4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can be mindful of my own journey and the places where I choose to settle, and how can I ensure that I am following God's will?
- How can I balance my desire for unity and cooperation with others, with the need to follow God's will and guidance, as seen in Genesis 11:2 and the following verses?
- What are some potential dangers of settling in a place of comfort and ease, rather than a place of challenge and spiritual growth, and how can I avoid these dangers in my own life?
- How can I trust in God's provision and guidance, even when I am faced with uncertainty and challenge, as seen in Genesis 11:2 and other Bible verses, such as Psalm 23:4 and Jeremiah 29:11?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 11:2
And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east,.... That is, the inhabitants of the whole earth; not Ham and his posterity only, or Nimrod and his company; but as all the sons of Noah and his
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 11:2
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. As they journeyed from the east. The margin has 'eastward' (cf.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
As they journeyed from the east, i.e. Nimrod and the rest of his confederates of Ham’ s posterity; not from Armenia, where the ark rested, which was north from Babel, and is called north in Scripture, as ,26, &c.; but from Assyria, into which they had before come from the mountains of Ararat for more convenient habitation. It may be rendered to the east; but that manner of translation is neither usual nor necessary here. The land of Shinar, where Babel was, .
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
Genesis 11:2 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.Ver. 2. In the land of Shinar.] Which was a part of the garden of Eden, as most geographers think, fat and fruitful still above belief (Herodot. lib. i. cap. 93; Plin. lib. vi. cap. 26).
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
(2) As they journeyed.—The word literally refers to the pulling up of the tent-pegs, and sets the human family before us as a band of nomads, wandering from place to place, and shifting their tents as their cattle needed fresh pasture. From the east.—So all the versions. Mount Ararat was to the north-west of Shinar, and while so lofty a mountain could not have been the spot where the ark rested, yet neither could any portion of Armenia or of the Carduchian mountains be described as to the east of Babylonia. The Chaldean legends make the ark rest on Mount Nizir, or Elwend, on the east of Assyria; and though Ararat may possibly signify Aryaverta, “Holy Land,” yet the transference of the name from Elwend to Armenia is not easily explicable. Moreover, the Bible elsewhere seems to point to Armenia as the cradle of the human race. Most modern commentators, therefore, translate eastward, and such certainly is the meaning of the word in Genesis 13:11, where also the versions, excepting our own, render from the east.Land of Shinar.—See on Genesis 10:10. The whole of Chaldea is a level plain, and the soil immensely rich, as it is an alluvial deposit, which still goes on forming at the head of the Persian Gulf, at the rate of a mile in a period estimated at from seventy to thirty years (Rawlinson, Anc. Mon., i. 4). A strip of land 130 miles in breadth has been added to the country, by the deposit of the earth washed down by the Tigris and Euphrates, since the time when Ur of the Chaldees was a great port.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
Verse 2. As they journeyed from the east] Assyria, Mesopotamia, and the country on the borders and beyond the Euphrates, are called the east in the sacred writings. Balaam said that the king of Moab had brought him from the mountains of the east, Numbers 23:7. Now it appears, from Numbers 22:5, that Balaam dwelt at Pethor, on the river Euphrates. And it is very probable that it was from this country that the wise men came to adore Christ; for it is said they came from the east to Jerusalem, Matthew 2:1. Abraham is said to have come from the east to Canaan, Isaiah 41:2; but it is well known that he came from Mesopotamia and Chaldea. Isaiah 46:11, represents Cyrus as coming from the east against Babylon. And the same prophet represents the Syrians as dwelling eastward of Jerusalem, Isaiah 9:12: The Syrians before, מקדם mikkedem, from the east,the same word which Moses uses here. Daniel Daniel 11:44, represents Antiochus as troubled at news received from the east; i.e. of a revolt in the eastern provinces, beyond the Euphrates. Noah and his family, landing after the flood on one of the mountains of Armenia, would doubtless descend and cultivate the valleys: as they increased, they appear to have passed along the banks of the Euphrates, till, at the time specified here, they came to the plains of Shinar, allowed to be the most fertile country in the east.
See Calmet. That Babel was built in the land of Shinar we have the authority of the sacred text to prove; and that Babylon was built in the same country we have the testimony of Eusebius, Praep. Evang., lib. ix., c. 15; and Josephus, Antiq., lib. i., c. 5.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 11:2
2. as they journeyed] We are not told who are here spoken of, nor whence they come. This is an indication that this passage (1–9) is derived from an independent tradition distinct from the thread of the foregoing narrative. Like Genesis 4:17-24, and Genesis 6:1-4, it is probably a fragment of tradition which had no knowledge of the story of the Flood, or of the dispersion of the peoples through the sons of Noah. journeyed] A word denoting the progress of nomads from one place of encampment to another. east] Better, as marg., in the east. The Hebrew word means literally “from the east,” as also LXX ἀπὸἀνατολῶν, and Lat. de oriente, and here probably signifies “in the east,” i.e. on the east side from the writer’s point of view. Some translate “eastward,” as in Genesis 13:11, where Lot, on leaving Abram, is described as journeying “eastward.” But, as we do not know who are referred to, or where they started from, the uncertainty as to the rendering remains. a plain in the land of Shinar] For Shinar, probably denoting the ancient Babylonia, “Sumer and Akkad,” see Genesis 10:10. The word “plain” (biḳ ?‘ah) means the wide open expanse of a river valley. Here it is used of the Euphrates Valley. The expression, “found a plain in the land of Shinar,” does not suggest close knowledge of Babylonia; but rather the general terms of popular and defective information respecting a distant country. Babylonia is one vast plain.
Whedon's Commentary on Genesis 11:2
2. As they journeyed — Literally, in their breaking up (their encampments;) as they struck their tents and slowly moved with flocks and herds from day to day. The word sets forth the leisurely movements of a nomadic company.
Sermons on Genesis 11:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Two Kingdoms - 1 by Anton Bosch | Anton Bosch addresses the misconception among Christians that they can convert the kingdoms of this world into the Kingdom of God, emphasizing that the kingdoms of this world, rule |
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Twee Koninkrijken - 1 (Dutch) by Anton Bosch | Anton Bosch preaches about the misconception among many Christians who believe they can somehow 'convert' worldly kingdoms into God's kingdoms, focusing on influencing governments |
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(Daniel) Purity in the Face of Adversity by David Guzik | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the story of Daniel and his friends in Babylon. The young men were appointed a daily provision of the king's delicacies and wine for three ye |
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A Look at the Book by Denis Lyle | Denis Lyle preaches on the book of Daniel, highlighting the prophetic accuracy and divine inspiration of Daniel's predictions about the rise and fall of empires. The sermon emphasi |
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Genesis #12 Ch. 12-13 the Call of Abraham by Chuck Missler | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the transition from the preface of Genesis to the period of the nation. He emphasizes that God's pattern is always the same: there is a call, |
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(Genesis) Genesis 14:1-4 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on chapter 14 of Genesis, which contains the first war and the introduction of the first priest, Melchizedek. The chapter may seem out of place |
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Bristol Conference 1969 by Carl Armerding | The sermon transcript discusses the story of Abraham and his victory over the kings who had captured his nephew Lot. It emphasizes the danger of complacency and pride after experie |