Genesis 2:7, 1:26-27

Genesis 11:1-9        – Bible Study Questions

The Tower of Babel

Paul J. Bucknell

Genesis 11:1-9   – Bible Study Questions

The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

“Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words. And it came about as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and burn them thoroughly.” And they used brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar. And they said, “Come, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name; lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. And the LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them. “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth; and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:1-9, NASB.

  1. Recount the event of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9 the best you can without looking. Then go to the text and see what you missed.

  2. What is said in Genesis 11:1 about the situation on earth before the Tower of Babel? How was the world different then from now in this respect?

  3. List several ways of what happened back then is now reversing itself in our age?

  4. What was the tower (ziggurat) for (Genesis 11:2-4)? Would the Lord be pleased with it? Why or why not?

  5. Why do you think the Lord stopped the building process?

  6. What additional insights do we gain into the former question from Genesis 11:6?

  7. What did the Lord do in Genesis 11:5?

  8. What was the result of God’s exploratory trip (Genesis 11:7-9)?

  9. How did God stop this big construction site?

  10. God is responsible for this pluralistic world because of the way the various cultures are strengthened by their own language barriers. Explain how God’s larger purposes are seen through (1) Acts 2:1-12 and (2) Revelation 5:9.

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Discussion questions on Genesis 11:1-9

  1. How does a people’s own language help create and preserve their culture? How does the learning of multiple languages and living in other cultures breakdown the morals and conservative thinking from their parents?

  2. Do you see the increase of wickedness grow in the past decade? How so?

  3. This world is again becoming a one-world culture fed by the internet. God caused language confusion so that wickedness would be restrained. He observed severe problems occurred when men were united in their evil purposes. His resolve was hold back His judgment by lessening aggravated evil. He caused confusion so that evil could not grow as quickly and bring much harm as before. By delaying God’s judgment (by reducing the scale of evil), the world would be preserved unto the time of Jesus Christ. Why did the Lord want to delay His judgment? See 2 Peter 3:8-9.

  4. How can you and other believers keep yourself pure for the Lord in this increasingly influential world culture?

  5. There are many interesting studies that try to trace the thousands of language today back to a common language. Do a study on Edenic language (the language that was used from the Garden of Eden to the Tower of Babel).

  6. What significance does unity have on the church (Genesis 11:6; Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:32-33)?

  7. How do you personally do in the area of unity? Are you of ‘one heart’ with the believers at church? Why or why not?

The Genesis Index

Genesis Introduction:  Introduction to Genesis |  Outline and Genealogies  |  Genesis' Chronologies (5 & 11) |   Unified Themes of Genesis
Genesis 1-2:3:   The Worship of the Creator |  The Meaning of Creation  |  Creation Lessons on God.  |  God and the World's Religions
Genesis 2:4-17:    Preparation for Man (Genesis 2:4-6) |  Creation of Man (Gen. 2:7, 1:26-27) |  Purpose for Man (Genesis 2:8-17)
Genesis 2:18-25: The Foundations of Marriage
Genesis 3:1-13: The Fall of Man | Temptation (Genesis 3:1-6) | The Fall (Genesis 3:7-13) | Questions 3:1-6 | Questions 3:7-13
Genesis 5-9: Genesis Flood | Genesis 05 Genealogical Chart
Genesis 10-11: Noah's Sons| Questions | History Genesis 10:6-11 | Tower of Babel Genesis 11:1-9 | Questions | Culture Genesis 11
Genesis 12-22:   The Call: Genesis 12.1The Promises: Genesis 12.2-3  |  The Means: Genesis 15The Testing: Genesis 22
Genesis 12-16: Introduction |   Place Detour: Genesis 12:10-20; 20 |  Person Detour: Genesis 12:13-14Procedure Detour: Genesis 16-17
Genesis 14:1-24: Three Steps to Spiritual Growth | #1 Observe | #2 Utlilitize | #3 Secure
Genesis 18-19: Cultural Woes of Sodom | Appearing to Abraham | Visit to Sodom | Debate of Homosexuality and Sodom
Genesis 21-26: Isaac's Model for Godly Marriages
Genesis 27-36: Genesis 27-36 Jacob's Life of Faith
Genesis 25-37: Influence of Sin | God and Man's Sin | Understanding Man's Sin Nature | Understanding Jacob's Sins
Genesis 37-50: Joseph’s Dillusonment | Genesis 42-47:12: The Big Picture | Conclusion | The Reason

 

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