Genesis 11:1

The Dispersion of the Nations at Babel

11:1 The whole earth ¹  had a common language and a common vocabulary. ² 

Genesis 27:44

27:44 Live with him for a little while ³  until your brother’s rage subsides.

Genesis 29:20

29:20 So Jacob worked for seven years to acquire Rachel. ⁴  But they seemed like only a few days to him ⁵  because his love for her was so great. ⁶ 

[11:1]  ¹ sn The whole earth. Here “earth” is a metonymy of subject, referring to the people who lived in the earth. Genesis 11 begins with everyone speaking a common language, but chap. 10 has the nations arranged by languages. It is part of the narrative art of Genesis to give the explanation of the event after the narration of the event. On this passage see A. P. Ross, “The Dispersion of the Nations in Genesis 11:1-9,” BSac 138 (1981): 119-38.

[11:1]  ² tn Heb “one lip and one [set of] words.” The term “lip” is a metonymy of cause, putting the instrument for the intended effect. They had one language. The term “words” refers to the content of their speech. They had the same vocabulary.

[27:44]  ³ tn Heb “a few days.” Rebekah probably downplays the length of time Jacob will be gone, perhaps to encourage him and assure him that things will settle down soon. She probably expects Esau’s anger to die down quickly. However, Jacob ends up being gone twenty years and he never sees Rebekah again.

[29:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “in exchange for Rachel.”

[29:20]  ⁶ sn But they seemed like only a few days to him. This need not mean that the time passed quickly. More likely it means that the price seemed insignificant when compared to what he was getting in the bargain.

[29:20]  ⁷ tn Heb “because of his love for her.” The words “was so great” are supplied for stylistic reasons.