Genesis 11:1

NETBible

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

NIV ©

Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.

NASB ©

Now the whole earth used the same language and the same words.

NLT ©

At one time the whole world spoke a single language and used the same words.

MSG ©

At one time, the whole Earth spoke the same language.

BBE ©

And all the earth had one language and one tongue.

NRSV ©

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.

NKJV ©

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.

KJV
And the whole earth
<0776>
was of one
<0259>
language
<08193>_,
and of one
<0259>
speech
<01697>_.
{language: Heb. lip.} {speech: Heb. words}
NASB ©
Now the whole
<3605>
earth
<776>
used
<1961>
the same
<259>
language
<8193>
and the same
<259>
words
<1697>
.
LXXM
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
hn
<1510> 
V-IAI-3S
pasa
<3956> 
A-NSF
h
<3588> 
T-NSF
gh
<1065> 
N-NSF
ceilov
<5491> 
N-NSN
en
<1519> 
A-NSN
kai
<2532> 
CONJ
fwnh
<5456> 
N-NSF
mia
<1519> 
A-NSF
pasin
<3956> 
A-DPM
NET [draft] ITL
The whole
<03605>
earth
<0776>
had
<01961>
a common
<0259>
language
<08193>
and a common
<0259>
vocabulary
<01697>
.
HEBREW
Mydxa
<0259>
Myrbdw
<01697>
txa
<0259>
hpv
<08193>
Urah
<0776>
lk
<03605>
yhyw (11:1)
<01961>
NETBible

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

NET Notes

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.

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.