Genesis 11 in the early church
195 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 11, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.
Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 14 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 20 · 22 · 24 · 26 · 27 · 28 · 30 · 31 · 32
Genesis 11:1
Now the whole world had one language and a common form of speech.
Genesis 11:2
And as people journeyed eastward, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:2 | Homilies on Jeremiah 12.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| Gen 11:2–4 | Against Celsus 5.30 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| Gen 11:2 | Recognitions 1.30 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 11:2 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.15.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 11:2 | Question 108, section 7 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 11:2 | Letter 21.8 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 11:2 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 2.1.9 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 11:3
And 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:3 | Commentary on the Apostles' Creed 2 · Rufinus of Aquileia | allusion, high confidence | ca. 404 |
| Gen 11:3–4 | Book 3, lines 216–241 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
| Gen 11:3–7 | Book 3, lines 242–264 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
Genesis 11:4
“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.”
Genesis 11:5
Then the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the sons of men were building.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:5 | Dialogue with Trypho 127.1 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 11:5 | On the Trinity 17 · Novatian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 240–250 |
| Gen 11:5–9 | Against Celsus 5.29 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| Gen 11:5 | Prophetic Extracts 1.2 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Gen 11:5 | Homilies on the Psalms 32.8 · Basil of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | ca. 360-378 |
| Gen 11:5 | On the Christian Faith 5.17 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378–380 |
| Gen 11:5–7 | City of God 16.5 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 11:6
And the LORD said, “If they have begun to do this as one people speaking the same language, then nothing they devise will be beyond them.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:6 | Dialogue with Trypho 102.4 · Justin Martyr | quotation, high confidence | ca. 155–160 |
| Gen 11:6–7 | City of God 16.6 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 11:6–7 | Part 1, chapter 8 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 11:7
Come, let Us go down and confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:7 | Oration to the Greeks 30 · Tatian | allusion, low confidence | ca. 165–172 |
| Gen 11:7 | Fragments on Genesis, column 111 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 11:7 | Commentary on John 13.331 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 11:7 | Homilies on Numbers 11.4 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 238–250 (Rufinus's translation ca. 400–410) |
| Gen 11:7 | Homilies on Jeremiah 12.3 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240 |
| Gen 11:7 | Lines 167–190 · Commodian | allusion, high confidence | 3rd century (disputed) |
| Gen 11:7 | On the Trinity 17 · Novatian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 240–250 |
| Gen 11:7 | Against Celsus 4.21 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| Gen 11:7 | Recognitions 2.39 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | Greek original 3rd–4th century; Rufinus's Latin translation before 407 |
| Gen 11:7 | Prophetic Extracts 1.2 · Eusebius of Caesarea | quotation, high confidence | before 325 (probably ca. 310–320) |
| Gen 11:7 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.14.2 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 11:7–9 | Tractates on the Psalms 54.11 · Hilary of Poitiers | allusion, high confidence | ca. 360–367 |
| Gen 11:7 | Question 45, section 1 · Ambrosiaster | quotation, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 11:7 | Question 108, section 6 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 11:7–9 | On the Holy Spirit 29.74 · Basil of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 374–375 |
| Gen 11:7 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 2.1.11 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:7 | On the Christian Faith 5.7 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 378–380 |
| Gen 11:7 | Homilies on Matthew 35.1 · John Chrysostom | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 11:7 | Sermon 271.1 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 391-430 |
| Gen 11:7 | Tractates on the Gospel of John 6.10 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 406–420 |
| Gen 11:7–9 | Book 3, lines 265–284 · Claudius Marius Victor | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-430 |
| Gen 11:7–9 | Sermon 42 · Peter Chrysologus | allusion, high confidence | ca. 425-450 |
| Gen 11:7 | The Conferences 4.12 · John Cassian | allusion, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
Genesis 11:8
So the LORD scattered them from there over the face of all the earth, and they stopped building the city.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:8 | To Autolycus 2.32 · Theophilus of Antioch | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 180–185 |
| Gen 11:8 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.15.1 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 11:8 | Question 108, section 7 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 11:8 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 2.1.12 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
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 11:10
This is the account of Shem. Two years after the flood, when Shem was 100 years old, he became the father of Arphaxad.
Genesis 11:11
And after he had become the father of Arphaxad, Shem lived 500 years and had other sons and daughters.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:11 | Letter 73.5 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 11:11 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.9 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 11:12
When Arphaxad was 35 years old, he became the father of Shelah.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:12 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.7 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, medium confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:12–26 | City of God 16.10 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 11:14
When Shelah was 30 years old, he became the father of Eber.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:14–26 | Refutation of All Heresies 10.30.4 · Hippolytus of Rome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 222–235 |
| Gen 11:14 | Preparation for the Gospel 7.6.2 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 11:14 | Preparation for the Gospel 11.6.39 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 11:14 | Commentary on Philippians 3:5–7 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, high confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Gen 11:14 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.7 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:14 | City of God 18.39 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 11:14–16 | Part 1, chapter 9 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 11:16
When Eber was 34 years old, he became the father of Peleg.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:16 | Question 108, section 2 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 11:16 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 11:17
And after he had become the father of Peleg, Eber lived 430 years and had other sons and daughters.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:17–26 | Part 1, chapter 9 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 11:18
When Peleg was 30 years old, he became the father of Reu.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:18 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 3.1.4 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:18 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:18–26 | Part 1, chapter 10 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 11:20
When Reu was 32 years old, he became the father of Serug.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:20 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.6 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 11:22
When Serug was 30 years old, he became the father of Nahor.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:22 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.5 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 11:24
When Nahor was 29 years old, he became the father of Terah.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:24 | Question 109, section 15 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 11:24 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 3.1.5 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:24 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.5 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
Genesis 11:26
When Terah was 70 years old, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:26 | To Autolycus 3.24 · Theophilus of Antioch | allusion, high confidence | ca. 180–185 |
| Gen 11:26 | Fragments on Genesis, column 111 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 11:26 | Letters to Serapion 4.6 · Athanasius of Alexandria | allusion, low confidence | ca. 357–360 |
| Gen 11:26 | Commentary on Philippians 3:5–7 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 366–384 |
| Gen 11:26 | Question 108, section 2 · Ambrosiaster | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 370–384 |
| Gen 11:26 | Letter 73.5 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 370–419 |
| Gen 11:26 | Book of Rules 6 · Tyconius | allusion, high confidence | ca. 380 |
| Gen 11:26 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 55.6.5 · Epiphanius of Salamis | allusion, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:26–31 | Genesis, lines 401–425 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
| Gen 11:26 | City of God 16.15 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 11:27
This is the account of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:27 | Commentary on John 20.13 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 230–248 |
| Gen 11:27 | Commentary on Matthew 17.33 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 246–248 |
| Gen 11:27 | Against Helvidius 16 · Jerome | allusion, high confidence | ca. 383 |
| Gen 11:27–29 | City of God 16.12 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
Genesis 11:28
During his father Terah’s lifetime, Haran died in his native land, in Ur of the Chaldeans.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:28 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.17.3 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 11:28 | Panarion (Adversus Haereses), Haer. 1-64 3.1.8 · Epiphanius of Salamis | quotation, high confidence | 374-377 |
| Gen 11:28 | City of God 18.2 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, medium confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 11:28 | Part 1, chapter 10 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 445-450 |
Genesis 11:30
But Sarai was barren; she had no children.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:30 | Against Secundinus the Manichaean 22 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | ca. 399 |
| Gen 11:30 | Verses on the Birthday of the Maccabees 151–180 · Hilary of Arles | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 430-449 |
Genesis 11:31
And Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai the wife of Abram, and they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans for the land of Canaan. But when they arrived in Haran, they settled there.
Genesis 11:32
Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Haran.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 11:32 | City of God 16.14 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 11:32 | City of God 16.15 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |
| Gen 11:32 | City of God 16.24 · Augustine of Hippo | quotation, high confidence | 413–426 |