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genesis_11:1

Genesis 11:1

Hebrew
וַֽיְהִ֥יplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigהָיָה

hebrew

The word הָיָה means “to exist” or “to be” or “to become” or “to come into being” and occurs 3561 times in the Old Testament.

This is the foundational verb of existence, identity, becoming and occurrence.

* It is used in the creation narrative of Genesis 1, represented by the English words Genesis 1:3Exodus 3:12Ruth 1:1Isaiah 2:2
כָל הָאָ֖רֶץplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigאֶרֶץ

hebrew

Meaning:

* Earth (e.g. Genesis 1:1) or world * Land * Countries or country

The word אֶרֶץ can designate the whole of planet earth, or the inhabitable world or the national territory or ground.

When coupled with heavens (שָׁמַיִם), the phrase indicates the entire created order.Genesis 12:1
שָׂפָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִ֖ים אֲחָדִֽים
ESV
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.
NIV
Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.
NLT
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words.
LXX
καὶplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigκαί

greek

Meaning

* And * Also * Both * Even * Too * So

Is a conjunction that connects single words or terms or sentences. IT is most frequently translated as “and”
ἦνplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigεἰμί

greek

εἰμί is the first person singular verb for “to be” (εἶναι [the infinitive form] = “to be”).

It an irregular verb, and, like English, changes significantly between person and tense. For example εἰμί is the word for am and ἦν is the word for was, e.g.
πᾶσαplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigπᾶς

greek

Meaning

* All * Every * The whole

Adjective.

Usage in the New Testament

The sense of πᾶς depends on whether it modifies a singular or plural noun, and whether that noun is countable or uncountable.

With singular countable nouns → "every" John 1:9John 3:16Romans 5:12Matthew 28:19Colossians 1:16Romans 3:23Romans 3:23John 3:16Colossians 1:17
plugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_big

greek

The definite article
γῆplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigγῆ

Meaning:

* Soil or ground (e.g. Matthew 13:5) * Land (e.g. Luke 4:5) * Country * Earth (e.g. Matthew 5:5)

Feminine noun. Connected to the English words “ground”, “geometry” and “geology”.

It occurs throughout the LXX and the New Testament (approximately 250 times in the New Testament) and its meaning varies subtly on context, for example, in the LXX:Genesis 1:1Genesis 2:7Genesis 12:1
χεῖλος ἕν καὶplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigκαί

greek

Meaning

* And * Also * Both * Even * Too * So

Is a conjunction that connects single words or terms or sentences. IT is most frequently translated as “and”
φωνὴ μία πᾶσινplugin-autotooltip__default plugin-autotooltip_bigπᾶς

greek

Meaning

* All * Every * The whole

Adjective.

Usage in the New Testament

The sense of πᾶς depends on whether it modifies a singular or plural noun, and whether that noun is countable or uncountable.

With singular countable nouns → "every" John 1:9John 3:16Romans 5:12Matthew 28:19Colossians 1:16Romans 3:23Romans 3:23John 3:16Colossians 1:17
KJV
And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

Genesis 10:32 ← Genesis 11:1 → Genesis 11:2

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