And the LORD said introduces the speech of God, which is actually a thought or reflection. It may be more appropriate in some languages to say “Then the LORD thought to himself” or “The LORD said within his heart.”

For Behold see 1.29 and comments. In some translations an idiomatic exclamation expressing surprise or concern has been used as a suitable equivalent for this Hebrew exclamation; an English example may be “My word! ….”

They are one people: this is the LORD’s observation and one of the reasons for his decision to separate them. The meaning is “They are one race,” or “They are a single tribe,” “… a single ethnic group.” The decision to scatter them, as seen in the words of the LORD, is not primarily because they are building a city and a tower, but because of their singleness of race and language, and because of what they will eventually be able to do.

They have all one language: language is the same word as used in verse 1, and the thought here is practically the same as in Gen 11.1.

And this is only the beginning of what they will do: this refers to the building of the city with its tower. Only the beginning suggests that the LORD’s concern is for the future, the much greater things they will eventually do. We may translate “there is no telling what they will do” or “just think what they may do next.”

Nothing they propose to do will now be impossible for them: this suggests that God sees them as becoming like him and so again passing their human limits, as in 3.5. We may translate “Soon they will be able to do everything they can think of.” New English Bible and Speiser say “Nothing … will be beyond their reach.” One example found in two different translations says “It won’t be long and they will be able to do whatever they like.” Another translation has “If they think of some thing that they want to do, it won’t be taboo to them any more.”

Some translators may find it necessary to shift the various clauses in verse 6 to give a smoother and more natural flow of ideas and to lead into Gen 11.7. We may need to begin verse 6 with this is only the beginning, since this refers to the building of the city; or we may say “See how building this city and tower is only the beginning of what these people will do. They will soon be able to do anything they can imagine. The reason is that they all belong to a single tribe [race, nation] and all speak the same language.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .