This verse is the focus or high point of the story, because it explains how the abandoned project got its name.

Therefore translates the Hebrew expression that regularly marks the conclusion of a story of this type. It indicates that there is a connection between the name of the place and what happened in the story. In some languages this may have to be rendered by a full clause, and that will most naturally be the clause that follows the naming, because … the LORD confused. We can translate “That city was called Babel, because the LORD confused the people’s language there.” Good News Translation simply omits Therefore as redundant and leaves the clauses in their original order. Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, however, has reordered all the clauses in this verse to give a better flow of thought, and this model may serve some languages: “In this place the Lord confused the language of all the earth’s inhabitants, and from there he dispersed them throughout the world. That is why the city is called Babel.”

Its refers to the city. Most English translations use a passive construction, its name was called, but in many languages some adjustment will be required to say, for example, “it had the name of,” “everyone called the city by the name,” “everyone knew its name to be….” One translation simply says “The name of that city [is] Babylon, because there….”

Babel, because …: the name Babel sounds slightly like Hebrew balal, the verb translated “confuse,” “mix up” (Good News Translation) in Gen 11.7. Babel is the Hebrew form of the name of the city of Babylon. See comments on 10.10. Because Babel has become attached by tradition to the tower of Babel, and the reference here is to the city, Good News Translation has attempted to make this reference clear by saying “The city was called Babylon, because….” Some translators may wish to retain the Hebrew form of the name, because it is already well-known in connection with this story. Others will prefer to follow Good News Translation in using the same form as is used for the city in the rest of the Bible.

Because there the LORD confused …: because introduces what follows as a clause of reason. There, the same as in verse 8, refers to the place where the people were building the city. Confused is Hebrew balal, as in Gen 11.7. New English Bible says “The LORD made a babble…,” in which English “babble” can refer to incoherent or foolish chatter, or even baby talk. In most languages it will not be possible to reproduce anything like the play on words that is in the Hebrew, and a footnote such as that in Good News Translation will be required to explain it for readers.

The language of all the earth: language is the same word as used in verses 1, 6, 7. Of all the earth may also be rendered “of all the people on earth,” “the language that everyone spoke,” or “the speech of everyone.”

And … the LORD scattered them: this clause is nearly equivalent to the first part of Gen 11.8.

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 .