Genesis 11, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1The whole earth was of one language and of one speech.

Classic

1And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

Modern

2As they traveled from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they lived there.

Classic

2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

Modern

3They said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they used tar for mortar.

Classic

3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

Modern

4They said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let’s make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth.”

Classic

4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

Modern

5The LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.

Classic

5And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.

Modern

6The LORD said, “Behold, they are one people, and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do.

Classic

6And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

Modern

7Come, let’s go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”

Classic

7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

Modern

8So the LORD scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.

Classic

8So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

Modern

9Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. From there, the LORD scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.

Classic

9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Modern

10This is the history of the generations of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old when he became the father of Arpachshad two years after the flood.

Classic

10These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

Modern

11Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arpachshad, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

11And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

12Arpachshad lived thirty-five years and became the father of Shelah.

Classic

12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

Modern

13Arpachshad lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Shelah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

14Shelah lived thirty years, and became the father of Eber.

Classic

14And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

Modern

15Shelah lived four hundred three years after he became the father of Eber, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

15And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

16Eber lived thirty-four years, and became the father of Peleg.

Classic

16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:

Modern

17Eber lived four hundred thirty years after he became the father of Peleg, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

17And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

18Peleg lived thirty years, and became the father of Reu.

Classic

18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

Modern

19Peleg lived two hundred nine years after he became the father of Reu, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

19And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

20Reu lived thirty-two years, and became the father of Serug.

Classic

20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

Modern

21Reu lived two hundred seven years after he became the father of Serug, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

21And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

22Serug lived thirty years, and became the father of Nahor.

Classic

22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

Modern

23Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

23And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

24Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and became the father of Terah.

Classic

24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

Modern

25Nahor lived one hundred nineteen years after he became the father of Terah, and became the father of more sons and daughters.

Classic

25And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

Modern

26Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Classic

26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

Modern

27Now this is the history of the generations of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. Haran became the father of Lot.

Classic

27Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

Modern

28Haran died in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldees, while his father Terah was still alive.

Classic

28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees.

Modern

29Abram and Nahor married wives. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milcah, the daughter of Haran, who was also the father of Iscah.

Classic

29And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram’s wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor’s wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

Modern

30Sarai was barren. She had no child.

Classic

30But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

Modern

31Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of Haran, his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife. They went from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan. They came to Haran and lived there.

Classic

31And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

Modern

32The days of Terah were two hundred five years. Terah died in Haran.

Classic

32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.