This verse tells us that all people spoke one language. But chapter 10 tells us that people spoke many languages. (See Genesis 10:5; Genesis 10:20; Genesis 10:31.) And chapter 10 is before chapter 11. There are two possible explanations for this.

• Genesis usually tells us things in the order that they happened. But sometimes it does not do this. Perhaps this verse tells us about an earlier time.

• Perhaps people spoke different languages. But there was also one language that they all understood. So they all had one language in addition to their own languages. That is often true nowadays. For example, some people speak English in addition to their own language. And if they meet people with a different language, they speak English. And so they understand each other.

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