Up to this time all men had spoken the same language; now those that could understand one another's speech united in companies; some went one way, and some another. "The Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth." This dispersion was the means of peopling the earth, and thus the Lord's purpose was accomplished through the very means that men had employed to prevent its fulfillment.

Indtil da havde alle mennesker talt samme sprog. Nu samledes de, som forstod hinanden, i grupper. Nogle drog den ene vej, andre den anden. "Da spredte Herren dem fra det sted ud over hele jorden." Adspredelsen var et middel til at befolke jorden, og på denne måde blev Herrens hensigt nået netop ved de midler, hvorved menneskene havde forsøgt at forhindre dens opfyldelse.