Generation

Easton, 1897

Genesis 2:4, "These are the generations," means the "history." Genesis 5:1, "The book of the generations," means a family register, or history of Adam. Genesis 37:2, "The generations of Jacob" = the history of Jacob and his descendants. Genesis 7:1, "In this generation" = in this age. Psalms 49:19, "The generation of his fathers" = the dwelling of his fathers, i.e., the grave. Psalms 73:15, "The generation of thy children" = the contemporary race. Isaiah 53:8, "Who shall declare his generation?" = His manner of life who shall declare? or rather = His race, posterity, shall be so numerous that no one shall be able to declare it.

In Matthew 1:17, the word means a succession or series of persons from the same stock. Matthew 3:7, "Generation of vipers" = brood of vipers. Matthew 24:34, "This generation" = the persons then living contemporary with Christ. 1 Peter 2:9, "A chosen generation" = a chosen people.

The Hebrews seem to have reckoned time by the generation. In the time of Abraham a generation was an hundred years, thus: Genesis 15:16, "In the fourth generation" = in four hundred years (comp. Genesis 15:13 and Exodus 12:40). In Deuteronomy 1:35 and Deuteronomy 2:14 a generation is a period of thirty-eight years.