Bible Dictionaries
Generation
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Genesis 2:4 , "These are the generations," means the "history." 5:1, "The book of the generations," means a family register, or history of Adam 37:2, "The generations of Jacob" = the history of Jacob and his descendants 7:1, "In this generation" = in this age. Psalm 49:19 , "The generation of his fathers" = the dwelling of his fathers, i.e., the grave. Psalm 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 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 (Compare verse 13 and Exodus 12:40 ). In Deuteronomy 1:35,2:14 a generation is a period of thirty-eight years.
Copyright Statement
These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.
Bibliography Information
Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Generation'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/generation.html. 1897.