GENERATION

Gen. 2:4, Gen. 2: "These are the generations," means the "history."5:1, 5: "The book of the generations," means a family register, or history of 37:2, 37: "The generations of Jacob" = the history of Jacob and his 7:1, 7: "In this generation" = in this age. Psa 49:19, Psa 49: "The generation of his fathers" = the dwelling of his fathers, i.e., the grave. Psa 73:15, Psa 73: "The generation of thy children" = the contemporary race. Isa. 53:8, Isa. 53: "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 Matt. 1:17, Matt. 1: the word means a succession or series of persons from the same stock. Matt. 3:7, Matt. 3: "Generation of vipers" = brood of 24:34, 24: "This generation" = the persons then living contemporary with Christ. 1-Pet 2:9, 1-Pet 2: "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: Gen. 15:16, Gen. 15: "In the fourth generation" = in four hundred years (comp. verse 13 and Exo 12:40). In Deut. 1:35 2:14 a generation is a period of thirty-eight years.