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jen-ẽr-ā´shun (Latin generatio, from genero, “begetâ€):
(1) The translation (a) of דּור, doÌ„r, “circle,†“generation,†hence, “age,†“period,†“cycleâ€: “many generations†(); (b) The people of any particular period or those born about the same time: “Righteous before me in this generation†(); “four generations†(); (c) The people of a particular class or sort, with some implied reference to hereditary quality; the wicked (; ); the righteous (; ).
(2) תּולדות, tōledhōth, “births,†hence (a) an account of a man and his descendants: “The book of the generations of Adam†(); (b) successive families: “The families of the sons of Noah, after their generations†(); (c) genealogical divisions: “The children of Reuben ... their generations, by their families†(); (d) figurative, of the origin and early history of created things: “The generations of the heavens and of the earth†().
(3) γενεαÌ, geneaÌ, “a begetting,†“birth,†“nativity,†therefore (a) The successive members of a genealogy: “All the generations from Abraham unto David†(); (b) a race, or class, distinguished by common characteristics, always (in the New Testament) bad: “Faithless and perverse generation†(); (c) The people of a period: “This generation shall not pass away†(); (d) an age (the average lifetime, 33 years): “Hid for (Greek “from theâ€) ages and (from the) generations†(). The term is also by a figurative transference of thought applied to duration in eternity: “Unto all generations for ever and ever†() (Greek “all the generations of the age of the agesâ€).
(4) γεÌνεσις, geÌnesis, “source,†“originâ€: “The book of the generation of Jesus Christ†(; the American Revised Version, margin “The genealogy of Jesus Christâ€).
(5) γεÌννημα, geÌnneÌ„ma, “offspring,†“progenyâ€; figurative: “O generation of vipers†( the King James Version).
(6) γεÌνος, geÌnos, “stock,†“race,†in this case spiritual: “But ye are a chosen generation†(; the American Standard Revised Version “an elect raceâ€).