A generation, as per Merriam Webster dictionary, is a group of people born and living contemporaneously. In the Bible, a generation also connotes a period of time associated with particular people and events. In the Old Testament, a generation was either between 40 to 100 years long, corresponding to the age of parents, when their children were of age to reproduce. This is exemplified when the Israelites wandered through the desert for 40 years and waited for the next generation before they could enter the land of Canaan, as per the promises of God.
Also known as ‘Levi-Levi.’ This was a period in history when Jews of the same age and approximately the same socio-economic status would associate with each other. In the Bible, a generation served as an instrument to measure progress and continuity. As seen in 1 Chronicles 24:19, the priests were divided according to the generations of their fathers, with the first generation representing the first-born sons. The Levites began at the age of twenty, while the second and third generations arose after.
The book of Deuteronomy states, “the Lord your God is being merciful to you, as he promised you, and he will keep his covenant and mercy unchanging during a thousand generations to those who love him and obey his commandments.” Here, a generation can be seen to denote a long period of time, although exactly how long is uncertain. In Genesis 15:16, God gives a specific indication of a generational time frame when he tells Abraham that his descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there for 400 years.
In Psalm 90:10, generation is also used to denote a short period of time. Here, Moses writes, “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” By this, among other passages, it is realized that a generation can indeed signify a broad span, either long or short.
In the New Testament, a generation corresponds to the period of time between the birth of a person and their death. This varies depending on how long the individual lives. Jesus famously states that “This is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man” (Matthew 24:34) in reference to a generation lasting one lifetime. It is also seen that if God’s promises are fulfilled in a single lifetime, it will be considered the work of a single generation. It is important to note that there is no fixed time frame for a generation in the Bible – it can refer to both long and short spans of time, depending on its context.
Generation in the Bible for Salvation
The Bible also uses generation metaphorically, as a form of salvation. This is evident in Isaiah 43:4, where God saves a generation of Israelites from slavery. On the other hand, some generations are doomed with the wrath of God as seen in Psalm 78:8, “And not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that did not set its heart aright, and whose spirit was not faithful to God.” God’s judgement is meted out differently to each generation, which signifies His divine power, although still maintaining his laws of justice.
Along with this, there is significance in the link between generations and faith. In Psalm 78:6, Moses expresses his desire for generations to come to have faith in God. This speaks to the importance of upholding the faith from one generation to the next and not to forget the works of God. Deuteronomy 8:2 portrays a generation that has strayed from the path of faith to remember: “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”
Thus, generation in the Bible carries with it several meanings, although it primarily denotes a span of time. It often refers to either the Sabbath or overlapping generations, allowing the next generation to build on the work of their parents or to keep a generational memory alive. Additionally, it may signify a period of time marked by moral or spiritual judgment, or a time of testing faith.
Participating in the Covenant Between God and Man
In the Bible, a generation also symbolizes Covenant, an agreement between God and man in which God promises His blessings and protection, and mankind pledges their obedience to His commands. This Covenant is seen in Malachi 4:6, “And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Here, a generation serves as a connection between one’s ancestors and God, and as an example of how one’s moral stands will affect the coming generations.
It is also alluded to in Psalm 145:4, “One generation shall praise your works to another, and declare your mighty acts.” This line speaks to how the faith of generations will be passed down, never forgotten or neglected. Additionally, one is reminded of the promises of God in Psalm 105:8, “He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded for a thousand generations.” Here, a generation signifies a promise from God, one that will never be forgotten.
In Moses’ Blessing, as recorded in Deuteronomy 33, a generation is also said to be a source of faith and hope. Moses declares that the Lord knows those who are His and those who keep the Covenant, even for the thousandth generation, before bidding the Israelites farewell. Here, the reference to a generation symbolizes the faith that will have to be passed down from one to the next in order for God’s promise to be kept.
These examples allude to the importance of Generations when it comes to Covenant and living according to God’s commands. As a result, when one speaks of a generation in the Bible, one may also be referring to the passing down of faith and hope.
Generations in the Bible Describes Society and its People
The Bible also uses the concept of a generation to describe a society and its people. This is seen in Deuteronomy 32:5, “They have corrupted themselves; their spot is not the spot of his children: they are a perverse and crooked generation.” Here, a generation speaks to the moral state of an era and its inhabitants, whether wise or foolish. In other places, a generation is depicted as a group of people with a shared experience.
In Exodus 1:6-7, a generation is described as a body of people who have had similar experiences of hardship. Moses writes, “And Joseph died and all his brothers, and all that generation. But the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” Here, a generation serves as a reference to a group of people connected by a shared experience, and in this case, the Exodus of the Jews.
In the New Testament, a generation is also used to describe a people. Paul writes, “For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts.” (2 Timothy 3:6) In this passage, Paul is speaking of a generation of people who have been corrupted by the world. The Bible refers to the people during the time of Jesus as “this adulterous and sinful generation” (Mark 8:38) and Paul further reflects on this in Romans 10:19, where he states, “But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses said, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.” Here, a generation refers to the people and their faults, as seen by God.
Generations in the Bible Refers to Descendants
A generation also carries significance when it comes to one’s descendants. This is exemplified in Psalm 145:4, where it is written, “One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.” Here, a generation serves as a link between one’s posterity and their ancestor’s work. It is also seen in Malachi 4:6, where God promises to turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons and of the sons to the fathers, lest He come and smite the earth with a curse. Here, a generation symbolizes the continuity of faith, from one generation to the next.
Additionally, a generation is also used to refer to the offspring of believers. This is seen in Isaiah 60:15, in which God promises a long line of faithful descendants. He states, “Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.” Here, a generation speaks of the continuation of a family, in this case blessed by God.
The Bible similarly speaks of the importance of disciplining children, as seen in Proverbs 13:24, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” The disciplining of children is done for the purpose of upholding the faith and teaching family values, thus ensuring the continuity of a generation. A generation, then, is important for the continuity of faith and life.
Conclusion about Generations in the Bible
In the Bible, a generation is used in various ways. It may be used to signify a period of time, either short or long, such as in Psalm 90:10 or Genesis 15:16. In addition, a generation may refer to a people or a society, as seen in Deuteronomy 32:5 and the New Testament. Lastly, a generation can represent a Covenant between God and man which will endure for many generations, as seen in Malachi 4:6, and the continuation of a family or a faith, as seen in Isaiah 60:15. Thus, it is evident that a generation has significant meaning in the Bible.
