Understanding γενεά (genea) Strong’s G1074: The Biblical Concept of Generations That Reveals God’s Faithfulness Through Time

Pronunciation Guide: gen-eh-AH (γεν-ε-ά)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1074: The Greek word γενεά (genea) fundamentally refers to a group of individuals descended from a common ancestor, forming a generation or family line. In biblical usage, it often denotes people living during the same time period, typically spanning about 30-40 years. Beyond its chronological meaning, γενεά frequently carries moral or spiritual connotations, describing the character or qualities of a particular group of contemporaries.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Feminine noun
• Root Origin: Derived from γένος (genos, G1085), meaning “race,” “stock,” or “family,” which itself comes from the verb γίνομαι (ginomai, G1096), “to become” or “to be born”
• Language Origin: Classical Greek
• Primary Usage: Historical narratives, genealogies, prophetic discourse, and Messianic teachings
• Semantic Domain: Family relationships, chronology, historical periods

γενεά Morphology:

• γενεά (nominative singular) – a generation
• γενεᾶς (genitive singular) – of a generation
• γενεᾷ (dative singular) – to/for a generation
• γενεάν (accusative singular) – a generation (direct object)
• γενεαί (nominative plural) – generations
• γενεῶν (genitive plural) – of generations
• γενεαῖς (dative plural) – to/for generations
• γενεάς (accusative plural) – generations (direct object)

Origin & History

The concept of γενεά has deep roots in classical Greek literature, where it initially referred to birth, origin, or race. In Homer’s works, γενεά often designated family lineage or ancestry. Herodotus used the term to measure historical time, calculating three generations per century. This chronological understanding developed alongside the familial meaning, establishing γενεά as a unit of measurement for human history.

In the Septuagint (LXX), γενεά translates several Hebrew terms, most notably דּוֹר (dor), which similarly encompasses both familial relationships and temporal periods. This Hebraic influence expanded the term’s semantic range to include moral and spiritual dimensions. The prophets frequently characterized entire generations by their collective spiritual disposition toward יהוה (Yahweh). By the time of Second Temple Judaism, γενεά had acquired significant theological weight, often used to distinguish the present age from the messianic age to come.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Chronological Generation – People born and living during the same time period (approximately 30-40 years)
• Genealogical Descent – A specific step in a family lineage
• Contemporary Group – The entirety of people living at a particular time
• Qualitative Description – A group characterized by particular moral or spiritual qualities
• Historical Period – An age or era distinguished by particular events or characteristics

γενεά Translation Options:

• Generation – Most common translation, appropriate when referring to contemporaries or people of the same age group
• Ancestry/Lineage – Preferred when the context emphasizes genealogical connections
• Age/Era – Better when γενεά refers to a historical period rather than the people within it
• Family/Kind/Type – Suitable when the emphasis is on characteristics or qualities rather than temporal aspects
• Offspring/Descendants – Appropriate in contexts discussing progeny or future generations

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, γενεά appears 43 times, with its first occurrence in Matthew 1:17, where it establishes the chronological framework for Yeshua’s genealogy. Matthew uses the term to divide Israel’s history into three distinct periods of fourteen “generations.” This usage emphasizes יהוה’s sovereign direction of history toward the arrival of the Messiah, demonstrating divine faithfulness across centuries.

The Gospels record Yeshua frequently characterizing His contemporaries as “this generation” (ἡ γενεὰ αὕτη), often with negative connotations, reminiscent of how the prophets described Israel’s unfaithfulness. In Luke 11:29-32, Yeshua refers to His contemporaries as an “evil generation” seeking signs. Yet γενεά also appears in positive contexts, such as Mary’s Magnificat, where she declares that “all generations” will call her blessed (Luke 1:48), emphasizing יהוה’s enduring covenant faithfulness.

• “So all the generations [γενεαὶ] from Abraham to David are fourteen generations [γενεαί], and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations [γενεαί], and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah fourteen generations [γενεαί].” Matthew 1:17
• “This generation [γενεὰ] is an evil generation [γενεά]; it seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29
• “For He has looked upon the humble state of His servant; from now on all generations [γενεαί] will call me blessed.” Luke 1:48
• “Truly, I say to you, this generation [γενεὰ] will not pass away until all these things take place.” Matthew 24:34
• “But to what shall I compare this generation [γενεὰν]? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates.” Matthew 11:16
• “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation [γενεᾷ], fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption.” Acts 13:36
• “…which in other generations [γενεαῖς] was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.” Ephesians 3:5

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish culture, the concept of “generation” carried profound significance beyond mere chronology. The rabbis taught that each generation stood collectively before יהוה, either as faithful or rebellious. This understanding derived from Israel’s wilderness experience, where an entire generation was prevented from entering the Promised Land due to unbelief. The forty-year wilderness period became a paradigmatic “generation” in Jewish thought, establishing a theological framework for understanding divine judgment and redemption.

The Jewish concept of דּוֹר דּוֹרִים (dor dorim, “generation of generations”) expressed continuity through time, emphasizing the transmission of Torah and tradition. Each generation was responsible not only for their own relationship with יהוה but also for passing faith to the next generation. This understanding illuminates Yeshua’s harsh critique of “this generation” in the Gospels—He wasn’t merely criticizing individuals but lamenting a collective failure to recognize the time of divine visitation, breaking the chain of faithful transmission that should have prepared Israel to recognize their Messiah.

Theological Significance

The concept of γενεά reveals the tension between יהוה’s faithfulness across generations and human fickleness within each generation. While individual generations may fail, יהוה’s redemptive purposes advance unhindered through history. This demonstrates His sovereignty over time itself—the same יהוה who created time works within its constraints to accomplish His eternal purposes, particularly through the incarnation of Yeshua in the “fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4).

Yeshua’s frequent use of γενεά highlights the accountability each generation bears for its response to divine revelation. When He declared, “This generation will not pass away until all these things take place” (Matthew 24:34), He emphasized both the imminence of judgment and the specific responsibility of His contemporaries. Yet, the New Testament also proclaims that the Messiah’s work transcends generational boundaries. The “mystery hidden for ages and generations [γενεῶν]” (Colossians 1:26) has now been revealed in Yeshua, offering salvation to all generations—past, present, and future. This reveals יהוה’s heart to redeem not just individuals but the entire human family throughout history.

Personal Application

Understanding γενεά invites us to consider our place in יהוה’s multi-generational story. We inhabit a particular moment in redemptive history, bearing responsibilities unique to our time. Like the “men of Issachar, who understood the times” (1 Chronicles 12:32), we are called to discern the particular challenges and opportunities of our generation. How might the Messiah characterize our generation? What spiritual qualities define our contemporary moment? These questions prompt soul-searching honesty about our collective spiritual condition.

Simultaneously, γενεά reminds us that we are links in a chain extending backward and forward through time. We inherit spiritual legacies from previous generations and shape what future generations will receive. This perspective encourages both gratitude for the faithful who came before us and sobriety about our responsibility to those who will come after. When we worship, pray, serve, and witness, we don’t act in isolation but participate in יהוה’s work across all generations, fulfilling our unique role in His eternal purposes.

Related Words

• γένος (genos, GEH-nos) – Family, race, kind; refers to a broader category of related people than γενεά, emphasizing shared origins rather than contemporaneity. See G1085
• γενεαλογία (genealogia, gen-eh-ah-lo-GEE-ah) – Genealogy, tracing of ancestry; focuses specifically on the record of family descent rather than the generation itself. See G1076
• γέννημα (gennema, GHEN-nay-mah) – Offspring, produce; refers to what is generated or produced, whether literally (fruit) or metaphorically (children). See G1081
• αἰών (aion, ai-OHN) – Age, eternity; a broader time period than γενεά, often referring to an entire epoch or era in יהוה’s redemptive plan. See G165
• συγγενής (syngenes, soong-ghen-ACE) – Relative, kinsman; focuses on familial relationship rather than temporal coincidence. See G4773

Did you Know?

• The average biblical generation span of 40 years correlates remarkably well with modern demographic studies showing the mean age of first-time mothers in ancient Mediterranean societies was around 20 years, with male parenthood often beginning around age 30, creating a natural generational cycle of roughly four decades. This scientific confirmation of biblical chronology demonstrates the historical accuracy and cultural authenticity of Scripture.
• When Yeshua criticized “this generation” in the Gospels, He was drawing on a rich prophetic tradition. The phrase הַדּוֹר הַזֶּה (ha-dor ha-zeh, “this generation”) appears throughout the Tanakh (Old Testament), particularly in Deuteronomy and Psalms, where it often refers to the rebellious wilderness generation. By using this terminology, Yeshua was not merely expressing frustration but deliberately positioning Himself as a prophet in the tradition of Moses, calling His contemporaries to recognize that they stood at a similar crossroads of covenant history.
• The concept of γενεά has profoundly influenced modern Jewish cultural practices. The imperative to transmit faith across generations is embodied in the Passover Seder’s Four Questions, traditionally asked by the youngest child present. This ritual dramatizes the biblical command to explain יהוה’s mighty acts to each new generation, creating an unbroken chain of testimony stretching back to the Exodus. For Messianic believers, this practice takes on additional significance as it parallels Yeshua’s use of the Passover meal to institute the New Covenant, which we are likewise commanded to remember and proclaim “until He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

Remember This

γενεά reminds us that while generations rise and fall, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob remains faithful to His covenant promises, working through the tapestry of human history to bring about His eternal purposes in the Messiah Yeshua.