Biblical definition of a "generation"

[Trust & Obey]

What is the biblical definition of a "generation?"

For example, it is widely believed that the prophecy of the fig tree in Luke 21 is figurative of the nation Israel due to OT references.

Luk 21:29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

Luk 21:30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

Luk 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

Luk 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

People interpret this to be in reference to the reestablishment of Israel to her land. Jesus said that "this generation" would not pass away until all else is fulfilled. So, how close are we? How long is a "generation?" I've heard some say 40 years, some 70 years, etc. But, how do we know? Or can we know?

As I began reading through the gospel of Matthew this morning something jumped out at me that had previously escaped my attention.

Mat 1:17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

I find the working of God to be so precise. God is the greatest Mathematician of all time!

If we take the number of generations given in the verse above (14 X 3) and divide it by the length of time since Abraham (what, about 6,000 years, give or take a few hundred), we can come up with a formula.

6,000 - (14 X 3) = Approx 143 yrs.

I'm not "setting dates" or guessing "the day or hour," I just thought this was an interesting thing in Matt 1:7. So, it looks like the GT took take as long as another 100 years to kick off.

Oh well, I guess we gotta be ready for the long haul.

[apothanein kerdos]

That is a highly debatable passage.

For one, a generation can be 20, 40, 60, or 80 years. Secondly, we don't know if Jesus is refering to the rebirth of Israel becomming a nation in 1948, their capture of Jerusalem in 1967, or their rebirth in Jesus Christ, which has yet to come.

[Guest NewPilgrim]

a few hundred is big error margin isnt it?

also, the time scale you used stops at Christ; Abraham to Christ is estimated at about 3,500 to 4000 years

if it was 3000 years then a generation by your formula would be 3500 % 42 (thats 3x14) which would make a generation of 83.3 years

if it was 4000 years from Abraham to Christ then 4000 % 42 = 95.2

just that premis alone has a generational margin of nearly 12 years...thats a long time to hang around waiting.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

In my opinion a biblical generation always refers loosely to an average lifetime, the longest measure of which would be the birth to the death of the oldest person in that generation. so a contemporary generation would be at most about 100 years. In Yeshua's day it would have been around 60 or 70 years

The preceeding verses to Matt 1:17 actually list the genealogies, the "14 generations" basically summarises what youre looking at and establishes that from Father to Son is one generation. Just as Grandfather to grandson would be two generations, regardless of how long any of them should live.

Edited July 3, 2005 by NewPilgrim

[Trust & Obey]

Thanks, Pilgrim, for adding that. Don't worry, I haven't a bubble to burst so I appreciate your input. That wasn't a really thought out thing... I literally started this thread in the middle of my devotional reading this morning. You're right, 4,000 years to Christ, 2,000 years Church age... 1,000 Millenial reign.

God bless.

[Guest NewPilgrim]

I love ur way of thinking though Trust, if there was a way to get an exact measurement of a generation, it would be to add up the ages of each generation given in Matt1 and then divide by 42. They used it wo work out the age of the earth, why not the length of a generation?

[Leonard]

Look at Genesis 15:13 where God tells Abram his descendents will be captives in Egypt for '400 years', and then in verse 16 proclaims '...but in the fourth generation' He would bring them out. Soooooo, here at least, a 'generation' is about 100 years!

[Trust & Obey]

Look at Genesis 15:13 where God tells Abram his descendents will be captives in Egypt for '400 years', and then in verse 16 proclaims '...but in the fourth generation' He would bring them out.  Soooooo, here at least, a 'generation' is about 100 years!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's pretty close to the 95 years from 4,000/42=95.

So, if this is true, the current age will end before 2050. Personally, I believe that because Jesus said, "when you begin to see these things happen look up, for your redemption draws near."

[Guest Zayit]

Also consider that it can't be more than 120 years as the L-RD set this in Genesis 6:3

[Trust & Obey]

Also consider that it can't be more than 120 years as the L-RD set this in Genesis 6:3

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Zayit, the 120 years was the remaining time that God gave the world between the command to Noah and the flood. God was saying, "the world has 120 years before judgment comes." He was not saying "a man will live no longer than 120 years."

We have many, many examples of people who live beyond 120 years old.

[Guest Zayit]

Also consider that it can't be more than 120 years as the L-RD set this in Genesis 6:3

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Zayit, the 120 years was the remaining time that God gave the world between the command to Noah and the flood. God was saying, "the world has 120 years before judgment comes." He was not saying "a man will live no longer than 120 years."

We have many, many examples of people who live beyond 120 years old.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It doesn't really look that way to me??

6:3

ADONAI said, "My Spirit will not live in human beings forever, for they too are flesh; therefore their life span is to be 120 years."

5:32 After Noah was five hundred years old, Noah became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

7:6 Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters came upon the earth.

7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened. 12 And rain fell upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

7:13 In the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried from off the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.

7:28 After the flood Noah lived three hundred and fifty years. 29 All the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.

I don't see where you are getting 120 from when G-d called Noah until the flood?