### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **geneá**, represented by `{{G1074}}`, is a term for **a generation**. It appears **42 times** across **37 unique verses** in the Bible. Its base definition includes not just a generation of people but also an age, a period of time, or even a nation defined by its collective character.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G1074}}` is used to mark the passage of time and define specific groups of people. It is foundational to establishing lineage, as seen in Matthew's accounting of the **generations** from Abraham to David and from David to Christ [[Matthew 1:17]]. The term is frequently used by Jesus to characterize the people of his time, often negatively, such as when he refers to them as a "faithless and perverse **generation**" [[Matthew 17:17]] or a "wicked and adulterous **generation**" [[Matthew 16:4]]. It can also signify an enduring period, as when God's mercy is declared to be "from **generation** to **generation**" [[Luke 1:50]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words provide deeper context for the concept of a generation or age:
* `{{G165}}` **aiṓn** (an age; by extension, perpetuity): This word often appears alongside `{{G1074}}` to denote vast stretches of time. It is used in contexts describing things hidden "from **ages** and from **generations**" [[Colossians 1:26]].
* `{{G1294}}` **diastréphō** (to distort, misinterpret, or corrupt): This term is used to describe the moral character of a specific **generation**, as seen in the phrase "faithless and **perverse** generation" [[Matthew 17:17]].
* `{{G4646}}` **skoliós** (warped; figuratively, perverse): Similar to `{{G1294}}`, this word describes the crooked nature of a particular group of people, such as the call to be saved from "this **untoward** generation" [[Acts 2:40]].
* `{{G1484}}` **éthnos** (a race, tribe, nation): This word is used in [[Philippians 2:15]], where `{{G1074}}` is translated as **nation**, highlighting the idea of a people group with shared characteristics.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1074}}` is significant, often carrying a tone of judgment or historical demarcation.
* **Historical Marker:** The term structures salvation history by segmenting time into distinct periods of people. This is most evident in the genealogy of Jesus, which is organized by sets of fourteen **generations** [[Matthew 1:17]].
* **Collective Character:** `{{G1074}}` is frequently used to assign a corporate moral identity to the people of an era. The descriptions of "this **generation**" as "evil" [[Luke 11:29]], "sinful" [[Mark 8:38]], and "faithless" [[Mark 9:19]] serve as a judgment on their collective unbelief.
* **A Call to Distinction:** The term is used to create a contrast between the people of God and the surrounding culture. Believers are called to be "blameless and harmless" in the midst of a "crooked and perverse **nation** [geneá]" [[Philippians 2:15]], urging a separation from the world's character.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1074}}` **geneá** functions as more than a simple reference to a group of people born in the same period. It is a critical term used to frame historical periods, define the collective moral and spiritual character of a people, and deliver theological judgment. From marking the lineage of Christ to describing the opposition he faced, **geneá** captures the essence of an age and its relationship with God.
TRV