### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **tôwlᵉdâh**, represented by `{{H8435}}`, is derived from the root `{{H3205}}` **yâlad** (to bear young). It appears 39 times in 39 unique verses and is a key term for understanding **descent**, **family**, and **history**. Its meaning is often translated as **generations**, but it also encompasses the concepts of birth and the historical accounts that flow from a person or event.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H8435}}` is frequently used as a structural marker to introduce a new historical account or genealogical record. This is most prominent in Genesis, where the phrase "These are the **generations** of..." introduces the lineage of key figures like Adam [[Genesis 5:1]], Noah [[Genesis 6:9]], the sons of Noah [[Genesis 10:1]], and Jacob [[Genesis 37:2]]. Figuratively, it is even applied to the creation account itself, described as "the **generations** of the heavens and of the earth" [[Genesis 2:4]]. In Numbers, the term is used systematically to organize the census of the Israelite tribes "by their **generations**, after their families, by the house of their fathers" [[Numbers 1:20]]. A specific application links the word directly to birth order, as seen in the instruction for the priests' stones to have names inscribed "according to their **birth**" [[Exodus 28:10]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the concepts of lineage and history:
* `{{H3205}}` **yâlad** (to bear young; causatively, to beget): As the root of `{{H8435}}`, this word signifies the act of birth or begetting that produces generations. It is often found in the genealogical narratives introduced by **tôwlᵉdâh**, such as in the statement, "Pharez **begat** Hezron" [[Ruth 4:18]].
* `{{H4940}}` **mishpâchâh** (a family, i.e. circle of relatives): This term frequently appears alongside `{{H8435}}` in census lists to further define the social structure, specifying lineage "after their **families**" [[Numbers 1:22]]. It denotes the immediate circle of relatives within the broader generations.
* `{{H1755}}` **dôwr** (an age or generation): While also meaning generation, this word focuses more on a period of time or an age. It is used alongside `{{H8435}}` in [[Genesis 6:9]], which states Noah was perfect in his **generations**, referring to the age in which he lived.
* `{{H3187}}` **yâchas** (to enroll by pedigree): This verb describes the action of formally recording a lineage. It is explicitly linked to `{{H8435}}` in Chronicles, where brethren are reckoned by the "**genealogy** of their **generations**" [[1 Chronicles 5:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H8435}}` is significant, providing a framework for redemptive history.
* **Historical Structure:** The repeated use of "These are the **generations** of..." serves as the primary literary structure for the book of Genesis, organizing history from the creation of the cosmos [[Genesis 2:4]] through the line of the patriarchs.
* **Genealogical Order:** The term underscores the importance of lineage and order in God's plan. This is evident in the detailed genealogies of the patriarchs [[Genesis 11:27]] and the meticulous organization of Israel's tribes for the census and for war [[Numbers 1:24]].
* **Narrative Unfolding:** **Tôwlᵉdâh** signifies more than a static list of names; it introduces the unfolding story or history originating from an ancestor. The account of "the **generations** of Jacob" [[Genesis 37:2]] is not a simple genealogy but the beginning of the expansive narrative of Joseph and his brothers.
### Summary
In summary, `{{H8435}}` is a cornerstone of biblical historiography. It functions as far more than a simple word for "generations," serving as a literary key that unlocks the structure of Genesis and organizes the people of Israel. From the figurative history of the heavens and earth to the literal descent of families and tribes, **tôwlᵉdâh** defines identity, establishes order, and chronicles the unfolding narrative of God's work through specific lineages.
TRV