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NASB | Genesis 15:16 "Then in the fourth generation they will return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 15:16 "Then in the fourth generation your descendants shall return here [to Canaan, the land of promise], for the wickedness and guilt of the Amorites is not yet complete (finished)." [Josh 24:15] |
Bible Question: How long is a Biblical Generation ? |
Bible Answer: Hi Prov, Welcome to the Forum. It is not easy to answer your question because the concept changed over the centuries. Thus in Genesis 15 a generation was 100 years. We know this because they would be strangers in the land of Egypt for 400 years, and would return in the fourth generation (Gen 15.13, 16). But forty years was the period in which the wilderness generation would be wiped out, which suggests that by then a generation was seen as forty years. The genealogy of Joshua confirms this for it went as follows (1 Chron 7.22-27): Joseph, Ephraim, Beriah, Rephah, Resheph (Telah), Tahan, Ladan, Ammihud, Elishama, Nun, Joshua. So from Joseph to Joshua there were 11 generations inclusive. At 40 years per generation that would give us 400 years, agreeing with Genesis 15. This would serve to confirm that a generation came to be seen as 40 years. This idea was the used to indicate periods of time, as reference was made of 'to a thousand generations' (e.g. Deut 7.9), which was not of course literal but indicated a long period of time. Moses and Aaron's genealogy was clearly foreshortened giving tribal patriarch (Levi), head of sub-tribe (Kohath), head of clan (Amram), head of family (Aaron). Best wishes. |