Lexical Summary toledoth: Generations, descendants, genealogies, account Original Word: תּוֹלְדָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Tolad Or toldah {to-led-aw'}; from yalad; (plural only) descent, i.e. Family; (figuratively) history -- birth, generations. see HEBREW yalad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom yalad Definition generations NASB Translation account (1), birth (1), genealogical registration (12), genealogies (3), generations (21), order of their birth (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [תּוֺלֵדוֺת]39 noun feminine plural generations, especially in Genealogies = account of a man and his descendants; — construct תּוֺלְדוֺת Genesis 2:4; Ruth 4:18; תּוֺלְדֹת Genesis 5:1 6t.; תֹּלְדוֺת Genesis 36:1 2t.; תֹּלְדֹת Genesis 25:12; suffix תֹּלְדֹתָיו 1 Chronicles 26:31; תּוֺלְדֹתָם Exodus 28:10 16t.; תֹּלְדוֺתָם 1 Chronicles 5:7 5t.; תֹּלְדֹתָם Exodus 6:16,19; — a. account of men and their descendants Genesis 5:1; Genesis 6:9; Genesis 10:1; Genesis 11:10,27; Genesis 25:12,19; Genesis 36:1,9; Genesis 37:2; Numbers 3:1; Ruth 4:18; 1 Chronicles 1:29; successive Generations (in) of families (מִשְׁמָּחֹת) Genesis 10:32; compare Genesis 25:13, Exodus 6:16,19; Exodus 28:10; genealogical divisions, by parentage Numbers 1:20 (לְמִשְׁמְּחֹתָם ׳ת) + 11 t. Numbers 1; וְאֶחָיו לְמִשְׁמְּחֹתָיו בְּהִתְיִחֶשׂ לתולדוֺתם 1 Chronicles 5:7; compare 1 Chronicles 7:9 and probably also 1 Chronicles 7:2 see Be, 1 Chronicles 7:4; 1 Chronicles 8:28; 1 Chronicles 9:9,34; 1 Chronicles 26:31. b. metaph. תּוֺלְדוֺת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ Genesis 2:4 literally begettings of heaven and earth, i.e. account of heaven and earth and that which proceeded from them (compare DrIntr. 5 n.) In Hexateuch always P. Topical Lexicon Conceptual Scope תּוֹלְדָה (toledah) gathers under one umbrella the ideas of generation, genealogy, family record, historical account and even the unfolding of events that issue from an origin point. Whether designating a blood line, a narrative section, or the outcome of a person’s life, the term consistently accents the continuity of God’s purposes from one age to the next. Distribution of the Term Roughly two-thirds of the thirty-nine occurrences appear in Genesis, where toledah frames the primeval and patriarchal narratives (Genesis 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12-13; 25:19; 36:1; 36:9; 37:2). The remaining occurrences cluster around tribal or royal lists in Numbers, Ruth and 1 Chronicles (Numbers 3:1; Ruth 4:18; 1 Chronicles 1:29-54; 5:1-7; 7:2; 8:28; 9:44, etc.). Each setting underscores covenant continuity—first through the patriarchs, then through Israel’s tribes, and finally through the Davidic line. Structural Role in Genesis Genesis is intentionally segmented by eleven toledoth headings. Each heading introduces a new “account,” functioning as inspired chapter marks that keep the reader’s gaze on the redemptive line. For example, “This is the account of Noah” (Genesis 6:9) introduces the flood narrative, while “This is the account of Terah” (Genesis 11:27) steers attention to Abraham. The device keeps human history tethered to divine promise: “These are the generations of Jacob” (Genesis 37:2) sets the stage for Joseph, whose preservation of Israel anticipates the Exodus. Genealogy and Covenant Faithfulness The appearance of toledah in Numbers 3:1—“These are the generations of Aaron and Moses…”—links priestly service to genealogical legitimacy. Likewise, post-exilic compilers in 1 Chronicles rehearse the toledoth of Israel’s tribes to authenticate land rights, temple service and messianic expectation. The chronicler’s concern that descendants “were enrolled by genealogy” (1 Chronicles 7:2) reflects confidence that God’s covenant promises track along real family lines and verifiable history. Messianic Trajectory The book of Ruth ends with a toledah that jumps from Perez to David (Ruth 4:18-22). This deliberate chain points beyond David to the One described in Matthew 1:1 as “Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Thus, whenever Scripture employs toledah, the reader is being invited to trace the artery through which the Messiah would come. Historical Reliability By embedding salvation history in verifiable family records, Scripture counters ancient mythologies that divorced the gods from space-time events. The toledoth affirm that God acts within measurable history, a conviction that safeguards doctrine and fuels apologetic confidence. Ministry Implications Today 1. Heritage and Identity: Church leaders gain biblical warrant to value corporate memory. Spiritual formation is strengthened when believers see themselves as heirs of a long, unbroken line of faith (Hebrews 11). Eschatological Outlook Isaiah foretells a future in which “their descendants will be known among the nations” (Isaiah 61:9). The toledoth motif thus stretches from Eden to the New Creation, assuring believers that the God who preserved genealogies in the past will likewise preserve His redeemed family forever. Summary תּוֹלְדָה threads through Scripture as a literary marker, a genealogical ledger, and a theological witness. It testifies that history is neither random nor cyclical but purposefully directed by the covenant-keeping God whose promises find their ultimate “Yes” in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). Forms and Transliterations כְּתוֹלְדֹתָֽם׃ כתולדתם׃ לְתֹ֣לְדֹתָ֔ם לְתֹ֣לְדוֹתָ֔ם לְתֹלְדֹתָ֖יו לְתֹלְדֹתָֽם׃ לְתֹלְדוֹתָ֑ם לְתֹלְדוֹתָ֖ם לְתֹלְדוֹתָ֗ם לְתֹלְדוֹתָ֜ם לְתוֹלְדֹתָ֑ם לְתוֹלְדֹתָ֖ם לתולדתם לתלדותם לתלדתיו לתלדתם לתלדתם׃ תֹּלְד֣וֹת תֹּלְד֥וֹת תֹּלְדֹ֥ת תֹּלְדוֹתָ֑ם תּוֹלְד֣וֹת תּוֹלְדֹ֖ת תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת תּוֹלְדֹ֥ת תּוֹלְדֹתָ֥ם תוֹלְד֧וֹת תולדות תולדת תולדתם תלדות תלדותם תלדת kə·ṯō·wl·ḏō·ṯām ketoldoTam kəṯōwlḏōṯām lə·ṯō·lə·ḏō·ṯām lə·ṯō·lə·ḏō·ṯāw lə·ṯō·lə·ḏō·w·ṯām lə·ṯō·wl·ḏō·ṯām letoldoTam leToledoTam ləṯōləḏōṯām letoledoTav ləṯōləḏōṯāw ləṯōləḏōwṯām ləṯōwlḏōṯām tō·lə·ḏō·w·ṯām tō·lə·ḏō·wṯ tō·lə·ḏōṯ tō·wl·ḏō·ṯām tō·wl·ḏō·wṯ ṯō·wl·ḏō·wṯ tō·wl·ḏōṯ tolDot toldoTam toleDot tōləḏōṯ toledoTam tōləḏōwṯ tōləḏōwṯām tōwlḏōṯ tōwlḏōṯām tōwlḏōwṯ ṯōwlḏōwṯLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 2:4 HEB: אֵ֣לֶּה תוֹלְד֧וֹת הַשָּׁמַ֛יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ NAS: This is the account of the heavens KJV: These [are] the generations of the heavens INT: This is the account of the heavens and the earth Genesis 5:1 Genesis 6:9 Genesis 10:1 Genesis 10:32 Genesis 11:10 Genesis 11:27 Genesis 25:12 Genesis 25:13 Genesis 25:19 Genesis 36:1 Genesis 36:9 Genesis 37:2 Exodus 6:16 Exodus 6:19 Exodus 28:10 Numbers 1:20 Numbers 1:22 Numbers 1:24 Numbers 1:26 Numbers 1:28 Numbers 1:30 Numbers 1:32 Numbers 1:34 Numbers 1:36 39 Occurrences |
    |