The Hebrew word elleh (אֵלֶּה) is the common plural demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these' or 'those.' It is used extensively throughout the Old Testament to point to specific things, people, or groups.
Though grammatically simple, elleh carries theological weight in its context. The repeated phrase elleh toledot — 'these are the generations of...' — structures the entire book of Genesis as a series of purposeful histories, each one moving the story of redemption forward. 'These are the generations' frames not just family trees but the unfolding of God's covenant promise through chosen lines. The word also appears in Deuteronomy's repeated 'these are the commandments' — God's specific, particular words to His particular people.