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H8435 · Hebrew · Old Testament
תּוֹלְדוֹת
toledoth
Noun, feminine
generations, records, history, birth narrative

Definition

The recurring structural phrase in Genesis: 'These are the toledoth of...' — introducing each major section. Literally 'begettings' or 'what was generated,' it organizes the book around origins and outcomes.

Usage & Theological Significance

The phrase 'these are the generations of' appears 11 times in Genesis, structuring the book. Each toledoth section recounts what flowed from a key person or event — a theology of origins and consequences.

Key Bible Verses

Genesis 2:4 These are the generations [toledoth] of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations [toledoth] of Adam.
Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy [genesis] of Jesus Christ, the son of David.

Word Study

Matthew 1:1's 'book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ' deliberately echoes the Genesis toledoth formula. Jesus is the culminating 'generation' — what all the preceding begettings were pointing toward.

Related Words

External Resources

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