H7256 H7256
fourth generation (in genealogical context)
This adjective denotes members of the fourth generation in a genealogical series, appearing exclusively in the formulaic phrase 'on the third and on the fourth generations' regarding divine visitation of ancestral sin. The expression limits intergenerational punishment to a defined temporal span, contrasting with unlimited covenant love to thousands of generations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Designates those belonging to the fourth generation in the covenant formula concerning God visiting the iniquity of fathers 'on the third and on the fourth' (עַל-שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל-רִבֵּעִים). This phrase appears in Exodus 20:5 (Decalogue), Exodus 34:7 (covenant renewal), Numbers 14:18 (divine patience), and Deuteronomy 5:9 (Decalogue repetition). The precise meaning is debated—whether punishment extends to descendants or simply describes temporal reach within a single lifetime (when four generations might coexist). Multilingual glosses consistently render the ordinal + generation: Spanish 'cuartas generaciones,' French 'quatrième générations,' German 'vierter Geschlechter.' 4×
AR["الرَّابِعِينَ", "الرّابِعينَ", "الْجِيلِ-الرَّابِعِ", "رُبَاعَاتٍ"]·ben["চতুর্থ", "চতুর্থ।"]·DE["vierter-Geschlecht", "vierter-Geschlechter"]·EN["fourth-generation", "fourth-generations"]·FR["quatrième-génération", "quatrième-générations"]·heb["רבעים", "ריבעים"]·HI["चौथी-पीढ़ी"]·ID["generasi-keempat"]·IT["quarto-generazione", "quarto-generazioni"]·jav["turun-kaping-sekawan.", "turunan-kaping-sekawan"]·KO["넷째들", "사대", "사대-의"]·PT["quartas", "quartas-gerações", "quartos"]·RU["-четвёртых", "четвёртого", "четвёртых"]·ES["cuartas", "cuartas-generaciones", "cuartos"]·SW["kizazi-cha-nne"]·TR["dördüncü-nesillere", "dördüncü-nesle", "dördüncüler", "dördüncülerin"]·urd["چوتھی-پشت", "چوتھیوں"]
Related Senses
H0376 1. man, person, human male (2130×)H0251 1. brother (blood sibling) (573×)H0120 1. man, human being (individual/generic) (527×)H0802 1. woman, female person (519×)H0802 2. wife, spouse (255×)H0517 1. mother, female parent (217×)G0435 1. man, male person (202×)G1135 1. woman, adult female (190×)H2233 1. offspring, descendants (172×)H0001 2. ancestor, forefather (146×)H5288 1. Youth, young man (122×)H0269 1. sister (female sibling) (113×)H1755 1. generation, contemporaries (96×)G5043 1. child, offspring (89×)G0444 2. people, humankind (86×)H3206 1. child, boy, youth (86×)H2145 1. male (human being) (79×)G3384 1. mother (77×)H6485a 1. Qal passive participle: numbered ones, enrollment (76×)H1397 1. man (strong/mighty) (65×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [רִבֵּעַ] adj. pertaining to the fourth (in a series);—pl. in phr. עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִים, i.e. those belonging to the 3rd and 4th generations, Ex 20:5 (E) = Dt 5:9; Ex 34:7 (J), Nu 14:18 (JE), cf. 1 supr.