H8029 H8029
third generation; those of the third descent, i.e., grandchildren or great-grandchildren
An adjective derived from the number three, used substantively to mean 'those of the third generation.' It appears in the solemn warning that God visits the iniquity of the fathers upon children to the third and fourth generation (Exod 20:5; 34:7; Num 14:18; Deut 5:9). In a tender counterpoint, Genesis 50:23 records that Joseph saw Ephraim's children 'of the third generation' — his great-grandchildren — born upon his knees. The word thus spans both judgment and blessing across generational time.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Those of the third generation — grandchildren or great-grandchildren, used substantively from an ordinal adjective. In the Decalogue and covenant passages (Exod 20:5; 34:7; Num 14:18; Deut 5:9), it appears in the warning formula 'upon the third and fourth generation,' expressing the long reach of covenantal consequence. Genesis 50:23 uses it tenderly of Joseph's great-grandchildren. Spanish 'tercera generación,' German 'dritten Generation,' and French 'troisième génération' all preserve the generational counting, while English 'third generation' captures both the juridical and familial registers. 5×
AR["الثَّالِثِينَ", "الثّالِثينَ", "الجِيلِ-الثَّالِثِ", "الْجِيلِ-الثَّالِثِ", "ثُلَاثَاتٍ"]·ben["তৃতীয়", "তৃতীয়-পুরুষের"]·DE["der-dritten-Generation", "dritter-Geschlecht", "dritter-Geschlechter"]·EN["third-generation", "third-generations"]·FR["troisième-génération", "troisième-générations"]·heb["שילשים", "שלשים"]·HI["तीसरी", "तीसरी-पीढ़ी", "तीसरी-पीढ़ी-के"]·ID["generasi-ketiga"]·IT["terzo-generazione", "terzo-generazioni"]·jav["generasi-kaping-tiga", "turun-kaping-tiga", "turunan-kaping-tiga"]·KO["삼대", "삼대-의", "삼대와", "삼대의", "셋째들"]·PT["terceiras", "terceiras-gerações", "terceiros"]·RU["-третьих", "третьего", "третьего-поколения", "третьих"]·ES["tercera-generación", "terceras", "terceras-generaciones", "terceros"]·SW["kizazi-cha-tatu", "watoto"]·TR["üçüncü-kuşak", "üçüncü-nesillere", "üçüncü-nesle", "üçüncüler", "üçüncülerin"]·urd["تیسری", "تیسری-نسل-کے", "تیسری-پشت", "تیسریوں"]
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
† II. [שִׁלֵּשׁ] adj. pertaining to the third;—only m.pl. as subst. שִׁלֵּשִׁים those of third generation (grandsons); בְּנֵי שׁ׳ Gn 50:23 (E) sons of those of third generation, i.e. great-grandsons (v. KöSK 1898, 533ff.); עַל־בָּנִים עַל־שׁ׳ וְעַל־רִבֵּעִים Ex 20:5 (E; v. [רִבֵּעַ]) = Dt 5:9; Nu 14:18; cf. Ex 34:7 (both J).