To “generate” something is to create it, and that idea underpins the meaning of a “generation” of people -- it is a group that was created together, at roughly the same time, from the same parents or group of parents. On a spiritual level, we can be “generators” by using what we know from the Lord to create ideas of how to be good, and also to create good actions based on those ideas -- what the Writings call things of faith and things of charity. In general, then, a “generation” in the Bible represents the spiritual ideas and activities created by a church -- with a “church” being anything from an individual believer to a group lasting thousands of years. “Generation” can also pick up specific meanings from context. For instance, when the Bible says the people of Israel were captive in Egypt for four generations, it means a state of temptation based on the meaning of “four.” When paired with “eternity,” meanwhile, “generations” represents ideas and actions surrounding love of serving others, with “eternity” representing things springing from love of the Lord. Finally, “generations and generations” is used in the Bible to represent forever.

4668. 'These are the generations of Jacob' means the things that follow. This is clear from the meaning of 'generations' as derivatives of the things which constitute the Church - truth derived from good, or faith from love - for no other generations are meant in the internal sense of the Word. These are also the subject in what follows, and this is why it is said that 'the generations of Jacob' means the things which follow. That things like these are meant by 'generations' is also evident from the fact that in what follows no subsequent generations are recorded. Instead Joseph, his dreams, his brothers' designs against him are described, and lastly the carrying away of him into Egypt. As regards 'generations' meaning derivatives of the kinds of things mentioned above, see 1145, 1255, 1330, 3263, 3279, 3860, 3868, 4070.