How many times is generation mentioned in the Bible?
The word generation appears 107 times in the King James Version, in 92 verses. Counting every form (generation, generations), it appears 225 times in 206 verses across 27 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses generation 96 times (225 with every form).
Generation in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of generation counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| generation | 107 | 96 |
| generations | 118 | 129 |
| Total | 225 | 225 |
Which books mention generation most
Generation appears in 27 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Psalms has the most (36), then Numbers (23) and Exodus (22).
Also in: Judges (3), Acts (3), Joshua (2), 2 Kings (2), Ecclesiastes (2), Lamentations (2), Ruth (1), Esther (1), Job (1), Colossians (1), Hebrews (1), 1 Peter (1).
First and last mention of generation
These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
The verse that uses it most is Matthew 1:17, 4 times:
So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.
Where the two translations differ
7 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 9 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
Genesis 25:13: counted in the KJV only
And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
Matthew 1:1: counted in the KJV only
The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
Numbers 9:10: counted in the World English Bible only
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
“Say to the children of Israel, ‘If any man of you or of your generations is unclean by reason of a dead body, or is on a journey far away, he shall still keep the Passover to Yahweh.
Job 8:8: counted in the World English Bible only
For enquire, I pray thee, of the former age, and prepare thyself to the search of their fathers:
“Please inquire of past generations. Find out about the learning of their fathers.
Verses with generation on our topic pages
12 verses that use generation in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
Know therefore that Yahweh your God himself is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness with them who love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations,
On: God's Love, Faithfulness
This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to Yahweh: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.
On: Communion
you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me,
On: Idolatry
“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.
On: Alcohol
Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.
For Yahweh is good. His loving kindness endures forever, his faithfulness to all generations.
On: Gratitude
Your faithfulness is to all generations. You have established the earth, and it remains.
On: Faithfulness
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.
On: Faithfulness
Awake, awake, put on strength, arm of Yahweh! Awake, as in the days of old, the generations of ancient times. Isn’t it you who cut Rahab in pieces, who pierced the monster?
Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”
On: Demons
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
On: Mothers
to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
On: Mental Health
Common questions
How many times is generation in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 182 of the 225 uses are in the Old Testament and 43 in the New Testament. Generation appears in 27 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Psalms has the most (36), then Numbers (23) and Exodus (22).
Where is generation first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Genesis 2:4: "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens," The last is 1 Peter 2:9.
More word counts: image, brass, valley, cattle, voice, Micaiah, Eliakim, Hoshea, or all 680 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-26.