The phrase “These are the generations of…” appears repeatedly in the book of Genesis, often overlooked as just genealogy. Yet, when approached symbolically—as Neville Goddard encourages—it becomes clear that this phrase signals something far more important: a shift in consciousness.
In Hebrew, toledot (תּוֹלְדוֹת) means births, descendants, or unfoldings. So, when scripture declares “These are the generations of…”, it marks the point where a new inner state begins to develop from a previous one.
A Narrative Threshold
Each instance serves as a kind of spiritual hinge—a turning point where one state of being gives way to another. What follows is not just the story of a man, but the symbolic evolution of a particular quality of consciousness.
For example:
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Genesis 2:4 – “These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth…”
— introducing the descent from divine unity into formed experience. -
Genesis 37:2 – “These are the generations of Jacob…”
— shifting focus to Joseph, the dreamer, and the power of imagination.
Joseph: The Generations of Vision
When we reach Genesis 37:2, the Bible says, “These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old…” and immediately launches into Joseph’s dreams.
Why Joseph? Because he is the fruit of Jacob’s persistence—Jacob who wrestled, desired, and would not let go. Joseph represents the imagination awakened, clothed in many colours (many states), envied, thrown into a pit, and yet always rising.
His story unfolds as a symbol of what happens when imagination is disciplined and trusted: it survives rejection, persists in vision, and ultimately rules. Egypt (the external world) bows to it.
Thus, “these are the generations” is not just about family—it is about becoming. It is the record of what emerges when a previous state of awareness gives birth to a new expression of the divine within.