דּוֹר (dor)

The Hebrew noun dor refers to a generation, encompassing both a span of time and the people who live within it. Derived from a root meaning to turn or revolve, it originally evoked the idea of a cycle or revolution of years. This etymology highlights the transient nature of human life, contrasting the fleeting existence of individuals with the continuity of history.

In Scripture, dor appears frequently in poetic books like Psalms and prophetic texts such as Isaiah. It often describes a specific group characterized by shared traits, as seen when Judges 2:10 notes that "another generation" arose after Joshua who did not know the Lord. The phrase dor vador, meaning "from generation to generation," is a common biblical idiom used to emphasize the enduring nature of God’s covenant and faithfulness across time.

While primarily denoting people or periods, the word can also mean dwelling or habitation in certain contexts. This secondary sense connects the community with its place, suggesting that a generation is not just a temporal unit but a lived reality within a specific setting. Translators typically render it as "generation," capturing both the chronological and social dimensions of the term.