Heredity, in the biblical context, refers to the transmission of traits, characteristics, and spiritual legacies from one generation to another. The Bible addresses heredity in various ways, emphasizing both physical and spiritual inheritance.

Genesis 1:27-28 · "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that crawls upon the earth.'" This passage highlights the divine origin of humanity and the command to multiply, indicating the beginning of hereditary transmission.

Exodus 20:5-6 · "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments." Here, the concept of generational consequences is introduced, where the actions of one generation can affect subsequent ones, both in terms of sin and blessing.

Deuteronomy 7:9 · "Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments." This verse underscores the enduring nature of God's promises and blessings through generations, contingent upon faithfulness to His commandments.

Psalm 78:5-7 · "He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them—the children yet to be born—to arise and tell their own children that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, and keeping His commandments." This passage emphasizes the importance of passing down spiritual teachings and the knowledge of God’s works to future generations.

Proverbs 13:22 · "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is passed to the righteous." This proverb highlights the value of leaving a positive legacy, both materially and spiritually, for future generations.

Ezekiel 18:20 · "The soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, nor will a father bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him." This verse clarifies individual responsibility, indicating that while heredity can influence, each person is accountable for their own actions.

Romans 5:12 · "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned." This passage speaks to the spiritual heredity of sin originating from Adam, affecting all of humanity.

1 Corinthians 15:22 · "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." This verse contrasts the hereditary consequence of sin with the redemptive inheritance available through Christ, offering spiritual life to all who believe.

2 Timothy 1:5 · "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded now lives in you also." This personal note from Paul to Timothy illustrates the positive spiritual heritage passed down through family lines.

The Bible presents heredity as a complex interplay of physical, spiritual, and moral legacies, emphasizing the importance of faithfulness and obedience to God across generations.Genesis 5:3
And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth:
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Exodus 20:5,6
You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
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Exodus 34:7
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the children's children, to the third and to the fourth generation.
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Numbers 14:18,33
The LORD is long-suffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.
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Job 14:4
Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
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Job 21:19
God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
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Psalm 37:28
For the LORD loves judgment, and forsakes not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
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Psalm 51:5
Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
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Psalm 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
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Isaiah 14:20,21
You shall not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, and slain your people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.
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Isaiah 48:8
Yes, you heard not; yes, you knew not; yes, from that time that your ear was not opened: for I knew that you would deal very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb.
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Isaiah 65:6,7
Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,
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Jeremiah 31:29,30
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
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Jeremiah 32:18
You show loving kindness to thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
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Ezekiel 18:2,19,20
What mean you, that you use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge?
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Matthew 3:9
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
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John 3:6,7
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
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John 9:2
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
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Romans 5:12
Why, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed on all men, for that all have sinned:
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1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
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Ephesians 2:3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
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Theological Controversies and Studies
... and which was transmitted from father to son according to the ordinary laws of heredity. ...
Gigot, /General Introduction to the Sacred Scriptures/, 1900. ...
/.../chapter vi theological controversies and.htm

The Doctrine of Jesus Christ.
... I know not a man?") No laws of heredity are sufficient to ... This is testified to be
the general and universal invitation of the Scriptures to partake ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of jesus christ.htm

Chapter xiv
... we wish to draw attention to a general fact in ... frequently used in an abbreviated
form in the Scriptures. ... to his Egyptian overlord not to heredity from father ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xiv.htm

The Contribution of Science to Christianity
... science, and these of a somewhat general kind. ... are many ancient interpretations of
the Scriptures to the ... however, that this is simply the doctrine of heredity. ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the contribution of science to.htm

The English-Speaking Peoples: Action and Reaction
... their own sound religious sense to the Scriptures. ... America also, upon the same general
lines which ... that is now being said concerning heredity, environment and ...
/.../chapter vi the english-speaking peoples .htm

Augustin's Part in the Controversy.
... important features of the catholic doctrine concerning nature and ... pauses to explain
why the Scriptures do not ... by it." He then presses the general doctrine of ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/iii augustins part in the.htm

The Importance of the Death of Christ in Preaching and in Theology
... In general, Kierkegaard says, [75] the relation between ... Heredity and environment "
these are the dominant realities ... Him bear all the Scriptures witness; and ...
/.../denney/the death of christ/chapter 6 the importance of.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... the most impressive documents of the Jewish scriptures. ... The general increase in rigidity
of ceremonial in ... possible; but the essential truth concerning him is ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

What does the Bible say about confidence? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the Rephaim? | GotQuestions.org

Who / what were the Nephilim? | GotQuestions.org

Heredity: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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