1856# “到了第四代，他们必回到这里”象征恢复的时间和状态。这可以从“第四代”的含义理解，“第四代”在此象征四十或四百，代表试探的持续时间和状态，正如第13节经文所述。这一表达是一种简化的形式，无论数字大小，只要是同一谱系，其含义都是一致的，这一点之前已多次提及。由圣经的历史记录可知，“第四代”并不是指具体从亚伯拉罕、以撒或雅各开始算起的某一代，因为实际上存在更多的世代，并且当以色列人从埃及回到迦南地时，这些世代与他们的祖先亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各在生活方式和经历上有所区别。虽然在其它地方也提到了“第四代”，但它在内义上并不指代具体的世代。
在这里，它指的是恢复的时间和状态，因为它代表了以四十或四百为标志的那些事的结束（参862节和1847节）。
1856、“到了第四代，他们必回到这里”表示恢复的时间和状态，这从“第四代”的含义清楚可知。“第四代”与“四十”、“四百”所表相同，即表示试探的持续时间和状态，如前所述（15:13；1847节），因为四是这些数字的一种化简。任何数字，无论大小，只要是相同数目的倍数，都体现了同样的含义，如前面频繁所述（395:1，433，482，575，737:1节）。“第四代”不是指亚伯兰、以撒，或雅各的任何后代，这从圣言的历史部分清楚看出来；因为不止四代，并且当这些人回来时，他们与其列祖截然不同。“第四代”同样出现在其它地方（出埃及记20:5；34:7；民数记14:18；申命记5:9；列王纪下10:30；15:12）；然而，它在内义上从不表示任何一代。它在此表示恢复的时间和状态，因为它表示“四十”或“四百”所指的那些事物的结束（参看862，1847节）。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]1856. In the fourth generation they will come back here symbolizes a time and state of renewal, as can be seen from the symbolism of a fourth generation. A fourth generation symbolizes the same thing as forty and four hundred: how long trials last and what conditions are like then, as mentioned above at verse 13 [1847]. It is a kind of reduction of the number. Whether a number is large or small, as long as it belongs to the same family it involves the same idea, as noted several times before [395:1, 433, 482, 575, 737:1].
The fourth generation does not mean a generation descended from Abram, Isaac, or Jacob, as can be seen from the scriptural narrative. After all, when they returned, many generations had passed, and these generations were very different from their ancestors.{*1} The phrase fourth generation is used in other places too [Exodus 20:5; 34:7; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 5:9; 2 Kings 10:30; 15:12], but in the inner sense it never means a generation. Here it means a time and state of renewal, because it means the end of the hardships symbolized by the number forty, or four hundred; see 862, 1847.
Footnotes:
{*1} Another passage, Exodus 6:16-20, does explicitly place Moses and Aaron in the fourth generation from Jacob (descending in order through Levi, Kohath, and Amram). But Swedenborg's point is that the other circumstances of the narrative indicate that the reference to four generations is not to be taken literally. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 1856
1856. In the fourth generation they shall return hither. That this signifies the time and state of restoration, is evident from the signification of "the fourth generation." "The fourth generation" signifies the same as "forty" and as "four hundred;" namely, the duration and the state of temptation, spoken of at verse 13; it is a sort of diminutive from these. Whether a number be larger or smaller, provided it be of the same stock, it involves the same; as has already been stated several times. That "the fourth generation" does not signify any generation from Abram, or from Isaac, or from Jacob, is evident from the historicals of the Word; for there were more generations, and these people were very different from their fathers when they returned. "The fourth generation" is an expression that occurs likewise in other places, yet in the internal sense it never signifies any generation; and here it signifies the time and state of restoration, because it signifies the end of those things which are signified by "forty" or by "four hundred" (see n. 862, 1847).
Elliott(1983-1999) 1856
1856. That 'in the fourth generation they will return from here' means the period of time and the state of restoration is clear from the meaning of 'fourth generation'. 'Fourth generation' has the same meaning as forty and four hundred - namely the duration and the state of temptation, dealt with above at verse 13 - for four is a kind of diminutive of each of those numbers. Any number, whether large or small, provided it is a multiple of the same quantity, embodies the same meaning, as stated frequently already. That 'the fourth generation' does not mean any generation descended from Abram, or from Isaac, or from Jacob, is clear from the historical sections of the Word; for there were more than four generations, and these were very different from their fathers when they returned. 'The fourth generation' occurs again in other places, but in the internal sense it never means a generation. Here it means the period of time and the state of restoration because it means the conclusion of those things meant by forty and four hundred - see 862 and 1847.
Latin(1748-1756) 1856
1856. 'Generatione quarta redibunt huc': quod significet tempus et statum restitutionis, constat a significatione 'generationi' quartae'; generatio quarta significat idem ac quadraginta et quadringenta, nempe tentationis durationem et statum, de qua supra ad vers. 13; est diminutivum quoddam inde; sive major numerus sive minor, modo ejusdem prosapiae, idem involvit, ut prius aliquoties dictum: quod 'generatio quarta' non aliquam generationem ab Abramo nec ab Isaco nec a Jacobo significet, constat ab historicis Verbi, generationes enim plures fuerunt, et hae diversae a suis patribus, cum redibant; alibi similiter occurrit 'generatio quarta,' sed nusquam significat in sensu interno generationem, hic vero tempus et statum restitutionis, quia finem illorum quae significantur per quadraginta seu quadringenta, videatur n. 862, et 1847.