Job 7:21

7:21 And why do you not pardon my transgression,

and take away my iniquity?

For now I will lie down in the dust, ¹ 

and you will seek me diligently, ² 

but I will be gone.”

Exodus 34:7

34:7 keeping loyal love for thousands, ³  forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression ⁴  of fathers by dealing with children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.”

Numbers 14:18

14:18 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in loyal love, ⁵  forgiving iniquity and transgression, ⁶  but by no means clearing ⁷  the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children until the third and fourth generations.’ ⁸ 

¹ tn The LXX has, “for now I will depart to the earth.”

² tn The verb שָׁחַר (shakhar) in the Piel has been translated “to seek early in the morning” because of the possible link with the word “dawn.” But the verb more properly means “to seek diligently” (by implication).

³ tn That is, “for thousands of generations.”

⁴ sn As in the ten commandments (20:5-6), this expression shows that the iniquity and its punishment will continue in the family if left unchecked. This does not go on as long as the outcomes for good (thousands versus third or fourth generations), and it is limited to those who hate God.

⁵ tn The expression is רַב־חֶסֶד (rav khesed) means “much of loyal love,” or “faithful love.” Some have it “totally faithful,” but that omits the aspect of his love.

⁶ tn Or “rebellion.”

⁷ tn The infinitive absolute emphasizes the verbal activity of the imperfect tense, which here serves as a habitual imperfect. Negated it states what God does not do; and the infinitive makes that certain.

⁸ sn The Decalogue adds “to those who hate me.” The point of the line is that the effects of sin, if not the sinful traits themselves, are passed on to the next generation.