Olam/עולם means eternal/everlasting

[Der Alte]

I have been active at Christian Forums for more than 2 decades. One of the frequent arguments I have seen is "The Hebrew word "Olam" never means eternal/everlasting." I decided to review every occurrence of olam in the Old Testament. I have listed 48 vss. where Olam is defined as eternal/everlasting. Here I have quoted 10 of those vss.

[1] Ecclesiastes 3:14​

(14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: [עולם] nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.​

[2]Psalms 37:28​

(28) For the LORD loveth justice, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever; [עולם] but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
[3]Psalms 45:17
(17) (45:18) I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the peoples praise thee for ever and ever. [לעלם ועד]
[4]Isaiah 51:6
(6) Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but My salvation shall be forever, [עולם] and My favour shall not be abolished.
[5]Isaiah 55:13
(13) Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting [עולם] sign that shall not be cut off.
[6]Isaiah 56:5
(5) Even unto them will I give in My house and within My walls a monument and a memorial better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting [עולם] memorial, that shall not be cut off.
[7]Jeremiah 23:40
(40) and I will bring an everlasting [עולם] reproach upon you, and a perpetual [עולם] shame, which shall not be forgotten.
[8]Jeremiah 31:40
(40) And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. [עולם]
[9]Jeremiah 50:5
(5) They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces hitherward: 'Come ye, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting [עולם] covenant that shall not be forgotten.'
[10]Jeremiah 51:39
(39) With their poison I will prepare their feast, and I will make them drunken, that they may be convulsed, and sleep a perpetual [עולם] sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.​

List of 48 vss. which define/describe "olam" as eternal/everlasting.
Ecclesiastes 3:14, Psalms 37:28, Psalms 45:17, Isaiah 55:13, Isaiah 56:5, Jeremiah 23:40, Jeremiah 31:40, Jeremiah 50:5, Jeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57, Ezekiel 26:21, Ezekiel 27:36, Ecclesiastes 9:6, 1 Kings 9:3, 1 Chronicles 16:36, 1 Chronicles 29:10, Psalms 10:16, Psalms 21:4, Psalms 33:11, Psalms 41:13, Psalms 45:6, Psalms 48:14, Psalms 90:2, Psalms 100:5, Psalms 102:12, Psalms 106:31, Psalms 106:48, Psalms 111:8, Psalms 119:44, Psalms 121:8, Psalms 135:13, Psalms 145:1, Psalms 145:2, Psalms 145:13, Psalms 145:21, Psalms 146:10, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 30:8, Isaiah 34:10, Isaiah 45:17, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 7:7, Jeremiah 25:5, Lamentations 5:19,

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

I have been active at Christian Forums for more than 2 decades. One of the frequent arguments I have seen is "The Hebrew word "Olam" never means eternal/everlasting." I decided to review every occurrence of olam in the Old Testament. I have listed 48 vss. where Olam is defined as eternal/everlasting. Here I have quoted 10 of those vss.

[1] Ecclesiastes 3:14​

(14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: [עולם] nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.​

[2]Psalms 37:28​

(28) For the LORD loveth justice, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever; [עולם] but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.​

[3]Psalms 45:17​

(17) (45:18) I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the peoples praise thee for ever and ever. [לעלם ועד]​

[4]Isaiah 51:6​

(6) Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but My salvation shall be forever, [עולם] and My favour shall not be abolished.​

[5]Isaiah 55:13​

(13) Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting [עולם] sign that shall not be cut off.​

[6]Isaiah 56:5​

(5) Even unto them will I give in My house and within My walls a monument and a memorial better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting [עולם] memorial, that shall not be cut off.​

[7]Jeremiah 23:40​

(40) and I will bring an everlasting [עולם] reproach upon you, and a perpetual [עולם] shame, which shall not be forgotten.​

[8]Jeremiah 31:40​

(40) And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. [עולם]​

[9]Jeremiah 50:5​

(5) They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces hitherward: 'Come ye, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting [עולם] covenant that shall not be forgotten.'​

[10]Jeremiah 51:39​

(39) With their poison I will prepare their feast, and I will make them drunken, that they may be convulsed, and sleep a perpetual [עולם] sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.​

List of 48 vss. which define/describe "olam" as eternal/everlasting.
Ecclesiastes 3:14, Psalms 37:28, Psalms 45:17, Isaiah 55:13, Isaiah 56:5, Jeremiah 23:40, Jeremiah 31:40, Jeremiah 50:5, Jeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57, Ezekiel 26:21, Ezekiel 27:36, Ecclesiastes 9:6, 1 Kings 9:3, 1 Chronicles 16:36, 1 Chronicles 29:10, Psalms 10:16, Psalms 21:4, Psalms 33:11, Psalms 41:13, Psalms 45:6, Psalms 48:14, Psalms 90:2, Psalms 100:5, Psalms 102:12, Psalms 106:31, Psalms 106:48, Psalms 111:8, Psalms 119:44, Psalms 121:8, Psalms 135:13, Psalms 145:1, Psalms 145:2, Psalms 145:13, Psalms 145:21, Psalms 146:10, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 30:8, Isaiah 34:10, Isaiah 45:17, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 7:7, Jeremiah 25:5, Lamentations 5:19,

'Olam' doesn't always refer to the mathematical time infinity, but refers to a very, very long time (so that we can hardly see the end) - like to the end of the current era. The famous verse that shows this is Isaiah 32:14-15 :

For the palace has been forsaken, the populated city abandoned. Hill and watchtower have become caves forever ('olam'), a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks, until the Spirit is poured out upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful orchard, and the orchard is considered as a forest.

So the actual meaning time-wise may differ per case. Same for Greek with the word 'aion' - which means 'era'.

 

[Der Alte]

'Olam' doesn't always refer to the mathematical time infinity, but refers to a very, very long time (so that we can hardly see the end) - like to the end of the current era. The famous verse that shows this is Isaiah 32:14-15 :

So the actual meaning time-wise may differ per case. Same for Greek with the word 'aion' - which means 'era'.

Can any word in any language have two distinct contradictory meanings? Or is it possible that sometimes words are used figuratively or hyperbolically? When e.g. Jesus said to Peter ""Get thee behind me Satan." was Peter actually, literally Satan? Or was Jesus using "Satan" hyperbolically? In the vss, you mentioned is olam defined as in the vss, I listed or simply used figurtively or hyperbolically?

Ecclesiastes 3:14​

(14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: [עולם] nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.​

In this vs, the first in my list above. I think the words "nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it:" certainly defines/describes "olam" as eternal.
One more comment on 'aionios," which is an adjective, is not and cannot be translated as "age' which is a noun. I did not do a study of "aion" but I think similar comments can be made.

 

[Reluctant Theologian]

Can any word in any language have two distinct contradictory meanings? Or is it possible that sometimes words are used figuratively or hyperbolically? When e.g. Jesus said to Peter ""Get thee behind me Satan." was Peter actually, literally Satan? Or was Jesus using "Satan" hyperbolically? In the vss, you mentioned is olam defined as in the vss, I listed or simply used figurtivel or hyperbolically?

Ecclesiastes 3:14​

(14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: [עולם] nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.​

In this vs, the first in my list above. I think the words "nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it:" certainly defines/describes "olam" as eternal.
One more comment on 'aionios," which is an adjective, is not and cannot be translated as "age' which is a noun. I did not do a study of "aion" but I think similar comments can be made.

I was explicitly referring to 'aion' which is a noun also - sometimes 'aionios' as an adjective may mean 'as during the aion' and sometimes possibly hyperbolically as time infinity. Your background is German I presume; so 'ewig' in German means literal infinity, but it's derived from a much older noun that could mean law/order/era/lifetime/etc.

For 'olam' there is no contradiction - the emphasis is on the very long duration, not the mathematically infinity - the example from Isaiah shows that the word usage (regardless of our interpretation of whether that is literal or hyperbolical) occurs for a non-infinity situation. That in itself is important proof.

Btw in modern Hebrew the word 'olam' can also mean 'world' - much similar to how 'aion' also is translated to 'world' sometimes.

 

[Yeshua HaDerekh]

Btw in modern Hebrew the word 'olam' can also mean 'world' - much similar to how 'aion' also is translated to 'world' sometimes.

Tikkun Olam

 

[ozso]

I have been active at Christian Forums for more than 2 decades. One of the frequent arguments I have seen is "The Hebrew word "Olam" never means eternal/everlasting." I decided to review every occurrence of olam in the Old Testament. I have listed 48 vss. where Olam is defined as eternal/everlasting. Here I have quoted 10 of those vss.

[1] Ecclesiastes 3:14​

(14) I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: [עולם] nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.​

[2]Psalms 37:28​

(28) For the LORD loveth justice, and forsaketh not His saints; they are preserved for ever; [עולם] but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.​

[3]Psalms 45:17​

(17) (45:18) I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the peoples praise thee for ever and ever. [לעלם ועד]​

[4]Isaiah 51:6​

(6) Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; but My salvation shall be forever, [עולם] and My favour shall not be abolished.​

[5]Isaiah 55:13​

(13) Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial, for an everlasting [עולם] sign that shall not be cut off.​

[6]Isaiah 56:5​

(5) Even unto them will I give in My house and within My walls a monument and a memorial better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting [עולם] memorial, that shall not be cut off.​

[7]Jeremiah 23:40​

(40) and I will bring an everlasting [עולם] reproach upon you, and a perpetual [עולם] shame, which shall not be forgotten.​

[8]Jeremiah 31:40​

(40) And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever. [עולם]​

[9]Jeremiah 50:5​

(5) They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces hitherward: 'Come ye, and join yourselves to the LORD in an everlasting [עולם] covenant that shall not be forgotten.'​

[10]Jeremiah 51:39​

(39) With their poison I will prepare their feast, and I will make them drunken, that they may be convulsed, and sleep a perpetual [עולם] sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.​

List of 48 vss. which define/describe "olam" as eternal/everlasting.
Ecclesiastes 3:14, Psalms 37:28, Psalms 45:17, Isaiah 55:13, Isaiah 56:5, Jeremiah 23:40, Jeremiah 31:40, Jeremiah 50:5, Jeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57, Ezekiel 26:21, Ezekiel 27:36, Ecclesiastes 9:6, 1 Kings 9:3, 1 Chronicles 16:36, 1 Chronicles 29:10, Psalms 10:16, Psalms 21:4, Psalms 33:11, Psalms 41:13, Psalms 45:6, Psalms 48:14, Psalms 90:2, Psalms 100:5, Psalms 102:12, Psalms 106:31, Psalms 106:48, Psalms 111:8, Psalms 119:44, Psalms 121:8, Psalms 135:13, Psalms 145:1, Psalms 145:2, Psalms 145:13, Psalms 145:21, Psalms 146:10, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 30:8, Isaiah 34:10, Isaiah 45:17, Isaiah 51:8, Jeremiah 7:7, Jeremiah 25:5, Lamentations 5:19,

Do you miss UR debates so much that you're trying to stir one up?

 

[Der Alte]

I was explicitly referring to 'aion' which is a noun also - sometimes 'aionios' as an adjective may mean 'as during the aion' and sometimes possibly hyperbolically as time infinity. Your background is German I presume; so 'ewig' in German means literal infinity, but it's derived from a much older noun that could mean law/order/era/lifetime/etc.

I learned to speak German when I was 12 yrs old and was stationed in Germany 6 yrs later. I was stationed in Germany for a total of 5 1/2 yrs.

For 'olam' there is no contradiction - the emphasis is on the very long duration, not the mathematically infinity - the example from Isaiah shows that the word usage (regardless of our interpretation of whether that is literal or hyperbolical) occurs for a non-infinity situation. That in itself is important proof.

With a plethora of spare time I did a study of "olam" about 20 yrs ago and found 48 vss. where it is defined as eternal. Imo that means any other interpretation is hyperbolic or figuratively. See post #1 above.

Btw in modern Hebrew the word 'olam' can also mean 'world' - much similar to how 'aion' also is translated to 'world' sometimes.

No comment.

 

[Der Alte]

Do you miss UR debates so much that you're trying to stir one up?

NC.

 

[Der Alte]

I was explicitly referring to 'aion' which is a noun also - sometimes 'aionios' as an adjective may mean 'as during the aion' and sometimes possibly hyperbolically as time infinity. Your background is German I presume; so 'ewig' in German means literal infinity, but it's derived from a much older noun that could mean law/order/era/lifetime/etc.

"aionios" is an adjective why out of all the adjectives in the Bible does this one adjective require 3 words in English to translate it? e.g. "during the aion?" As I have shown in my study of "aionios." It is defined as eternal twenty times but never defined as a period less that eternal. Any other usage which is not eternal can only be hyperbole or figurative.

For 'olam' there is no contradiction - the emphasis is on the very long duration, not the mathematically infinity - the example from Isaiah shows that the word usage (regardless of our interpretation of whether that is literal or hyperbolical) occurs for a non-infinity situation. That in itself is important proof.

I have also done a study of olam and found 48 vss. where olam is defined as eternal and zero vss, where it is defined as a period less than eternal. As with aionios any other usage that is not eternal is figurative or hyperbole.

Btw in modern Hebrew the word 'olam' can also mean 'world' - much similar to how 'aion' also is translated to 'world' sometimes.

"Olam" cannot mean both eternal [adjective] and world.[noun]