BIBLE HEBREW WORD STUDY
Olam (עוֹלָם) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
Hebrew ʻôwlām denotes long, unbounded duration—either remote past or unending future—and functions as the Bible's primary word for 'eternity' and 'forever.'
Meaning of the word
The root idea behind ʻôwlām is concealment or the vanishing point—something so distant that it passes out of sight. From this root, the noun develops into a term for time that stretches beyond human measurement in the past or future (Genesis 6:4; Genesis 21:33).
The word covers three overlapping ranges: ancient time long past (Genesis 6:4), continuous present ('always,' as with the prepositional prefix in Genesis 6:3), and indefinite or unending future (Genesis 3:22; Genesis 9:12). It frequently describes covenants, possessions, and God's own being as 'everlasting' (Genesis 9:16; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 17:8; Genesis 17:13; Genesis 17:19).
KJV usage lists 'for ever,' 'everlasting,' 'of old,' 'perpetual,' 'continual,' and even 'world,' reflecting how English translations render one Hebrew term in many ways depending on context (Genesis 13:15; Genesis 48:4).
Usage in Scripture
In the early chapters of Genesis, ʻôwlām already carries both directional senses. Genesis 6:4 uses it for the distant past ('of old, the men of renown'), Genesis 6:3 for ongoing duration ('shall not strive… for ever'), and Genesis 3:22 for an unending future ('live for ever').
From Genesis 9 onward, the word becomes a theological marker. God anchors covenants with Noah, Abraham, and their descendants as ʻôwlām (Genesis 9:16; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 17:13; Genesis 17:19) and grants the land of Canaan as an 'everlasting possession' (Genesis 17:8; Genesis 48:4). The phrase ʻêl ʻôwlām, 'Everlasting God,' appears in Genesis 21:33, applying the word directly to God's own nature.
The word in detail
- H5769 ʻôwlām (עוֹלָם) is the standard Hebrew noun for unbounded time. Its root sense of 'concealed / vanishing point' underlies its meaning of time beyond human view, whether remote past (Genesis 6:4) or endless future (Genesis 3:22). It frequently qualifies covenants, possessions, and God's own being as everlasting (Genesis 9:16; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 21:33).
Example verses
- Genesis 3:22 Uses ʻôwlām for an unending future: the man is barred from the tree of life 'lest he… live for ever.'
- Genesis 9:16 God's covenant with 'every living creature… of all flesh' is called an 'everlasting covenant' (בְּרִית עוֹלָם).
- Genesis 17:7 The Abrahamic covenant is fixed 'throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant,' tying ʻôwlām to lineage and divine faithfulness.
- Genesis 21:33 Abraham worships at Beer-sheba, calling on 'the Everlasting God' (אֵל עוֹלָם), the only OT occurrence of this divine title.
Common questions
Does ʻôwlām always mean 'eternal'?
No. Its core sense is unbounded duration. Depending on context it can mean remote past ('of old,' Genesis 6:4), ongoing present ('always,' Genesis 6:3), or unending future ('for ever,' Genesis 3:22).
Why is one Hebrew word translated 'everlasting,' 'old,' and 'perpetual' in English?
Because ʻôwlām covers a wide semantic range. Translators choose an English equivalent that fits the time-frame of the context—ancient past, continuous present, or unending future—even though the Hebrew term itself stays the same.
What is the famous phrase 'Everlasting God'?
It is the title ʼêl ʻôwlām, 'God of eternity,' used in Genesis 21:33 when Abraham calls on the Lord at Beer-sheba. It is the only place in the OT where this exact title appears.