The True Meaning of Eternity in Biblical Hebrew

In the Hebrew language, the word most commonly translated as "eternal" or "everlasting" is olem, which properly defines a period of time that is hidden or obscure 1 Chronicles 16:15-17. This term does not, of itself, define an infinite length of duration, but rather points to time whose beginning or end is uncertain or indifferent to the speaker Micah 5:2.

The Scriptural Definition of Olem

• Hidden Time: The original sense of the word is to "conceal" or "hide," referring to a duration that is unmeasured by human standards or "time indefinite" Isaiah 51:6.

• Duration Determined by the Subject: The length of time implied by the word is gained entirely from what it is applied to. For example, when applied to a servant, it means for his lifetime; when applied to the hills, it means as long as the earth stands Exodus 31:17.

• A Limited Period: It is frequently used to denote a limited period, such as the duration of a lifetime, the period until the year of jubilee, or the span of the Jewish dispensation Psalm 90:10.

• Eternal When Applied to God: When the word is applied to the self-existent God or His attributes, it takes on the meaning of unending duration because the subject itself is immortal Genesis 21:33+1.

• The "Days of Eternity": The phrase referring to Christ’s "goings forth" from the "days of eternity" Micah 5:2 indicates a point so far back in "hidden time" or "time out of mind" that it remains beyond the horizon of human research.

Authority:

1 Chronicles 16:15-17+3