Olam
עוֹלָם
“…and this will be a statute forever unto them throughout their generations…” Leviticus 17:7
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o-lawm'; or עֹלָם ʻôlâm; from H5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always:—alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end). Compare H5331, H5703.
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Olam is spelled Ayin, Lamed, Mem.
“Forever” is one of the translations of a Hebrew word, Olam. It is also translated as “world” and “universe.” This has proven to be a very difficult word to pin down the definition. It’s a word that humbles those who try to translate it. I won’t do the word justice in this Word of the Week.Â
Olam is mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures referencing time and not space. Here are some examples.
- l’olam: forever
- m’olam lo: never
- brit olam: eternal covenant
- l’olam chasdo: His mercy is forever
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A later Greek influence incorporated the meaning of space (universe) in the definition.Â
- ha olam hazeh: this world
- ha olam habah: the world to come.
- melech ha olam: King of the Universe
- tikun olam: repair of the world
Ancient Hebrew word scholar Jeff Benner teaches that Olam literally means “beyond the horizon.” He suggests we picture looking out into the far distance. Have trouble making out the details? Now think if what is beyond that point that you cannot see. This is also true of thinking of the perception one has of the distant past or distant future. The Hebrew phrase l’olam va’ed (see above) means “to the unknowable horizon and again.” Benner goes on to say that the word olam comes from the root alam meaning "to be hidden" so olam literally means “a place hidden beyond the horizon” or “a time hidden beyond the distant time.”  1
1For more from Jeff Benner: https://www.ancient-hebrew.orgÂ
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