Lexical Definition

‎עוֹלָם‎ ʻôwlâm (o-lawm') forever: enduring ^H:N-M
or עֹלָם ʻôlâm (o-lawm'); from ‎עָלַם‎

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 ([phrase] without end). Compare ‎נֶצַח‎, ‎עַד‎.

• 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

1) long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world
1a) ancient time, long time (of past)
1b) (of future)
1b1) for ever, always
1b2) continuous existence, perpetual
1b3) everlasting, indefinite or unending future, eternity

See Greek: ἀεί · αἰών · αἰώνιος · ἀρχή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎עוֺלָם‎₄₃₉ noun masculine long duration, antiquity, futurity; — ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Gen 9:12 + 405 t.; ‎עֹלָם‎ Gen 3:22 + 19 t.; ‎עֵילוֺם‎ 2Chr 33:7, read probably ‎עוֺלָם‎ (for other explanations see note in Kit^Hpt); suffix ‎עֹלָמוֺ‎ Eccl 12:5 plural ‎עוֺלָמִים‎ Isa 26:4 + 7 t., ‎עֹלָמִים‎ Ps 145:13 + 2 t.; construct ‎עוֺלְמֵי‎ Isa 45:17 —

1. of past time:
a. ancient time: ‎׳‎‎יְמֵי ע‎ days of old Isa 63:9; Isa 63:11; Amos 9:11; Mic 5:1*; Mic 7:14; ‎׳‎‎יְמוֺת ע‎ Deut 32:7 ‎׳‎‎עַם ע‎ Isa 44:7 ancient people; ‎׳‎‎גּוֺי מֵע‎ Jer 5:15 ‎׳‎‎חָרְבוֺת ע‎ old waste places Isa 58:12; Isa 61:4, compare Ezek 26:20 b; ‎׳‎‎פִּתְחֵי ע‎ ancient gates Ps 24:7; Ps 24:9 ‎׳‎‎ארח ע‎ Job 22:15 ‎׳‎‎נתבות ע‎ Jer 6:16 ‎׳‎‎שְׁבִילֵי ע‎ Jer 18:15 ‎׳‎‎גבול ע‎ Prov 22:28; Prov 23:10 ‎׳‎‎במות ע‎ Ezek 36:2 ‎׳‎‎מִן (מֵ)ע‎ from of old Isa 64:3*; Jer 2:20; Joel 2:2, of the fathers Josh 24:2, the prophets Jer 28:8, the ancient ‎נפלים‎ Gen 6:4 (Ezek 32:27 ᵐ5 Co for ‎מערלים‎; but 1Sam 27:8 read ‎מִטֵּלָם‎ for ‎מעולם‎ We Dr HPS); ‎׳‎‎בהם ע‎ long in them Isa 64:4* (text dubious).
b. ‎׳‎‎מֵתֵי ע‎ the long dead Ps 143:3; Lam 3:6 so ‎׳‎‎עַם ע‎ Ezek 26:20.
c. of God, ‎׳‎‎מֵע‎: former acts Isa 46:9 as redeemer Isa 63:16 of love Ps 25:6, judgment Ps 119:52, dominion Isa 63:19 long silence Isa 42:14; Isa 57:11 **‎ᵐ5‎ ‎ᵑ9‎ Che^Hpt Du Marti read ‎מֵעְלִם‎ for ‎מֵעוֺלָם‎, compare I. [‎עָלַם‎] Hiph`il Ps 10:1.; his wisdom personified Prov 8:23 his existence Ps 93:2.
d. of things: ‎׳‎‎גבעות ע‎ ancient hills Gen 49:26 (J), Hab 3:6 (|| ‎הרריעֿד‎), Deut 33:15 (|| ‎הררי קדם‎).
e. plural ‎שְׁנוֺת עולמים‎ Ps 77:6* years of ancient times; ‎דורות עולמים‎ Isa 51:9 ‎לעלמים‎ Eccl 1:10 = in olden times.

2. a. indefinite futurity, with preposition for ever, always (sometimes = during the lifetime); ‎עֶבֶד עולם‎ slave for ever Deut 15:17; 1Sam 27:12; Job 40:28* ‎׳‎‎עָבַד לע‎ serve for ever Exod 21:6 (E), Lev 25:46 ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ 1Sam 1:22 ‎׳‎‎גְּאֻלַּת ע‎ Lev 25:32 redemption at any time; ‎׳‎‎הֲרַת ע‎ Jer 20:17 ever pregnant (womb); ‎׳‎‎כְּלִמַּת ע‎ vJer 20:11 of persecutors of Jeremiah; ‎׳‎‎חרפת ע‎ Jer 23:40 ‎׳‎‎שַׁלְוֵי ע‎ Ps 73:12 alway at ease; ‎׳‎‎יְחִי לע‎ (‎יחיה‎) may the king live alway 1Kgs 1:31; Neh 2:3 compare ‎אֹרֶךְ יָמִים עולם ועד‎ Ps 21:5* ‎ישׁד‎ ‎עולם לפני אלהים‎ Ps 61:8* so of the pious, ‎לא ימוט‎ ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Ps 15:5 ‎בל ימוט‎ Prov 10:30, compare Ps 30:7* other phrase: Ps 37:27; Ps 37:28; Ps 41:13*; Ps 55:23*; Ps 61:8*; Ps 73:26; Ps 121:8; Prov 10:25 ‎אשׁירה‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ Ps 89:2* I will sing for ever (as long as I live), compare Ps 52:10*; Ps 115:18; Ps 145:1; Ps 145:2 ‎׳‎‎הוֺדה ע‎ Ps 30:13*; Ps 44:9*; Ps 52:11*; Ps 79:13 other emotions and activities continuous through life Ps 5:12*; Ps 31:2* = Ps 71:1; Ps 75:10*; Ps 86:12; Ps 119:44; Ps 119:93; Ps 119:98; Ps 119:111; Ps 119:112; Mic 4:5, compare ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Mic 2:9.
b. = continuous existence, (1) of things: the earth, ‎הָאָרֶץ לְעוֺלָם עֹמֶדֶת‎ Eccl 1:4 other phrase: Ps 78:69; Ps 104:5, heavens and contents Ps 148:6, ruined cities Isa 25:2; Isa 32:14; Ezek 26:21; Ezek 27:36; Ezek 28:19, ruined lands Jer 18:16; Jer 25:9; Jer 25:12; Jer 49:13; Jer 49:33; Jer 51:26; Jer 51:62; Ezek 35:9; Zeph 2:9 ‎׳‎‎לעד עד ע‎ Isa 30:8 for a witness for ever, in a book; (2) of nations: ‎לעולם אהיה‎ Isa 47:7 (Babylon loqu.), compare Ps 81:16*; Obad 1:10 ‎׳‎‎ישׁב לע‎ of Judah Joel 4:20* (3) families Ps 49:12*; Isa 14:20 the dynasty of Saul 1Sam 13:13 house of Eli 1Sam 2:30 (4) national relations: ‎איבת‎ ‎׳‎‎ע‎ continual enmity Ezek 25:15; Ezek 35:5 of exclusion from ‎׳‎‎קהל י‎, ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ Deut 23:4* = Neh 13:1 various relations Isa 32:17; Isa 34:10 ‎׳‎‎חרפת ע‎ perpetual reproach Ps 78:66, of dynasty of David 2Sam 3:28; 2Sam 12:10; 1Kgs 2:33, families v1Kgs 2:33; 2Kgs 5:27; Ps 106:31; Jer 35:6.
c. of divine existence: ‎אל עולם‎ Gen 21:33 (J); ‎׳‎‎אלהי ע‎ Isa 40:28 ‎׳‎‎חי אנכי לע‎ Deut 32:40 ‎׳‎‎חֵי הע‎ Dan 12:7 of divine name, ‎׳‎‎זה שׁמי לְע‎ Exod 3:15 (E), compare 2Chr 33:7 (see above); blessing and praise of it 2Sam 7:26 = 1Chr 17:24; Ps 72:19; Ps 135:13 of ‎׳‎‎י‎ himself Ps 89:53* attributes, ‎אהבה‎ Jer 31:3; 1Kgs 10:9 ‎חסד‎ Isa 54:8; Ps 89:2*; Ps 138:8 ‎חַסְדּוֺ‎ ‎׳‎‎לע‎ 1Chr 26:34; 1Chr 26:41; 2Chr 5:13; 2Chr 7:3; 2Chr 7:6; 2Chr 20:21; Ezra 3:11; Ps 100:5; Ps 106:1; Ps 107:1; Ps 118:1; Ps 118:2; Ps 118:3; Ps 118:4; Ps 118:29; Ps 136:1 + 25 t., Jer 33:11 ‎כבוד‎ Ps 104:31 ‎אמת‎ Ps 117:2; Ps 146:6 ‎צדק‎ Ps 119:142 ‎עצה‎ Ps 33:11 reign Exod 15:18 (E), Ps 10:16; Ps 66:7; Ps 92:9*; Ps 146:10; Jer 10:10; Mic 4:7 ‎ישׁב‎ ‎׳‎‎יהוה לע‎ Ps 9:8*; Ps 29:10; Ps 102:13*; Lam 5:19 presence in Zion 1Chr 23:25; Isa 33:14; Isa 60:19; Isa 60:20; Ezek 37:28; Ezek 43:7; Ezek 43:9 his salvation Isa 51:6; Isa 51:8 ‎׳‎‎זרעת ע‎ Deut 33:27 everlasting arms; ‎׳‎‎כל אשׁר יעשׂה האלהים יהיה לע‎ Eccl 3:14.
d. of God's covenant: ‎׳‎‎בְּרִית ע‎ everlasting covenant Gen 9:16; Gen 17:7; Gen 17:13; Gen 17:19; Exod 31:16; Lev 24:8; Num 18:19 (all P), 2Sam 23:5; 1Chr 16:17 = Ps 105:10; Isa 24:5; Isa 55:3; Isa 61:8; Jer 32:40; Jer 50:5; Ezek 16:60; Ezek 37:26 covenant with Noah, ‎׳‎‎לְדֹרֹת ע‎ Gen 9:12 (P); God remembers it 1Chr 16:15 = Ps 105:8; Ps 111:5 will not break it, ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Judg 2:1 ‎׳‎‎אוֺת ע‎ Exod 31:17 (P); ‎׳‎‎אוֺת עד ע‎ Deut 28:46.
e. of God's laws: ‎דבר(יםׅ‎ Isa 59:21; Ps 119:89 ‎משׁפט‎ Ps 119:160 ‎עדות‎ vPs 119:144 vPs 119:152 ‎׳‎‎חק ע‎ Exod 29:28; Exod 30:21 (E), Lev 6:11*; Lev 6:15*; Lev 7:34; Lev 10:15; Lev 24:9; (P), also Jer 5:22 (of bounds of sea); ‎׳‎‎חק עד ע‎ Exod 12:24 (J), ‎׳‎‎חֻקַּת ע‎ vExod 12:14 vExod 12:17; Exod 27:21; Exod 28:43; Exod 29:9; Lev 3:17; Lev 7:36; Lev 10:9; Lev 16:29; Lev 10:31; Lev 10:34; Lev 17:7; Lev 23:14; Lev 23:21; Lev 23:31; Lev 23:41; Lev 24:3; Lev 24:8; Num 10:8; Num 15:15; Num 18:23; Num 19:10; Num 19:21 (P) (most of these in fact specifically Jewish and temporary); temple to bear God's name, ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ 1Kgs 9:3 = 2Chr 7:16 ‎׳‎‎לע‎ 2Kgs 21:7; 2Chr 33:4 consecrated ‎׳‎‎לע‎ 2Chr 30:8 its ceremonies ‎׳‎‎לע‎ 2Chr 2:3* Levitical priesthood, ‎לשׁרתו‎ ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎, 1Chr 15:2 Aaronic priesthood, ‎׳‎‎לברך בשׁמ‎ ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ 1Chr 23:13 (twice in verse). feminine of God's promises: his word, ‎׳‎‎יקום לע‎ Isa 40:8 promised dynasty of David, ‎עד‎ ‎׳‎‎(ה)ע‎ 2Sam 7:13; 2Sam 7:16 (twice in verse); 2Sam 7:25 = 1Chr 17:12; 1Chr 17:14 (twice in verse); 1Chr 17:23, Ps 18:51* = 2Sam 22:51; 1Kgs 2:33; 1Kgs 2:45; 1Chr 22:10; Ps 89:5* ‎׳‎‎לע‎ 1Kgs 9:5; 1Chr 28:4; 1Chr 28:7; 2Chr 13:5; Ps 89:29*; Ps 89:37*; 2Sam 7:29 (twice in verse) = 1Chr 17:27 (twice in verse); of holy land 1Chr 28:8, ‎׳‎‎אֲחֻזַּת ע‎ Gen 17:8; Gen 48:4; Lev 25:34 (P); given ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Exod 32:13 (J) 2Chr 20:7 ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ Gen 13:15, inherited ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Isa 60:21; Ps 37:18 ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ Isa 34:17 dwelt in ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ Ezek 37:25 other blessings, ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Deut 5:26; Hos 2:21* ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ Deut 12:28; 2Sam 7:24 = 1Chr 17:22; Ps 133:3 ‎׳‎‎שִׂמְחַת ע‎ Isa 35:10; Isa 51:11; Isa 61:7 ‎׳‎‎דֶּרֶח ע‎ Ps 139:24 ‎׳‎‎שׁם ע‎ Isa 56:5; Isa 63:12 ‎׳‎‎אות ע‎ Isa 55:13 ‎׳‎‎נאון ע‎ Isa 60:15 Jerusalem to abide ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Jer 17:25; Ps 125:1, compare Jer 31:40 ‎׳‎‎עד ע‎ Ps 48:9*.
g. of relations between God and his people, ‎׳‎‎לע‎ 1Chr 29:18; Ps 45:18*; Ps 85:6*; Ps 103:9; Ps 145:21; Isa 57:16; Jer 3:5; Jer 3:12; Lam 3:31; Joel 2:26; Joel 2:27 ‎׳‎‎עד (ה)ע‎ Ps 28:9; Mal 1:4.
h. of Messianic dynasty and king: ‎׳‎‎(ל)ע‎ Ps 110:4 having divine throne Ps 45:7* name endures Ps 72:17 established Ps 89:38* God blesses him Ps 45:3* of his reign, ‎׳‎‎מעתה ועד ע‎ Isa 9:6*.
i. = indefinite, unending future: live ‎׳‎‎לע‎ Gen 3:22 = Job 7:16 ‎יִחְיוּ‎ ‎׳‎‎הנביאים הלע‎ Zech 1:5 the prophets, can they live for ever ? compare ‎׳‎‎חדל לע‎ Ps 49:9* with negative never Ezra 9:12; Prov 27:24.
j. after death: ‎׳‎‎שׁנת ע‎ Jer 51:39; Jer 51:57 ‎׳‎‎בית ע‎ Eccl 12:5 ‎׳‎‎חַיֵּי ע‎ Dan 12:2 ‎׳‎‎דראון ע‎ vDan 12:2 also vDan 12:3; Jonah 2:7*; Eccl 2:16; Eccl 9:6.
k. = age (duration) of the world: ‎את העלם נתן בְּלִבָּם‎ Eccl 3:11 the age of the world he hath set, etc. (compare especially Late Hebrew; others i).

1. plural intensive everlastingness, eternity: ‎תשׁועת‎ ‎עולמים‎ Isa 45:17 ‎צדק עלמים‎ Dan 9:24 ‎צור עולמים‎ Isa 26:4 (RVm rock of ages); ‎מלכוּת כל עלמים‎ Ps 145:13 also Ps 61:5*; Ps 77:8*; 1Kgs 8:13 = 2Chr 6:2. masculine special phrase: ‎(מן) מ(ה)עולם (ו)עד (ה)עולם‎ from everlasting to everlasting, of ‎׳‎‎י‎ Ps 90:2, ‎׳‎‎חסד י‎ Ps 103:17 benedictions 1Chr 16:36 = Ps 106:48; Neh 9:5; 1Chr 29:10; Ps 41:14* the land given ‎למן עולם ועד‎ ‎עולם‎ Jer 7:7; Jer 25:5 ‎מעתה ועד עולם‎ from now and for ever Ps 115:18; Ps 121:8 (i.e. as long as one lives); of people's hope in God Ps 131:3 dynasty of David Isa 9:6* of God's acts, words, etc. Mic 4:7; Isa 59:21; Ps 125:2, compare Ps 113:2 — see further I. ‎עַד‎ p. 723.

‎עֵילוֺם‎ see ‎עוֺלָם‎. ‎עֲלָמוֺת‎ see ‎עַלְמָה‎, II. ‎עלם‎. ‎עַלמֿוּת‎, ‎עַלמֿוּת לַבֵן‎ see ‎עַלְמָה‎, II. ‎עלם‎.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References