עוֹלָם
𐤏𐤅𐤋𐤌
ʻôwlâm
H5769 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A duration of time that is indefinitely long, either extending into the remote past, the indefinite future, or characterized by unending perpetuity; in some contexts, refers to ancient times, remote antiquity, or an ongoing period. Rarely, may denote a persistent status that endures for generations or ages. The term does not necessarily imply absolute, metaphysical eternity as later conceived, but rather a temporal span beyond clear human perception or memory.
Semantic Range
indefinitely long duration, remote antiquity, perpetual or enduring state, time beyond memory, ongoing generations, eternal, for ever, of old, always, continuous; rarely, world or cosmos (in poetic contexts)
Root / Etymology
From the root עלם (ʽ-l-m), which at the root level carries the meaning 'to conceal, hide, be hidden.' עוֹלָם (ʻôlâm) derives from this root, originally referring to what is hidden or beyond the horizon, hence by extension to remote times (past or future) that are hidden from immediate experience or understanding.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, עוֹלָם frequently describes categories such as 'ancient days' (remote past), perpetual covenants or statutes (an indefinite future), and enduring places (e.g., everlasting hills). Its precise meaning is context-dependent: it denotes very long duration or perpetuity in legal or ritual contexts (such as priestly service 'for olam'), but does not always signify absolute unending infinity as later interpreted in Jewish and Christian theological traditions. In wisdom and poetic texts, it may accentuate the mystery or unfathomable nature of past or future time. When contrasted with נֶצַח (neṣaḥ, 'perpetuity; forever') or עַד (ʽad, 'until; perpetually'), עוֹלָם tends to be broader or less specific. English translations such as 'eternity', 'everlasting', or 'forever' can obscure the more nuanced, relative sense of the term as used in ancient Israelite texts, sometimes implying total infinity where a very long or undetermined span is intended.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; 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 ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
עלם (ʿ-l-m) — conceal, hide, be hidden
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3281 | יַעְלָם | Yaʿlam |
| H492 | אַלְמֹנִי | anonymous one |
| H5867 | עֵילָם | in Elam |
| H5934 | עָלוּם | your youthful years |
| H5956 | עָלַם | I will conceal |
Word Forms
13 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5769-08 |
עוֹלָֽם | olam | HNcmsa |
forever | hidden age | 212 |
H5769-04 |
לְ/עֹלָֽם | leolam | HR/Ncmsa |
forever | for an unseen age | 176 |
H5769-07 |
מֵ/עוֹלָ֖ם | meolam | HR/Ncmsa |
from of old | from hidden antiquity | 16 |
H5769-03 |
הָֽ/עוֹלָ֑ם | haolam | HTd/Ncmsa |
everlasting | the hidden duration | 14 |
H5769-09 |
עוֹלָמִֽים | olamim | HNcmpa |
everlasting | hidden ages | 9 |
H5769-13 |
וּ/מֵ֣/עֹלָ֔ם | umeolam | HC/R/Ncmsa |
even from everlasting | and from hidden antiquity | 3 |
H5769-01 |
הַ/לְ/עוֹלָ֖ם | haleolam | HTi/R/Ncmsa |
forever | for the hidden age | 2 |
H5769-02 |
הַֽ֭/לְ/עוֹלָמִים | haleolamim | HTi/R/Ncmpa |
forever? | to the enduring ages | 1 |
H5769-06 |
מֵֽ֭/הָ/עוֹלָם | mehaolam | HR/Td/Ncmsa |
from everlasting | from hidden antiquity | 1 |
H5769-05 |
לְ/עֹֽלָמִ֔ים | leolamim | HR/Ncmpa |
for hidden ages | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
438 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5769-04 |
Genesis 3:22 | לְ/עֹלָֽם | leolam | HR/Ncmsa |
forever | for an unseen age |
H5769-04 |
Genesis 6:3 | לְ/עֹלָ֔ם | leolam | HR/Ncmsa |
forever | for an unseen age |
H5769-07 |
Genesis 6:4 | מֵ/עוֹלָ֖ם | meolam | HR/Ncmsa |
from of old | from hidden antiquity |
H5769-08 |
Genesis 9:12 | עוֹלָֽם | olam | HNcmsa |
everlasting | hidden age |
H5769-08 |
Genesis 9:16 | עוֹלָ֔ם | olam | HNcmsa |
everlasting | hidden age |
H5769-08 |
Genesis 13:15 | עוֹלָֽם | olam | HNcmsa |
ever | hidden age |
H5769-08 |
Genesis 17:7 | עוֹלָ֑ם | olam | HNcmsa |
everlasting | hidden age |
H5769-08 |
Genesis 17:8 | עוֹלָ֑ם | olam | HNcmsa |
everlasting | hidden age |
H5769-08 |
Genesis 17:13 | עוֹלָֽם | olam | HNcmsa |
everlasting | hidden age |
H5769-08 |
Genesis 17:19 | עוֹלָ֖ם | olam | HNcmsa |
everlasting | hidden age |