עוֹלָם
o.lam
forever: enduring
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
Supported# Olam (עוֹלָם): A Hebrew Concept of Enduring Time The Hebrew word *olam* appears 388 times throughout the Bible, making it a frequently used term for expressing duration and permanence. Its basic meaning—"forever" or "enduring"—refers to time that extends beyond normal human limits. The lexicon identifies it as a concept of continuity rather than a specific measurable quantity, suggesting that biblical writers used this term to describe something that lasts, persists, or continues without foreseeable end. The high frequency of *olam's* occurrence indicates its importance in biblical discourse, particularly in contexts where writers needed to convey concepts of permanence, covenant stability, or divine eternality. The term appears flexible enough to apply to various contexts—from describing God's eternal nature to characterizing laws, kingdoms, or possessions meant to endure across generations. Its consistent use across 388 biblical passages demonstrates that ancient Hebrew speakers and writers relied on this single word to express the notion of something that transcends ordinary temporal boundaries, whether describing divine attributes, perpetual obligations, or lasting inheritances.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
388 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Didn’t you, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it to the offspring of Abraham your friend forever?
2 Chronicles 20:21When he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to Yahweh, and give praise in holy array, as they go out before the army, and say, “Give thanks to Yahweh; for his loving kindness endures forever.”
2 Chronicles 30:8Now don’t be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to Yahweh, and enter into his sanctuary, which he has sanctified forever, and serve Yahweh your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you.
2 Chronicles 33:4He built altars in Yahweh’s house, of which Yahweh said, “My name shall be in Jerusalem forever.”
Ezra 3:11They sang to one another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of Yahweh’s house had been laid.
Ezra 9:12Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’
Ezra 9:12Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their sons. Don’t take their daughters to your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever; that you may be strong, and eat the good of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’
Nehemiah 2:3I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?”
Nehemiah 9:5Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
Nehemiah 9:5Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless Yahweh your God from everlasting to everlasting! Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise!
Nehemiah 13:1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,
Job 7:16I loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
Job 41:4Will he make a covenant with you, that you should take him for a servant forever?
Exodus 19:9Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I come to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
Psalms 5:11But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice. Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.
Psalms 78:66He struck his adversaries backward. He put them to a perpetual reproach.
Psalms 9:5You have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
Psalms 9:7But Yahweh reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment.
Psalms 10:16Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
Psalms 12:7You will keep them, Yahweh. You will preserve them from this generation forever.
Psalms 15:5he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
Psalms 18:50He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows loving kindness to his anointed, to David and to his offspring, forever more.
Psalms 21:4He asked life of you and you gave it to him, even length of days forever and ever.
Psalms 93:2Your throne is established from long ago. You are from everlasting.
Psalms 28:9Save your people, and bless your inheritance. Be their shepherd also, and bear them up forever.
Psalms 29:10Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever.
Psalms 30:12to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent. Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Psalms 31:1In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Let me never be disappointed. Deliver me in your righteousness.
Psalms 33:11The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psalms 37:18Yahweh knows the days of the perfect. Their inheritance shall be forever.
Psalms 37:27Depart from evil, and do good. Live securely forever.
Psalms 37:28For Yahweh loves justice, and doesn’t forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psalms 41:12As for me, you uphold me in my integrity, and set me in your presence forever.
Psalms 41:13Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen.
Psalms 41:13Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from everlasting and to everlasting! Amen and amen.
Psalms 44:8In God we have made our boast all day long, we will give thanks to your name forever.
Psalms 45:2You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.
Psalms 45:6Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
Psalms 45:17I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.
Psalms 48:8As we have heard, so we have seen, in the city of Yahweh of Armies, in the city of our God. God will establish it forever.
Psalms 48:14For this God is our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death.
Psalms 49:8For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
Psalms 49:11Their inward thought is that their houses will endure forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
Psalms 52:8But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in God’s house. I trust in God’s loving kindness forever and ever.
Psalms 52:9I will give you thanks forever, because you have done it. I will hope in your name, for it is good, in the presence of your saints.
Psalms 55:22Cast your burden on Yahweh and he will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be moved.
Psalms 61:4I will dwell in your tent forever. I will take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Psalms 61:7He shall be enthroned in God’s presence forever. Appoint your loving kindness and truth, that they may preserve him.
Psalms 66:7He rules by his might forever. His eyes watch the nations. Don’t let the rebellious rise up against him.
Psalms 71:1In you, Yahweh, I take refuge. Never let me be disappointed.