08-23-2009, 02:24 PM
Okay, first, let's look at the etymology of "olam." Having set foot on Hebrew soil, you're in my territory now, and I can be more clear and specific and certain than when dealing with Aramaic.
olam is from the shoresh (root) 'alam, meaning "hidden" "creation" or "world." Also has a connotation of "primitive"/"primeval." Ancient, creation, world (really, "universe" or "cosmos") and "primeval" all extend out from the meaning "hidden." All of these are considered "hidden from sight." So, it could be argued that these references are simply to a time which is "out of sight" from the present. However, there is another option for the usage of this word, which I will argue is the one always being used on covenantal occasions. That is that "eternity" is "that which is beyond sight." Especially since "sight" and "comprehension" are often used as synonymous concepts in semitic thought.
Here are the reasons I will defend this usage in these contexts:
First, simple grammatical construction. It doesn't say "be'olam" or simply "olam." Rather, it is "l'oalm" in most cases meaning "to or toward 'olam" or "'ad-'olam" meaning "until 'olam." This indicates that 'olam refers to a specific time, rather than something nebulous and generic like "a long time."
Next, "for a long time" would be meaningless in terms of a contract or covenant. I am going to make a contract with you to supply ABC product for XYZ price...for a long time. If I made this kind of proposal in the business world do you think anyone would sign? If I altered my wedding vows to fit this scheme, do you think any girl would marry me? Yeah, I can hear it now, "I betroth you to me...for a really long time." (Hosea 2:21)
Finally, the use of this term in covenants is made abundantly clear for us. I will give you two excellent examples where there ought to be no question as to the term's meaning. First, here Genesis 9:16, where God refers to His covenant with Noah as "brith 'olam" A covenant of eternity. He makes it clear by saying, in the previous verse, "lo yihyeh-od..." "there will not be another..."
Note also that "brith 'olam" is the very term used to refer to the Sabbath (Exod. 31:16), firstfruit offering (Num. 18:19), and the Aaronic priesthood (Num. 25:13). So, hypothetically, if God can go back on any of these, He can also go back on His promise to never flood the earth again.
Then, going on to the next case, let's look at Jeremiah 31:35-37. What I find fascinating is that verse 37 appeals to all of the things that are considered to be "alam" or "out of sight." creation, cessation of being (eternity/afterlife/netherworld), and the universe. This is the context of the covenant with Israel. It is not just out of our immediate sight, it is completely beyond foresight and beyond knowing. It cannot occur before "olam" which is eternity itself.
olam is from the shoresh (root) 'alam, meaning "hidden" "creation" or "world." Also has a connotation of "primitive"/"primeval." Ancient, creation, world (really, "universe" or "cosmos") and "primeval" all extend out from the meaning "hidden." All of these are considered "hidden from sight." So, it could be argued that these references are simply to a time which is "out of sight" from the present. However, there is another option for the usage of this word, which I will argue is the one always being used on covenantal occasions. That is that "eternity" is "that which is beyond sight." Especially since "sight" and "comprehension" are often used as synonymous concepts in semitic thought.
Here are the reasons I will defend this usage in these contexts:
First, simple grammatical construction. It doesn't say "be'olam" or simply "olam." Rather, it is "l'oalm" in most cases meaning "to or toward 'olam" or "'ad-'olam" meaning "until 'olam." This indicates that 'olam refers to a specific time, rather than something nebulous and generic like "a long time."
Next, "for a long time" would be meaningless in terms of a contract or covenant. I am going to make a contract with you to supply ABC product for XYZ price...for a long time. If I made this kind of proposal in the business world do you think anyone would sign? If I altered my wedding vows to fit this scheme, do you think any girl would marry me? Yeah, I can hear it now, "I betroth you to me...for a really long time." (Hosea 2:21)
Finally, the use of this term in covenants is made abundantly clear for us. I will give you two excellent examples where there ought to be no question as to the term's meaning. First, here Genesis 9:16, where God refers to His covenant with Noah as "brith 'olam" A covenant of eternity. He makes it clear by saying, in the previous verse, "lo yihyeh-od..." "there will not be another..."
Note also that "brith 'olam" is the very term used to refer to the Sabbath (Exod. 31:16), firstfruit offering (Num. 18:19), and the Aaronic priesthood (Num. 25:13). So, hypothetically, if God can go back on any of these, He can also go back on His promise to never flood the earth again.
Then, going on to the next case, let's look at Jeremiah 31:35-37. What I find fascinating is that verse 37 appeals to all of the things that are considered to be "alam" or "out of sight." creation, cessation of being (eternity/afterlife/netherworld), and the universe. This is the context of the covenant with Israel. It is not just out of our immediate sight, it is completely beyond foresight and beyond knowing. It cannot occur before "olam" which is eternity itself.