עָלַם (a.lam)
a.lam
perpetuity
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The Aramaic word ʿālam signifies perpetuity or antiquity, functioning as the equivalent of the Hebrew ʿōlām found in the rest of the Old Testament. It appears ten times in Scripture, with a heavy concentration in the books of Daniel and Ezra where official imperial correspondence is recorded. In these contexts, it typically refers to something enduring forever or established from ancient times.
Its root conveys the idea of concealment or hiding, which evolved into the sense of what is hidden from view because it stretches far back into the past or forward into an unseen future. Translators often render it as "everlasting" or "forever," capturing the legal and theological weight of permanent decrees in the Persian empire.
Notably, this form appears in Daniel 4:31 regarding Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom being established for a time, and in Ezra 6:8 where resources are provided to ensure the temple work continues without interruption. The usage highlights how Aramaic, the language of international diplomacy, adopted this term to describe enduring divine or royal authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word עָלַם (ʿālam) carries the weight of time stretching beyond our sight. It describes something that endures perpetuity, often used in ancient legal decrees to mark a decree as unchangeable and eternal. When we encounter this term in Scripture, particularly in the books of Daniel and Ezra, it reminds us that human empires rise and fall, but God’s authority remains fixed.
In a world where political landscapes shift rapidly, this concept offers a deep sense of stability. The prophets used this language to assure believers that despite the chaos of earthly rulers, divine justice is not temporary. It stands firm, untouched by the passage of years or the collapse of kingdoms.
For your faith, this means you can anchor your hope in what lasts forever rather than what fades away. Whether facing personal uncertainty or global instability, the promise that God’s kingdom will never be destroyed provides a solid foundation for daily life and eternal trust.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- for/ ever4×
- <the>/ antiquity3×
- perpetuity2×
- <the>/ perpetuity2×
- for/ <the>/ ever1×
- <the>/ perpetuities1×
- <the> perpetuity of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- עָלְמָ֑/א2×
- לְ/עָלְמִ֣ין2×
- עָֽלְמָ֔/א1×
- עָלַם֙1×
- עָלַ֥ם1×
- עָלַ֔ם1×
- עָלְמָ֖/א1×
- עָלְמַיָּֽ/א\׃1×
- עָ֣לְמָ֔/א1×
- לְ/עָלְמַיָּֽ/א\׃1×
- לְ/עָלְמִין֙1×
- לְ/עָלְמִ֥ין1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:44
“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever.
This verse uses the term to contrast the temporary nature of earthly kingdoms with God's eternal, indestructible reign.
-
Daniel 7:14
Dominion was given him, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be destroyed.
Here it defines the dominion given to the Son of Man as an everlasting authority that will never pass away.
-
Daniel 7:18
But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’
The repetition emphasizes that the saints' possession of the kingdom is permanent and secure forever.