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Olam Ha-Zeh and Olam Ha-Ba


Contexts Denoting Finite Duration










which is translated as,


Sefer ha-Ikkarim, Book III, Ch. XVIII

Furthermore, he wrote,


which is translated as,





אַל־תַּסֵּג גְּבוּל עֹולָם אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבֹותֶיךָ


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Well, I was reading Lev 17 and when I got to verse 7 I saw generation forever;


This one is clear because it says their generation forever. I think this is in the Old Testament generations. A generation is about 40 years, as we see it throughout the bible.


God said to Abraham that after 400 years He would deliver Israel, "...in the fourth generation". A generation in the Bible is normally 40 years. However, here a generation is 100 years (4 * 100 = 400 years). This is understood by virtue of the fact that Abraham had his promised child when he was exactly 100 years old (Gen. 21:5); it is evident, therefore, that the age of a man when his first child is born is the raw definition of a generation.

Nevertheless, notice that the full number (400 years) is exactly ten-times that of a regular generation of 40 years. Both 100 years and 40 years are a generation in the Bible. However, the average of these two, 70 years, is on occasion also found in the bible, (Psalm 90:10). But "70 years" is a generation according to the average age of a man at his death, rather then when his first child is born (as with the example of Abraham).

I think all the things in the old covenant is approached in a new and living way in the New Testament


So when something is said in the Old Testament that says we should do something forever, that very thing could be approached in a new living way. We are to serve the lord forever and praise his name. yet, how are we going to serve him in this new living way. In the old days a priest has to offer sacrifice once every year but this time we can offer sacrifice of praise, thanks and as priest and as kings .everyone in the New Testament is a priest and a king a prophet. We are all that Christ Jesus is in the New Testament. He who is joined with the Lord is one spirit with him.



So if God said, do this or that forever, it could be done yet in a new and living way because of the cross.after the cross things are approached in different ways.



Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, יהושע the Son of Elohim, let us hold fast our confession.

Jesus is our High Priest. So it is not that it ended, so it is forever. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for us.

1 Peter 1:19 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

So when it said

For the priesthood being changed

It was changed to Jesus (Yeshua) being our High Priest. I hope this was a simple answer to the original question.

That Sabbath is for ever.


We as believers of Jesus are grafted into believing Israel. So the Sabbath is what we are supposed to keep. the way God says keep it.

Romans 11:17 But if some of the branches were broken off (Non believing Israel -of Jesus), and you, although a wild olive shoot (believing Non Jew), were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, (God's Family)

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    Welcome! While you do provide an interpretation of some of the passages mentioned in the question, the focus of the question is more on the definition of the word "forever" in the Bible, not how to explain its use doctrinally. This is a Q&A site, which means we have a more restrictive format than a typical discussion forum. I hope you'll take the tour and check out some of the other questions and answers we have here! – Nathaniel Jun 28 '16 at 15:10

When the Bible says “forever,” how can we tell it really means forever?

Both olam and aion can be tricky because they are like the English word “big”. A person can be “big” as well as a mountain.

Aion can mean a lifetime, the reign of a King, or even (as Young’s literal translation defines it) “age lasting”.

This puts the translator in the position of trying to determine from the context a greater specificity than the word itself contains (this is always a tricky proposition).

An additional problem for us is that we may not be able to grasp a clear understanding of the infinite. For example, how would one determine if eternity is the end of time or time unending?

Some have attempted to search Greek texts to determine the common usage of “aion”. However, it is difficult to use the frequency of usage to make a determination of any probable meaning, just as it would be to use the word “big” to make a definitive determination of size.

There are many things in the Bible of which we would like to know more. We (like the angles) desire to look into these things, but for now must wait.


God may also intentionally withhold some information from us to help us avoid the temptation to judge him, critique his plans, and question his purpose.

  • Nice answer! Can you give us examples of where the word means a lifetime, the reign of a King, or age lasting? – Steve Aug 3 '16 at 4:18
