Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Awohili AT aol.com]

I fully understand that "time indefinite" does not work for you.   
"Age-abiding" does not work for me, though some translations favor it.   Such 
is life.
 
However, defining "olam" as "hidden time, i.e. obscure and long, of which  
the beginning or end is uncertain or indefinite" worked for Gesenius, and it  
works for me.  
 
True, as used in the Bible, "olam" does not usually refer to 15 minutes,  but 
there are places where it does not mean "forever," either.  When it  means 
"forever" it may be augmented by "we'ad."  Or to indicate  "forever," another 
Hebrew word, "netsach," may be used.
 
Maybe it can be illustrated with a closed circle.  Where does it  begin, 
where does it end?  Beginning and end are "indefinite," i.e.  undefined.
 
I think too much of this (over)long discussion has not really been about  
what "olam" means in the Hebrew Bible or how it is used there. It seems to be 
 
about what "olam" or forever means to individual  posters. 
 
I like, and am quite comfortable with, "time indefinite."  Your are  not.  
So, what's new?
 
Solomon Landers
 
 
In a message dated 11/22/2005 6:17:06 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,  
kgraham0938 AT comcast.net writes:

I think the  point is that time indefinite is not the same as OLAM.  As I 
have pointed  out.

'In' is a prefix meaning no or not.

So in essense what you  are saying is that OLAM means no specific time, and 
that is not what the word  means.  It points to long duration, eternal etc.

If it is simply  pointing to no specific time, that time could be 15 seconds. 
 Time  indefinite is not a good rendering.

And even if you argue hidden time,  that is not the same as indefinite time.