Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Paul Zellmer" <pzellmer AT sc.rr.com>]

English has the concept of an endless “forever.”  Hebrew does not.  As Gary 
reminded us, the actual concept of  עולם is a very long time.  But the normal 
English translation of  עד עולם is “forever,” unless context prevents such an 
open-ended statement.

 

When I was involved in translation work, I happened to work in a language 
that, like Hebrew, did not have the “forever” concept.  But their equivalent 
preposition phrase, “adde noka,” was well understood by people to normally 
refer to an endless time unless otherwise prevented.

 

Just out of curiosity, what would you suggest as a more “correct” meaning?

 

Paul Zellmer

 

From: fred burlingame [mailto:tensorpath AT gmail.com] 
Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2010 4:43 PM
To: Paul Zellmer
Cc: B-Hebrew
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Song of Songs 1:12

 


Hello Paul:

 

Thanks for your nice and explanatory comments.

 

The question remains however. The niv committee, in its wisdom, instructs 
that the little phrase עד עולם means "forever."

 

http://www.biblestudytools.com/1-chronicles/23-13.html

 

http://www.biblegateway.com/niv/translators-notes/

 

Is that meaning of the hebrew phrase correct?...

 

I await your advices.

 

regards,

 

fred burlingame