> Indeed, which is why it makes sense to think of olam as
conveying the notion of time continuing beyond all measure.
Not necessarily. (oLaM simply means 'always'. This may indicate infinite time. However, it might just be a rhetorical way of indicating a fixed norm (e.g., "I always lock the door when I leave"), or a way of saying 'as far as I can see' (e.g. "This will always be a problem"). That is, it refers to a period of time which is not going to be measured, even if that is in fact a finite span of time.
It must not be interpreted as always (excuse the pun) indicating 'forever' - that is, without end. This is within the semantic range of the word, but as with any particular nuance, it must be determined from the given context.
To take a biblical example: Deut 15.17 states "Take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he becomes your slave forever [ L:(oLaM)." This verse cannot possible mean that the person becomes a slave for eternity. In this case it means 'always' in the sense of 'for life' (cf. Holman CSB translation).
As I always tell my students: "Context is your best friend!"
Regards,
GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au
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