Eternal

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Three Hebrew words are translated “eternal.”

1. ad, very often translated “forever,” and with another word, olam, “forever and ever.” “The Lord shall reign forever and ever” (Ex. 15:18¹⁸The Lord shall reign for ever and ever. (Exodus 15:18)). “The Lord is king forever and ever” (Psa. 10:16¹⁶The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. (Psalm 10:16): Compare also Psa. 45:6⁶Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre. (Psalm 45:6); Psa. 48:14¹⁴For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death. (Psalm 48:14); Psa. 52:8⁸But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever. (Psalm 52:8); Mic. 4:5⁵For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever. (Micah 4:5)). Ad is also translated “everlasting:” “the everlasting Father,” or “Father of the everlasting age” (Isa. 9:6⁶For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)). Also “eternity”; “the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity” (Isa. 57:15¹⁵For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. (Isaiah 57:15)).

2. olam, signifying “everlasting,” “never ending.” It is often translated “forever:” “his mercy endureth forever” (1 Chron. 16:41⁴¹And with them Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest that were chosen, who were expressed by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever; (1 Chronicles 16:41)); and “everlasting:” “the everlasting God” (Gen. 21:33³³And Abraham planted a grove in Beer-sheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. (Genesis 21:33); Psa. 90:2²Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (Psalm 90:2); Psa. 93:2²Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting. (Psalm 93:2); Psa. 103:17¹⁷But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; (Psalm 103:17)). “I will make thee an eternal excellency” (Isa. 60:15¹⁵Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. (Isaiah 60:15)).

3. qedem, “ancient, that which is before.” “The eternal God is thy refuge” (Deut. 33:27²⁷The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. (Deuteronomy 33:27)). “Art thou not from everlasting?” (Hab. 1:12¹²Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction. (Habakkuk 1:12)). “God is my King of old” (Psa. 74:12¹²For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. (Psalm 74:12)).

4. In the New Testament, ἀϊδιος, “perpetual:” occurs only in Romans 1:20²⁰For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20), “his eternal power and Godhead”; and Jude 6⁶And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. (Jude 6), “reserved in everlasting chains.”

5. αἰών “age, duration, ever.” With a preposition “unto the ages” is often translated “forever”; and, when repeated, “forever and ever.” “He that eateth of this bread shall live forever” (John 6:58⁵⁸This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:58)). “Christ abideth forever” (John 12:34³⁴The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man? (John 12:34)). “To whom be glory forever and ever” (Gal. 1:5⁵To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:5)). “According to the eternal purpose” (Eph. 3:11¹¹According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 3:11)). “Now unto the king eternal....be honor and glory forever and ever” (1 Tim. 1:17¹⁷Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)). This word is often translated “world,” but may at times be better rendered “age,” as “be not conformed to this age” (Rom. 12:2²And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)); and “forever and ever” may be translated “to the ages of ages,” though the meaning would be the same.

6. αἰώνιος, from αἰών, signifying “ever enduring.” It is always translated “eternal” or “everlasting,” except in Romans 16:25²⁵Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (Romans 16:25), “since the world began,” or “in the times of the ages” (2 Tim. 1:9⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9); Titus 1:2²In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)); “before the world began,” or, “before the ages of time”; and Philemon 1:15¹⁵For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; (Philemon 15), “forever.” This word is applied to God Himself as “the everlasting God” (Rom. 16:26²⁶But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: (Romans 16:26)); to the Holy Spirit (Heb. 9:14¹⁴How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)); to redemption (Heb. 9:12¹²Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)); inheritance (Heb. 9:15¹⁵And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)); salvation (Heb. 5:9⁹And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Hebrews 5:9)); glory (1 Peter 5:10¹⁰But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)); and constantly to life (John 3:15-16, 36¹⁵That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:15‑16)
³⁶He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). On the other hand it is applied to punishment (Matt. 25:46⁴⁶And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:46)); damnation (Mark 3:29²⁹But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: (Mark 3:29)); destruction (2 Thess. 1:9⁹Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:9)); and fire (Jude 7⁷Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (Jude 7): Compare Isa. 33:14¹⁴The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? (Isaiah 33:14)).

The above passages show that the same word is used for the existence of God Himself; for the salvation and blessedness of the saved; and for the punishment of the wicked.