Lexical Summary ad: Forever, perpetually, continually, until, eternity Original Word: עַד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance eternity, everlasting, old, perpetually, world without end From adah; properly, a (peremptory) terminus, i.e. (by implication) duration, in the sense of advance or perpetuity (substantially as a noun, either with or without a preposition) -- eternity, ever(- lasting, -more), old, perpetually, + world without end. see HEBREW adah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom adah Definition perpetuity NASB Translation all (1), continually (1), Eternal (1), ever (15), forever (26), forever* (1), forevermore* (2), old (1), perpetual (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs I. עַד and וָעֶ֑ד (so always) noun masculine perpetuity (= advancing time, compare Assyrian adû, time at the present times); — 1 of past time: מִנִּי עַר Job 20:4; הררי עד Habakkuk 3:6 ancient mountains (compare עולם 1). **so Genesis 49:26 (read הַרְרֵי עַד for הוֺרַ֔י עַד). 2 of future time, לָעַד (usually לָעַ֑ד) for ever: a. during lifetime, of king Psalm 21:7; Proverbs 29:14; of others Psalm 9:19; Psalm 22:27; Psalm 61:9; Proverbs 12:19. b. of things, לָעַד בַּצּוּר יֵחָֽצֵב֑וּן Job 19:24. c. of continuous existence, of nations, גְּבֶרֶת עַד (of Babylon, compare עולם 2c) Isaiah 47:7 (yet see III. עַד II 3); anger, לעד Amos 1:11; elsewhere עֲדֵי עַד Psalm 83:18; Psalm 92:8; Isaiah 26:4; Isaiah 65:18. d. of divine existence, שֹׁכֵן עַד Isaiah 57:15; attributes, לָעַד Psalm 111:3; Psalm 111:10; Psalm 112:3; Psalm 112:9; residence in Zion, עֲדֵי עַד Psalm 132:14; law of God לָעַד Psalm 19:10; promise as to dynasty of David, לָעד Psalm 89:30; עֲדֵי עַד Psalm 132:12; inheritance of land, לָעַד Psalm 37:29; continuous relations between God and his people 1 Chronicles 28:9; Isaiah 64:8; Micah 7:18 לעד. e. phrases (see עולם 2m): (לְ)וְֺלָם וָעֶ֑ד Psalm 9:6; Psalm 10:16; Psalm 21:5; Psalm 45:7; Psalm 45:18; Psalm 48:15; Psalm 52:10; Psalm 104:5; Psalm 119:44; Psalm 145:1; Psalm 145:2; Psalm 145:21; Exodus 15:18; Micah 4:5; Daniel 12:3; לָעַד לְעוֺלָם Psalm 111:8; Psalm 148:6; עַדעֿוֺלְמֵי עַד Isaiah 45:17. — Isaiah 30:8 read (עַדעֿוֺלָם) לְעֵד for a witness ᵑ6 ᵑ9 ᵑ7 Ges Ew Di Che Du) for ᵑ0 לָעַד. Topical Lexicon Scope and Distribution The term appears approximately fifty-three times across the Hebrew Scriptures, concentrated in Exodus, the Psalms, the historical books, and the prophets. In nearly every context it magnifies duration, continuity, and the permanence of divine purposes. Eternal Nature of God The first canonical use sets the tone for all others: “The LORD will reign forever and ever” (Exodus 15:18). Subsequent writers echo this confession. Psalm 10:16 proclaims, “The LORD is King forever and ever,” and Psalm 146:10 concludes the Psalter’s doxology, “The LORD reigns forever—your God, O Zion, for all generations.” In each case the word emphasizes that God’s kingship is neither subject to history’s rise and fall nor to the expiration of covenantal epochs. From Everlasting to Everlasting A recurring liturgical formula combines עַד with עוֹלָם, framing divine eternity in a double horizon: “from everlasting to everlasting.” David blesses the LORD “from everlasting to everlasting” in 1 Chronicles 29:10. The Levites lead post-exilic worship with the same refrain in Nehemiah 9:5. Moses applies it to God’s being, “From everlasting to everlasting You are God” (Psalm 90:2), while the psalmists apply it to His steadfast love: “From everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:17). Perpetual Covenant and Royal Grant The term underscores the durability of covenant promises. Isaiah assures Israel, “You will not be put to shame or humiliated to the ages to come” (Isaiah 45:17). In Psalm 89, the promise to David’s house is described with the same vocabulary, binding the permanence of the throne to the character of God Himself. By using עַד, Scripture links the endurance of the covenant not merely to human lineage but to divine fidelity. Liturgical and Doxological Use Nearly half of the occurrences stand inside songs, prayers, or formal blessings, reinforcing worshipers in every generation. Typical examples include: Such refrains keep the theme of unending praise before the congregation and guard against temporal, man-centered perspectives in worship. Judgment and Salvation Horizons While overwhelmingly positive, several passages deploy עַד to describe the unending ruin of the wicked (for example, Psalm 9:5) or the irrevocable destruction of enemy structures (Isaiah 34:10). The same term, therefore, frames both sides of divine justice: eternal salvation for the faithful, eternal loss for the impenitent, reinforcing the moral seriousness of history. Eschatological Vision Prophets link the word to the final peace of Zion. Isaiah 9:7 speaks of a government of peace upheld “from that time on and forever,” and Micah 4:5 contrasts the nations’ wandering with Israel’s permanent walk “in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.” The Messianic kingdom is thus portrayed as the climactic realization of every prior “forever.” Pastoral and Ministry Implications 1. Assurance. Believers ground confidence in promises that carry the stamp of eternity. God’s reign, love, and salvation are not subject to repeal. Summary Wherever עַד appears, Scripture presses readers to lift their eyes beyond temporal horizons to the unending sovereignty, grace, and justice of God. It is the vocabulary of permanence in a transient world, anchoring every covenant, promise, warning, and song in the timeless character of the LORD. Forms and Transliterations אֲבִיעַ֖ד אביעד וָעֶ֑ד וָעֶֽד׃ ועד ועד׃ לָ֝עַ֗ד לָ֫עַ֥ד לָעַ֑ד לָעַ֖ד לָעַ֣ד לָעַ֥ד לָעַֽד׃ לָעַד֙ לעד לעד׃ עֲדֵ֥י עֲדֵי־ עַ֑ד עַ֔ד עַֽד׃ עַד֙ עַד־ עד עד־ עד׃ עדי עדי־ ‘ă·ḏê ‘ă·ḏê- ‘aḏ ‘aḏ- ‘ăḏê ‘ăḏê- ’ă·ḇî·‘aḏ ’ăḇî‘aḏ ad aDei aviAd lā‘aḏ lā·‘aḏ laAd vaEd wā‘eḏ wā·‘eḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 15:18 HEB: יִמְלֹ֖ךְ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ NAS: shall reign forever and ever. KJV: shall reign for ever and ever. INT: shall reign forever and ever Numbers 24:20 Numbers 24:24 2 Samuel 3:28 1 Chronicles 28:9 Job 19:24 Job 20:4 Psalm 9:5 Psalm 9:18 Psalm 10:16 Psalm 19:9 Psalm 21:4 Psalm 21:6 Psalm 22:26 Psalm 37:29 Psalm 45:6 Psalm 45:17 Psalm 48:14 Psalm 52:8 Psalm 61:8 Psalm 83:17 Psalm 89:29 Psalm 92:7 Psalm 104:5 Psalm 104:23 53 Occurrences |
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