EL OLAM: What Does it Mean?
El Olam: What Does it Mean?
El Olam is another name for God found in the Old Testament.
We already know what “El” means. It means Strength, Strong God, The one true God, Ruler of all nations, Almighty God, Almighty Creator.
Today we are going to consider the meaning of Olam. This is a Hebrew word (Strong’s 5769). The word means eternal, everlasting, perpetual, or ancient.
This word is used in other several hundred places in Scripture. This is the word used when God made covenants. Covenants that are everlasting. They are perpetual covenants that will not end.
One of those places is after the flood. All humanity was killed in the flood except for Noah and his family. In Genesis 9:12, God is telling Noah that the rainbow will be a perpetual, never ending sign of the covenant that He is making with all people that will come after Noah. In the translation I use, the word “olam” that means eternal, everlasting, perpetual (Strong’s 5769) is translated as “all successive” generations. In other words, God’s covenant with mankind that He will not destroy the world with a flood will never end.
God reiterates this covenant four verses later in Genesis:16:
“When the bow is in the cloud, then I will look upon it, to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”
The same word olam is used in Genesis 13:15 when God tells Abraham that He is giving Abraham and his descendants the land forever (everlasting, perpetual). Over and over, God reiterates that His covenant with Abraham was forever (olam).
It is fitting then that it is Abraham that uses the word olam as a name of God in Genesis 21. Abraham had made a treaty with Abimelech over water rights in Beersheba. Abimelech leaves Abraham. Then we are told:
“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.” Genesis 21:33. Abraham calls on Yahweh (Jehovah, LORD), THE EVERLASTING (OLAM) GOD.
This is what El Olam means: The everlasting, eternal, perpetual, ancient, almighty God. The one true God that is eternal-no beginning and no end.
In our world today, it seems nothing lasts. But over and over in Scripture we see who will last forever: Everlasting God.
Here are a few powerful verses that assure us that our God, our King is everlasting:
“The LORD is King forever and ever.” Psalm 10:16.
“The LORD abides forever.” Psalm 9:7a.
“The LORD sat as King at the flood; yes, the LORD sits as King forever.” Genesis 29:10.
Carla Killough McClafferty