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Hebrew · H5957

עָלַם

Remote time , i.e. the future or past indefinitely; often adverb, forever

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עָלַםH5957
Pronunciationʿālam

What does עָלַם (ʿālam) mean in the Bible?

עָלַם (ʿālam): Denotes indefinite temporal duration—past or future—expressing perpetuity beyond human chronological limits.

Full entry for עָלַם (H5957) · Open the biblical lexicon

Questions this entry answers

What does עָלַם (ʿālam) mean in the Bible?

עָלַם (ʿālam): Denotes indefinite temporal duration—past or future—expressing perpetuity beyond human chronological limits.

How does the BSB render H5957?

The BSB source-word alignment has 20 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include forever (8), . . . (3), is an everlasting (2), ancient (1), and ever (1).

Where does עָלַם (ʿālam) appear in Scripture?

The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Ezra 4:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Daniel (18), Ezra (2).

Source Word Evidence

BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.

How English Renders It
forever8×Daniel 2:4, Daniel 2:20, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 3:9
. . .3×Daniel 6:26, Daniel 7:18
is an everlasting2×Daniel 4:34, Daniel 7:14
ancient1×Ezra 4:15
and ever1×Daniel 7:18
ever1×Daniel 2:20
from ancient1×Ezra 4:19
is an eternal1×Daniel 4:3
will be an everlasting1×Daniel 7:27
will never1×Daniel 2:44
Show sample aligned rows
Ezra 4:15עָלְמָ֑אtoancientNoun - masculine singular determinateEzra 4:19עָֽלְמָ֔אtofrom ancientNoun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 2:4לְעָלְמִ֣יןtoforeverPreposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralDaniel 2:20עָלְמָ֖אtoforeverNoun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 2:20עָלְמָ֑אtoeverNoun - masculine singular determinateDaniel 2:44לְעָלְמִין֙towill neverPreposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralDaniel 2:44לְעָלְמַיָּֽא׃toforeverPreposition-l | Noun - masculine plural determinateDaniel 3:9לְעָלְמִ֥יןtoforeverPreposition-l | Noun - masculine pluralDaniel 4:3עָלַ֔םtois an eternalNoun - masculine singularDaniel 4:34עָלְמָ֖אtoforeverNoun - masculine singular determinate
Usage map

A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.

First aligned rowEzra 4:15
Aligned rows20
Books represented2
Ezra2Daniel18
Source forms
לְעָלְמִ֥ין3xlə·‘ā·lə·mînDaniel 3:9, Daniel 6:6, Daniel 6:21
עָלַ֔ם3x‘ā·lamDaniel 4:3, Daniel 4:34, Daniel 7:27
לְעָלְמִ֣ין2xlə·‘ā·lə·mînDaniel 2:4, Daniel 5:10
עָלְמָ֑א2x‘ā·lə·māEzra 4:15, Daniel 2:20
עָלְמָ֖א2x‘ā·lə·māDaniel 2:20, Daniel 4:34
לְעָלְמַיָּֽא׃1xlə·‘ā·lə·may·yāDaniel 2:44
לְעָלְמִין֙1xlə·‘ā·lə·mînDaniel 2:44
לְעָ֣לְמִ֔ין1xlə·‘ā·lə·mînDaniel 6:26
Parsing patterns
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural7xDaniel 2:4, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 3:9, Daniel 5:10
Noun - masculine singular determinate6xEzra 4:15, Ezra 4:19, Daniel 2:20, Daniel 4:34
Noun - masculine singular4xDaniel 4:3, Daniel 4:34, Daniel 7:14, Daniel 7:27
Noun - masculine plural determinate1xDaniel 7:18
Noun - masculine singular construct1xDaniel 7:18
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural determinate1xDaniel 2:44
Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain

Full license details