I changed the subject line because we're straying from the original topic. Please check the archives for previous discussions regarding the range of meaning of עולם
It can indeed mean forever in some contexts, like when it describes God himself (we can be relatively certain that El Olam doesn't mean "Temporary God"). In other contexts, though, it means a relatively long time (as in the case of a slave who commits to remain with his owner "forever"). In still other contexts, it connotes, very simply, indefinite duration. Here's a link to one archived discussion thread: http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-hebrew/2009-February/037249.html Again, translation is a game of contexts—and also, to some extent, preconceptions. Gary Hedrick San Antonio, Texas USA _______________________________________________ b-hebrew mailing list [email protected] http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/b-hebrew
