Topical Encyclopedia
The term "ever" in the Bible is often used to denote eternity, perpetuity, or an unending duration. It is frequently found in phrases such as "forever," "everlasting," and "evermore," which convey the concept of time without end. In the original languages of the Bible, Hebrew and Greek, the words translated as "ever" carry significant theological implications, particularly concerning the nature of God, His promises, and the destiny of human souls.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word most commonly translated as "ever" is "עוֹלָם" (olam). This term is used to describe God's eternal nature and His everlasting covenant with His people. For example, in
Genesis 21:33, Abraham calls on "the Everlasting God" (El Olam), highlighting God's eternal existence. The concept of "forever" is also applied to God's promises, such as in
Psalm 89:28, where God declares, "I will maintain My loving devotion for him forever, and My covenant with him will stand firm."
The use of "ever" in the context of God's laws and statutes is also significant. In
Exodus 12:14, the Passover is described as a "perpetual ordinance," indicating that it is to be observed "forever." This underscores the enduring nature of God's commands and the importance of obedience across generations.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "αἰών" (aion) is often translated as "ever" or "eternal." This term is used to describe the eternal life promised to believers through Jesus Christ. In
John 3:16, one of the most well-known verses, it is stated, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Here, "eternal life" signifies a life that extends beyond the temporal into the everlasting presence of God.
The New Testament also uses "ever" to describe the eternal nature of Christ's priesthood.
Hebrews 7:24 states, "But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood." This emphasizes the unchanging and perpetual role of Christ as the mediator between God and humanity.
Theological ImplicationsThe use of "ever" in the Bible carries profound theological implications. It affirms the eternal nature of God, who is described as "from everlasting to everlasting" (
Psalm 90:2). It also assures believers of the permanence of God's promises, including the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. The concept of "everlasting" punishment, as mentioned in
Matthew 25:46, underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of eternal separation from God for those who reject His salvation.
In summary, the term "ever" in the Bible is a powerful reminder of the eternal realities that transcend human understanding. It points to the unchanging nature of God, the enduring truth of His Word, and the everlasting hope offered through Jesus Christ.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
adv.) At any time; at any period or point of time.
2. (adv.) At all times; through all time; always; forever.
3. (adv.) Without cessation; continually.
Greek
4455. popote -- ever yet ... ever yet. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: popote Phonetic Spelling:
(po'-pot-e) Short Definition: at any time,
ever Definition: at any time,
ever.
... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4455.htm - 6k4218. pote -- once, ever
... once, ever. Part of Speech: Particle, Disjunctive Particle Transliteration: pote
Phonetic Spelling: (pot-eh') Short Definition: at one time or other Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4218.htm - 6k
104. aei -- ever, unceasingly
... ever, unceasingly. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: aei Phonetic Spelling:
(ah-eye') Short Definition: always Definition: always, unceasingly, perpetually ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/104.htm - 6k
3379. mepote -- never, lest ever
... never, lest ever. Part of Speech: Adverb, Negative Transliteration: mepote Phonetic
Spelling: (may'-pot-eh) Short Definition: lest at any time, lest, perhaps ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3379.htm - 6k
165. aion -- a space of time, an age
... a space of time, an age NASB Word Usage age (20), ages (6), ancient time (1), beginning
of time (1), course (1), eternal (2), eternity (1), ever* (2), forever ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/165.htm - 8k
3763. oudepote -- never
... never. Word Origin from oude and pote Definition never NASB Word Usage ever
(1), never (14), nothing (1), nothing...ever (1). never. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3763.htm - 6k
3842. pantote -- at all times
... Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: pantote Phonetic Spelling: (pan'-tot-eh)
Short Definition: always, at all times Definition: always, at all times, ever. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3842.htm - 6k
3768. oupo -- not yet
... yet. Word Origin from ou, and #NAME? Definition not yet NASB Word Usage ever
(1), still...no (1), yet (24), yet...ever (1). not yet. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3768.htm - 6k
4007. per -- indeed (adds force to the preceding word)
... whosoever. From the base of peran; an enclitic particle significant of abundance
(thoroughness), ie Emphasis; much, very or ever -- (whom-)soever. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4007.htm - 6k
2250. hemera -- day
... extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context)
-- age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2250.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
5865. elom -- ever... elom. 5866 .
ever. Transliteration: elom Phonetic Spelling: (ay-lome') Short
Definition:
ever. Word Origin the same as olam, qv.
ever For owlam --
ever.
... /hebrew/5865.htm - 5k 386. ethan -- perennial, ever-flowing, permanence
... 385, 386. ethan. 387 . perennial, ever-flowing, permanence. Transliteration:
ethan Phonetic Spelling: (ay-thawn') Short Definition: enduring. ...
/hebrew/386.htm - 6k
5769. olam -- long duration, antiquity, futurity
... ages (1), all successive (1), always (1), ancient (13), ancient times (3), continual
(1), days of old (1), eternal (2), eternity (3), ever (10), Everlasting (2 ...
/hebrew/5769.htm - 7k
7378. rib -- to strive, contend
... root Definition to strive, contend NASB Word Usage argue (2), complain (2), contend
(22), contended (9), contends (1), dispute (1), ever strive (1), filed (1 ...
/hebrew/7378.htm - 6k
5957. alam -- perpetuity, antiquity
... to olam Definition perpetuity, antiquity NASB Word Usage all ages (1), all ages
to come (1), everlasting (4), forever (9), forever and ever (1), never* (1 ...
/hebrew/5957.htm - 6k
5532. cakan -- to be of use or service, benefit
... acquaint self, be advantage, ever, be, unprofitable, treasurer, be wont
A primitive root; to be familiar with; by implication, to ...
/hebrew/5532.htm - 5k
5674a. abar -- to pass over, through, or by, pass on
... crossed over (17), crossing (5), crossing over (5), current (1), devote (1), drew
across (1), drifting (1), enter (1), escapes the notice (1), ever bring (1 ...
/hebrew/5674a.htm - 7k
3898. lacham -- to fight, do battle
... devour, eat, ever, fighting, overcome, prevail, make warring A primitive
root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication ...
/hebrew/3898.htm - 5k
3117. yom -- day
... the day (1), days to day (1), days you shall daily (1), days ago (1), days' (11),
each (1), each day (4), entire (2), eternity (1), evening* (1), ever in your ...
/hebrew/3117.htm - 7k
8548. tamid -- continuity
... word Definition continuity NASB Word Usage all times (1), always (4), constantly
(2), continual (26), continually (52), continuously (2), ever (2), perpetual (1 ...
/hebrew/8548.htm - 6k
Library
For ever with the Lord.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCXXXVIII. For ever with the Lord. 8.8.8.8 James
Montgomery. For ever with the Lord. Eternity! Eternity! ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn ccxxxviii for ever with.htm
Whether the Priesthood of Christ Endures for Ever?
... OF THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the priesthood of Christ endures
for ever? Objection ... sacrifice. But this will not be for ever. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the priesthood of christ.htm
And Spirit ever bless'd
... And Spirit ever bless'd. 6 6 6 6 8 8 PSALMS 136, second version; 148, second version
6,6,6,6,8,8. To God the Father, Son,. And Spirit ever bless'd,. ...
/.../anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/and spirit ever blessd.htm
"For ever with the Lord. "
... Nuhguhmoowin 5. SM "For ever with the Lord.". "Kahg' nig che we je wug:" Ta ba nin
ga: A men. Pe mah de zim a be je bong, Kah ge nig pe mahd' zim, ...
/.../a collection of gospel hymns in ojibway and english/nuhguhmoowin 5 s m for.htm
How Christ Was, Is, and ever Will be the Lover of All
... THE SECOND BOOK CHAPTER XLV. HOW CHRIST WAS, IS, AND EVER WILL BE THE LOVER
OF ALL. In order that we shall possess and desire this ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xlv how christ was.htm
April the Ninth the Ever-Living Lord
... APRIL The Ninth THE EVER-LIVING LORD. REVELATION i.9-18. Let me take the
simple words, and quietly gaze into the wonderful depths ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/april the ninth the ever-living.htm
O Darkest Night that ever Fell!
... CHRISTMAS O darkest night that ever fell! tr., John Brownlie 8,6,8,6. I.
O darkest night that ever fell! Before the sun had set,. ...
/.../brownlie/hymns from the morningland/o darkest night that ever.htm
Whether it is ever Lawful to Confess to Another than a Priest?
... OF THE MINISTER OF CONFESSION (SEVEN ARTICLES) Whether it is ever lawful
to confess to another than a priest? Objection 1: It would ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is ever lawful.htm
Whether it was ever Lawful to have a Concubine?
... OF PLURALITY OF WIVES (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether it was ever lawful to have
a concubine? Objection 1: It would seem that it has been ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it was ever lawful 2.htm
Jesus, Ever-Loving Saviour
... No. 135 Jesus, ever-loving Saviour. GENERAL Jesus, ever-loving Saviour.
Hymn for a Happy Death Franz Schubert Arr. by NAM. ...
/.../no 135 jesus ever-loving saviour.htm
Thesaurus
Ever (3946 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Ever (3946 Occurrences).
Ever is used 3946 times in 12
translations. You can narrow your search using the Advanced Bible Search.
.../e/ever.htm - 6kEver-living (20 Occurrences)
Ever-living. Everliving, Ever-living. Evermore . Multi-Version
Concordance Ever-living (20 Occurrences). Matthew 16:16 ...
/e/ever-living.htm - 12k
Ever-burning (3 Occurrences)
Ever-burning. Ever, Ever-burning. Ever-busy . Multi-Version Concordance
Ever-burning (3 Occurrences). Revelation 19:20 And the beast ...
/e/ever-burning.htm - 7k
Ever-flowing (4 Occurrences)
Ever-flowing. Ever-changing, Ever-flowing. Evergreen . Multi-Version
Concordance Ever-flowing (4 Occurrences). Deuteronomy ...
/e/ever-flowing.htm - 7k
Ever-changing (1 Occurrence)
Ever-changing. Ever-busy, Ever-changing. Ever-flowing . Multi-Version
Concordance Ever-changing (1 Occurrence). 2 Timothy 3:6 Among ...
/e/ever-changing.htm - 6k
Ever-increasing (2 Occurrences)
Ever-increasing. Evergreen, Ever-increasing. Everlasting .
Multi-Version Concordance Ever-increasing (2 Occurrences). ...
/e/ever-increasing.htm - 7k
Ever-shining (1 Occurrence)
Ever-shining. Ever-present, Ever-shining. Every . Multi-Version
Concordance Ever-shining (1 Occurrence). 1 Peter 3:4 ...
/e/ever-shining.htm - 6k
Ever-busy (1 Occurrence)
Ever-busy. Ever-burning, Ever-busy. Ever-changing . Multi-Version
Concordance Ever-busy (1 Occurrence). James 3:8 But the tongue ...
/e/ever-busy.htm - 6k
Ever-present (1 Occurrence)
Ever-present. Evermore, Ever-present. Ever-shining . Multi-Version Concordance
Ever-present (1 Occurrence). Psalms 46:1 For the Chief Musician. ...
/e/ever-present.htm - 6k
Beings (42 Occurrences)
... (WBS). Revelation 4:9 And when those living beings give glory, and honor, and thanks
to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, (WBS). ...
/b/beings.htm - 18k
Resources
What does it mean God is our refuge and strength and an ever-present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)? | GotQuestions.orgDid Paul ever meet Jesus in person? | GotQuestions.orgHas anyone ever seen God? | GotQuestions.orgEver: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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