Many more examples could be cited. These suffice to show that a variety of meanings occur depending on the context. In the case of covenant terms, the main idea is that the Jews could not change God’s commands when it suited them. By the words olam and dor God gave His orders a degree of permanence that warned humans not to change them or depart from them. But there are many cases where the meaning of “eternal” or “never ending” clearly does not apply.
But, for discussion’s sake, suppose that the word olam means that God Himself could never make a change of any kind. If that is the case, the following conclusions must follow:
- All of Abraham’s descendants still are required to receive fleshly circumcision as “an everlasting (olam) covenant” (Genesis 17:13). Yet the New Testament emphasizes that circumcision can no longer be required (Acts 15:1-29; Galatians 5:1-6).
- Aaronic priests must continue (olam) and must burn incense and set out the temple bread as “a covenant forever (olam)” (Leviticus 24:7-8). Yet the New Testament plainly teaches a change in priesthood. Aaronic priests have been replaced by the priesthood of Christ (Hebrews 7:12).
- Likewise, Aaron’s priestly clothing was olam (Exodus 28:43). Yet those garments are no longer worn; they no longer exist. For us, Jesus warns us against showy religious clothing (Matthew 23:5). The true spiritual clothing is Christ Himself (Galatians 3:27).
- The Jewish feasts must be enforced olam, and all the faithful must make annual trips to Jerusalem. Yet Jesus announced the time when worshipers would not have to go to Jerusalem (John 4:21-24).
- The curse on the Moabites could never be removed, for it was olam (Deuteronomy 23:3). Yet the New Testament shows that Christ reconciles the entire world to God. He brings God’s blessing to all nations—which would include Moabites (Genesis 22:18; 2 Corinthians 5:19; 1 John 2:2).
Even those not familiar with Hebrew as a language can see by its use in the Old Testament that they cannot press too strictly the idea of “never ending.” To insist on that meaning is to create difficulties too large to solve. We should also be consistent. It is unfair to apply a rigid “never ending” meaning to those parts of the law we like, while dismissing that meaning for less popular parts. In other words, those who use olam as a reason to keep the Sabbath should also use it to keep circumcision, the priesthood of Levi and Aaron, the temple items and rituals, and the annual feasts. All of these are spoken of in the same way, using the same Hebrew terms.