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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadInternational Standard Bible Encyclopedia: Perpetual; Perpetually; Perpetuity
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pẽr-pet̬´uÌ„Ì-al, pẽr-pet̬´uÌ„Ì-al-i, puÌ‚r-peÌ„Ì-tū´i-ti (עיל×, ‛oÌ„laÌ„m, × ×¦×—, necahÌ£, תּמיד, taÌ„mı̄dh):
Perpetual is usually the translation of ‛oÌ„laÌ„m, properly, “a wrapping up†or “hiding,†used often of time indefinitely long, and of eternity when applied to God; hence, we have, “for perpetual generations†(); “the priesthood by a perpetual statute†(; compare ; ; , etc.); “placed the sand for the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it†(, the Revised Version margin “an everlasting ordinance which it cannot passâ€); “sleep a perpetual sleep†(, ); “Moab shall be ... a perpetual desolation†(), etc.; necahÌ£, “preeminence,†“perpetuity,†“eternity†(often translated “for ever,†), is translated “perpetual†(; ); naÌ„cahÌ£ (participle) (); taÌ„mı̄dh, “continuance,†generally rendered “continually,†but sometimes “perpetual†or “perpetually†(; ).
Perpetually is the rendering of ‛adh, properly “progress,†“duration,†hence, long or indefinite time, eternity (usually in the King James Version rendered “for ever “), in , “His anger did tear perpetuallyâ€; and of koÌ„l ha-yaÌ„mı̄m, “all the days†(; , “my heart shall be there perpetuallyâ€; compare , paÌsas taÌs heÌ„meÌras, literally, “all the daysâ€).
Perpetuity occurs in the Revised Version (British and American) of , , “The land shall not be sold in perpetuity,†“The house ... shall be made sure in perpetuity.â€
Perpetual is frequent in the Apocrypha, most often as the translation of aioÌ„Ìnios and kindred words, e.g. Judith 13:20, “a perpetual praiseâ€; The Wisdom of Solomon 10:14, “perpetual glory,†the Revised Version (British and American) “eternalâ€; Ecclesiasticus 11:33, “a perpetual blot,†the Revised Version (British and American) “blame for everâ€; 1 Macc 6:44, “a perpetual name,†the Revised Version (British and American) “everlastingâ€; aeÌnaos, “ever-flowing,†occurs in The Wisdom of Solomon 11:6 (so the Revised Version); endelecheÌ„Ìs, “constant†(Ecclesiasticus 41:6, “perpetual reproachâ€).
For “perpetual†(; ) the Revised Version has “everlastingâ€; for “the old hatred†(), “perpetual enmityâ€; for “perpetual desolation†() “desolate forever,†margin “Hebrew 'everlasting desolations.'“