Biblical Word Etymology
The Etymology of “Eternity”
The biblical word “Eternity” traces back to Hebrew / Greek (olam (Hebrew), aion (Greek)), where it meant “Endless time without beginning or end; the age to come”. Across 3eras it evolved into the modern sense: “Infinite time without beginning or end; also seemingly endless duration”.
How the Meaning Evolved
Ancient Hebrew/Greek
Hebrew / Greekolam (Hebrew), aion (Greek)Endless time without beginning or end; the age to come
Hebrew olam (H5769) means 'world, age, eternity, everlasting'. Greek aion (G165) means 'age, eon, eternity'. Core term for God's timelessness (Psalm 90:2, 2 Peter 3:8).
Medieval Latin / Church
LatinaeternitasInfinite, timeless existence; the state of being without temporal limitation
Latin aeternitas from aeternus (eternal). Church theology developed through Boethius and Augustine: eternity as God's simultaneous perception of all time, not sequence.
Modern English
EnglisheternityInfinite time without beginning or end; also seemingly endless duration
From Latin via Old French c.1300. Philosophical and theological term for timelessness. Also colloquial for 'a very long time' (felt like eternity).