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Three Hebrew words are translated 'eternal.'
1. ad: very often translated 'for ever,' and with another word, olam, 'for ever and ever.' "The Lord shall reign for ever and ever." Ex. 15:
18. "The Lord is king for ever and ever." Ps. 10: 16: cf. also Ps. 45: 6; Ps. 48: 14; Ps. 52: 8. Micah 4: 5. Ad is also translated 'everlasting:' "the everlasting Father," or "Father of the everlasting age." Isa. 9: 6. Also 'eternity;' "the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity." Isa. 57: 15.
2. olam, signifying 'everlasting,' 'never ending.' It is often translated 'for ever:' "his mercy endureth for ever," 1 Chr. 16: 41; and 'everlasting:' "the everlasting God." Gen. 21: 33; Ps. 90: 2; Ps. 93: 2; Ps. 103: 17. "I will make thee an eternal excellency." Isa. 60: 15.
3 . qedem, 'ancient, that which is before.' "The eternal God is thy refuge." Deut. 33: 27. "Art thou not from everlasting?" Hab. 1: 12. "God is my King of old." Ps. 74: 12.
4. In the N.T., ἀΐδιος, 'perpetual:' occurs only in Rom. 1: 20, "his eternal power and Godhead;" and Jude 6, "reserved in everlasting chains."
5. αἰών, 'age, duration, ever.' With a preposition 'unto the ages' is often translated 'for ever;' and, when repeated, 'for ever and ever.' "He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever." John 6: 58. "Christ abideth for ever." John 12: 34. "To whom be glory for ever and ever." Gal. 1: 5. "According to the eternal purpose." Eph. 3: 11. "Now unto the king eternal . . . . be honour and glory for ever and ever." 1 Tim. 1: 17. This word is often translated 'world,' but may at times be better rendered 'age,' as "be not conformed to this age,"
Rom. 12: 2; and 'for ever and ever' may be translated 'to the ages of ages,' though the meaning would be the same.
6 . αἰώνιος, f rom αἰών, signifying 'ever enduring.' It is always translated 'eternal' or 'everlasting,' except in Rom. 16: 25, "since the world began," or "in the times of the ages." 2 Tim. 1: 9; Titus 1: 2, "before the world began," or, "before the ages of time;" and Philemon 15, "for ever." This word is applied to God Himself as "the everlasting God." Rom. 16: 26; to the Holy Spirit. Heb. 9: 14;
to redemption. Heb. 9: 12; inheritance. Heb. 9: 15; salvation. Heb. 5:
9; glory. 1 Peter 5: 10; and constantly to life. John 3: 15, 16, 36. On the other hand it is applied to punishment, Matt. 25: 46; damnation, Mark 3: 29; destruction, 2 Thess. 1: 9; and fire, Jude 7: cf. Isa. 33:
14.
The above passages show that the same word is used for the existence of God Himself; for the salvation and blessedness of the saved; and for the punishment of the wicked.