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Ugaritic.
is found approximately 60 times in the Hebrew Old Testament in its
verbal forms.
The basic meaning of this word is that of “being complete” or “finished,” with
nothing else expected or intended. When it was said that the temple was “finished” (1
Kings 6:22), this meant that the temple was “complete,” with nothing else to add.
Similarly, when the notation is made in Job 31:40, “The words of Job are ended
[finished],” this indicates that the cycle of Job’s speeches is “complete.”
is
sometimes used to express the fact that something is “completed” or “finished” with
regard to its supply. Thus, money that is all spent is “finished” or “exhausted” (Gen.
47:15, 18). Jeremiah was given bread daily until “all the bread in the city [was] spent
[exhausted]” (Jer. 37:21). When a people came “to a full end” (Num. 14:35,
RSV
), it
meant that they were “consumed” or “completely destroyed.” To “consume” the
filthiness out of the people (Ezek. 22:15) meant “to destroy it” or “to make an end of it.”
sometimes expresses moral and ethical “soundness”: “Then shall I be
upright” (Ps. 19:13), says the psalmist, when God helps him to keep God’s Law.
B. Adjective.
( , 8535), “perfect.” When the adjectival form
is used to describe Job
(1:1), the meaning is not that he was really “perfect” in the ultimate sense, but rather that
he was “blameless” (
RSV
) or “had integrity.”
CONTINUALLY
A. Adverb.
(
$
, 8548), “always; continually: regularly.” This word comes from a root
that means “to measure.” The root is found in Assyrian, Aramaic, Arabic, and
Phoenician.
occurs 100 times in all parts of the Old Testament. It signifies what is
to be done regularly or continuously without interruption.
is first used in Exod. 25:30: “And thou shalt set upon the table showbread
before me always” (
KJV
;
NASB
, “at all times”). Sometimes the continuity is explained by
what follows, as in Isa. 21:8: “… My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the
daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights.”
Because of his covenant with Jonathan, David said to Mephibosheth: “… And you
shall eat at my table regularly” (2 Sam. 9:7; cf. 2 Sam. 9:10,
NASB
;
KJV
, “continually”;
RSV
, “always”).
occurs most frequently of the daily rituals in the tabernacle and temple: “Now
this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar; two lambs of the first year day by day
continually” (Exod. 29:38). The variety in the English versions indicates that both
ideas—regularity and continuousness—are present in the Hebrew word. In this passage,
indicates that these rituals were to be performed regularly and without interruption
for the duration of the old covenant.
The word is also used of God. It describes His visible presence at the tabernacle: “So
it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night” (Num.
9:16). It describes His care for His people: “… let thy loving-kindness and thy truth