A note on ‘aion’ in the LXX
Does the Greek root ‘aion*’ always entail infinite duration?
One relevant set of evidence is provided by Douglas Jacoby, who notes that in not a few instances, the Greek aion* is used in the Septuagint in ways in which ‘everlasting’ (i.e. infinite duration) cannot be the meaning:-
- Genesis 6:4—“Men of old” (giants/ungodly persons/fallen ones/sons of Cain) did not live infinitely
- Jeremiah 25:12—Destruction of Babylon (though not literally destroyed)
- Genesis 9:12—Perpetual generations
- Exodus 21:6—The man or woman would become one’s servant “forever” (!)
- Leviticus 25:34—Perpetual possession of fields
- Deuteronomy 23:3—“Forever” || the 10th generation
- 1 Samuel 2:22—Young Samuel was to serve at the house of the Lord “forever”
- 1 Chronicles 16:5—“Forever” ~ 1000 generations—also Psalm 105:8
- Ezra 4:15, 19—Israelites had been “eternally” resisting political domination
- Psalm 24:7—“Ancient” doors
- Proverbs 22:28—“Ancient” boundary stone
- Jonah 2:6—Prophet confined in (the fish) “forever”