conjunctive waw, and ʿed, which also means “perpetuity.” Because it points to the extremely remote time, ʿôlām, whose derivation is uncertain, always occurs with prepositions of direction, or as an adverbial accusative of direction, or finally as a genitive that serves as a prepositional expression. Its meaning of “unlimited and unforseeable duration” is heightened to “unending perpetuity” by the addition of wāʿed. It seems to be the language of a solemn liturgical conclusion (Pss 45:18[17]; 145:21).