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# eternal

adjective (eternal); adverb eternally

«eternal» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Lasting for ever, without beginning or end. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#m1)
2. (church) Christians believe God is eternal and that believers will have eternal life with God after death. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#m2)
3. (informal) Seeming to go on for ever, often annoyingly: «his eternal complaining». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#m3)
4. Always true or always there: «eternal truths», «an eternal optimist». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#m4)

### In the lessons

In religion lessons eternal describes God and heaven: «eternal life», «the Eternal City» (Rome). In everyday talk it means «never-ending» or is used with humour. Phrases: «eternal life», «eternal love», «eternal flame», «eternal rest», «an eternal optimist».

### Examples

- Christians believe God is eternal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x1)
- Jesus promised eternal life to those who believe. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x2)
- The car journey felt eternal! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x3)
- Rome is called the Eternal City. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x4)
- An eternal flame burns at the war memorial. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x5)
- My dad is an eternal optimist; he always thinks it'll be sunny. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x6)
- They swore eternal friendship. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x7)
- "Your blood grows thick from your eternal dreaming. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/#x8)

### Note

Adjective, not used with «more». Noun: eternity. Similar: everlasting, endless. «Eternal rest» (euphemism) is said about people who have died.

## In Jewish tradition

It means without beginning or end; God is called eternal, and covenants and laws are said to last for ever.

**Interpretation.** Jewish tradition holds that God is eternal and outside time, and that the covenant and Torah are never cancelled.

### Examples

- The eternal God is a dwelling-place, and underneath are the everlasting arms; and He thrust out the enemy from before thee, and said: 'Destroy.' (Torah DEU.33.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eternal/#x1)
- Every one of them is an eternal covenant in order to preserve the human race for ever, according to its two-fold being: body and spirit. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eternal/#x2)
- It teaches that a first cause, eternal, all-wise, almighty and holy, is the origin and the centre of the whole universe, from whom gradually all beings emanated. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eternal/#x3)
- Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. (Prophets ISA.60.15, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eternal/#x4)

### Note

Adjective, not used with «more». Noun: eternity. Similar: everlasting, endless. «Eternal rest» (euphemism) is said about people who have died.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «eternal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eternal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«eternal» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/eternal.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «eternal» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eternal/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«eternal» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/eternal.html) on Mova free.