Alway; Always
The Meaning of Always in Scripture
The words "alway" and "always" in the Bible translate several Hebrew and Greek terms, each carrying slightly different nuances of perpetuity and constancy. In older English, "alway" was the standard form (used poetically and in prose), while "always" gradually replaced it. Both express the idea of actions or states that perpetually recur, though not necessarily without interruption.
Hebrew Terms for Always
The most frequent Hebrew word translated "always" is tamid, meaning "continually" or "perpetually." This term appears in descriptions of ongoing duties and eternal commitments. The perpetual fire on the altar was to burn tamid (Leviticus 6:13). The showbread was to be set before the Lord tamid (Exodus 25:30). David declared, "I have set the Lord always before me" (Psalm 16:8), using this word to express his constant awareness of God's presence. Another Hebrew construction, "all the days," appears in commands like "that it might go well with them and with their children forever" (Deuteronomy 5:29).
Greek Terms in the New Testament
The New Testament uses several Greek expressions for "always." The phrase dia pantos means "through all" or "continuously" and expresses unbroken continuity. In Matthew 28:20, Jesus promises, "I am with you always, to the end of the age," using the expression pasas tas hemeras, literally "all the days", which mirrors the Hebrew idiom found in Deuteronomy. The Greek word aei, meaning "at every and any time," appears in Acts 7:51 ("You always resist the Holy Spirit"), 2 Corinthians 6:10 ("always rejoicing"), and 1 Peter 3:15 ("always being prepared to make a defense").
God's Everlasting Faithfulness
The concept of "always" finds its deepest expression in descriptions of God's character and promises. His love endures forever (Psalm 136). His faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100:5). His counsel stands forever (Psalm 33:11). When Scripture says God is "always" faithful, it means without exception or interruption, a perfect constancy that no human can fully match but that provides the foundation for all trust in God.
The Call to Constant Faithfulness
Believers are repeatedly called to practices of perpetual faithfulness. Paul instructs the Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" and "rejoice always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). He tells the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord always" (Philippians 4:4). Peter urges believers to "always be prepared to give an answer" for their hope (1 Peter 3:15). These commands do not demand literally uninterrupted activity but rather a habitual, characteristic pattern of life that defines the believer's identity.
Jesus' Promise of Perpetual Presence
Perhaps the most comforting use of "always" in the Bible is Jesus' final promise in Matthew 28:20: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." The phrase "all the days" encompasses every kind of day, days of joy and sorrow, triumph and suffering, clarity and confusion. This promise assures believers that Christ's presence is not occasional or conditional but constant and comprehensive, extending to the very end of the present age.
Biblical Context
The words 'alway' and 'always' appear throughout both Testaments. Key Old Testament passages include the perpetual offerings (Leviticus 6:13), the showbread (Exodus 25:30), and David's awareness of God (Psalm 16:8). In the New Testament, Jesus' promise of perpetual presence (Matthew 28:20), Paul's calls to constant prayer and rejoicing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17; Philippians 4:4), and Peter's exhortation to readiness (1 Peter 3:15) all use these terms.
Theological Significance
The biblical concept of 'always' reveals the nature of God's character as unchanging and his promises as permanent. It also establishes the pattern of Christian life as one of constant, habitual faithfulness rather than occasional religious activity. Jesus' promise to be with his people 'always' provides the theological foundation for Christian confidence in every circumstance, echoing God's ancient promise never to leave or forsake his people (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Historical Background
The English word 'alway' was the original form used in Middle English and early Modern English, with 'always' emerging as a variant that eventually became dominant. The KJV uses both forms. The underlying Hebrew and Greek terms reflect different cultural conceptions of time and continuity. The Hebrew tamid was closely associated with temple worship and ritual obligations, while the Greek terms carried broader philosophical connotations of permanence and constancy in Hellenistic thought.