What does the Hebrew word olam mean in common usage?
In common usage, the Hebrew word olam refers to things hidden. It also denotes God's sovereign ability to hide things. Although El Olam is rendered the everlasting God, the term's ordinary sense carries the idea of concealment. This usage differs from other Hebrew divine names like Jehovah-Jireh and El Shaddai.
Les explains that Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba and called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God. Les notes that when they studied Genesis, they would stop and look at the various names of deity, because it is always the same God, but His name is used according to a particular situation or point. For example, when Abraham was going to offer Isaac and God provided a ram in the thicket, the name was Jehovah-Jireh. Les says that was an intrinsic name of God depicting a particular need. Here Abraham calls upon the everlasting God. In English you do not catch it, but in Hebrew this is a totally different word than the Jehovah God back in Genesis chapter 4, and then there is El Shaddai in chapter 17, the God of fruitfulness. Here is still another name of deity, El Olam, meaning God, the everlasting God. Les points out that in Hebrew this word Olam, when used in common usage, always refers to things hidden. It refers to God's sovereign ability to hide things. So the term carries that idea of concealment.
And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.