Alam (עָלַם) means to hide, conceal, or be hidden — particularly the hiding of the eyes from seeing. It is distinct from olam (eternity) though they share a root suggesting what is beyond sight or time. Alam appears about 29 times and is used in legal contexts (Leviticus 5:3 — uncleanness hidden from a person's awareness) and theological contexts (God hiding His face or humans hiding from God).
The hiding of eyes in alam carries profound moral weight. Leviticus 4:13 describes unintentional sin where the thing was 'hidden' from the community. Leviticus 20:4 condemns people who 'close their eyes' to evil in their midst. In Isaiah 1:15, God says He will 'hide His eyes' from Israel's prayers because their hands are full of blood. What is hidden from human sight is never hidden from God (Psalm 10:1; 69:5). The theological challenge: will we hide our eyes from sin and need, or will we see as God sees?