Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, the concept of forgetting is often associated with both human frailty and divine grace. The act of forgetting can have both negative and positive connotations, depending on the context in which it is used.
Human ForgetfulnessHuman forgetfulness is frequently depicted as a weakness or failure to remember God's commandments, blessings, and past acts of deliverance. In
Deuteronomy 4:9, Moses warns the Israelites, "Only be on your guard and diligently watch yourselves, so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen, and so that they do not slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and grandchildren." This verse underscores the importance of remembrance as a means of maintaining faithfulness to God.
The Psalms also reflect on the dangers of forgetting God.
Psalm 106:21 states, "They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt," highlighting the Israelites' tendency to forget God's mighty works and the consequences that followed. Forgetting God often leads to idolatry and disobedience, as seen throughout the history of Israel.
Divine ForgetfulnessIn contrast to human forgetfulness, divine forgetfulness is portrayed as an act of grace and mercy. When God "forgets" sins, it signifies His forgiveness and the removal of guilt.
Isaiah 43:25 declares, "I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more." This divine forgetfulness is not a lapse in memory but a deliberate choice to no longer hold sins against the repentant.
The New Testament echoes this theme in
Hebrews 8:12, where God promises, "For I will forgive their iniquities and will remember their sins no more." This assurance of forgiveness is central to the New Covenant, emphasizing God's willingness to restore a broken relationship with humanity through Christ.
Forgetting the PastThe Apostle Paul speaks of a positive form of forgetting in
Philippians 3:13-14: "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have laid hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus." Here, forgetting refers to leaving behind past failures and achievements to focus on the future and the pursuit of spiritual maturity.
ConclusionIn summary, the Bible presents forgetting as a multifaceted concept. Human forgetfulness often leads to spiritual decline, while divine forgetfulness is an expression of God's grace. Believers are encouraged to remember God's works and commandments while also forgetting past hindrances to pursue a deeper relationship with Christ.
Strong's Hebrew
7911. shakach -- to forget... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to forget NASB Word Usage ever forget (1), forget
(47),
forgets (3), forgot (10), forgotten (39), who forget (1).
...5382. nashah -- to forget
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to forget NASB Word Usage forget (2),forgets
(1), forgotten (2), surely forget (1). forget, deprive, exact....
Library
But that People whichForgets God,Forgets Itself. ...
... X. But that People whichforgets God,forgets itself.? But that People
whichforgets God,forgets itself. What right has it to...
In the Next Place, CelsusForgets that He is Addressing Christians...
... Chapter XXXVII. In the next place, Celsusforgets that he is addressing
Christians? In the next place, Celsusforgets that he...
The Bible the Great Civilizer
... And so, after a while, the man lowers his soul, and makes it mean and covetous.
Heforgets all that is lovely and of good report....
We Sure of To-Morrow? a New Year's Sermon
... To-day's carouse will not empty it; there will be enough for to-morrow.' Heforgets
to-morrow's headaches; heforgets that on some tomorrow the wine will be...
James i. 22-24
... the word with the understanding only, without applying it to the life, to one who,
having seen his image in a mirror, goes away and immediatelyforgets how he...
"Christ Also Waits. "
... new. Christ also waits; but men are slow and late. Have we done what we
could? Have I? Have you ?". "SomebodyForgets.". A little...
Charge You, O Daughters of Jerusalem, if Ye Find My Beloved, that...
... True love has no eyes for self. [37] This poor afflicted Spouseforgets her still
bleeding wounds, sheforgets her loss, she does not even refer to it; she...
First and Second Appearances of the Risen Christ. The Resurrection...
... Her grief at the loss of the Lord is so great that sheforgets to be frightened
at the angels; just as a mother in her anxiety for the sick childforgets to...
The Unknown Giver and the Misused Gifts
... He thatforgets his king becomes a traitor. The soldier thatforgets his captain
becomes a deserter. The child thatforgets his mother, becomes a prodigal....
The Cry for Bread
... So the right understanding of this prayer is a barrier against the opposite evils
of a false sensuousness whichforgets the spirit that is in the flesh, and of...
Thesaurus
Forgets (8 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Forgets (8 Occurrences).
... (See NIV). James 1:24 for he sees
himself, and goes away, and immediately
forgets what kind of man he was.
...Forget (77 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NIV). James 1:24 for he sees himself, and goes
away, and immediatelyforgets what kind of man he was....
Forgettest (6 Occurrences)
Observes (14 Occurrences)
... mirror; (See RSV). James 1:24 for he sees himself, and goes away, and immediately
forgets what kind of man he was. (See RSV). Numbers 9...
Looks (76 Occurrences)
... James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not
being a hearer whoforgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in...
I'll (31 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Genesis 27:45 until your brother's anger turn away from you, and heforgets
what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you from there....
Forgetfulness (1 Occurrence)
Forsakes (7 Occurrences)
... Almighty. (WEB RSV NIV). Proverbs 2:17 who forsakes the friend of her youth,
andforgets the covenant of her God: (WEB RSV). Proverbs...
Trample (34 Occurrences)
... (DBY). Job 39:15 andforgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild
animal may trample them. (WEB JPS ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)....
Doer (25 Occurrences)
... James 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of freedom, and continues, not
being a hearer whoforgets, but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in...
Resources
What does the Bible mean when it says that God remembered something? | GotQuestions.orgDoes God really forget our sins? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to be doers of the Word in James 1:22? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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