ἐκλανθάνομαι

I forget entirely

Definition

ἐκλανθάνομαι means to forget completely or utterly, carrying the sense of letting something slip from one's memory entirely. It is a compound verb that intensifies the basic idea of forgetting, suggesting a thorough or willful neglect. In its single New Testament occurrence in Hebrews 12:5, it is used in a negative command ('do not forget') within a quotation from Proverbs 3:11, urging believers not to neglect or disregard the Lord's discipline. The word implies a failure to hold onto or properly consider something that one should remember.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 12:5. The author quotes the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) of Proverbs 3:11, applying it to Christian perseverance: 'And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons...' The context is pastoral exhortation, warning believers against neglecting or failing to apply the scriptural truth about God's fatherly discipline during times of suffering. The usage is imperative and negative, framing forgetting as a spiritual danger.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'completely,' combined with the verb λανθάνομαι (lanthanomai), which means 'to escape notice,' 'to be hidden,' or 'to forget.' Thus, ἐκλανθάνομαι literally means 'to forget out of' or 'to let completely escape one's mind.' It intensifies the root concept, moving from simple forgetting to a state of thorough neglect or omission from memory.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it highlights the human tendency to neglect divine instruction, especially during hardship. In Hebrews 12:5, forgetting is not a passive memory lapse but an active failure to apply God's word—specifically, the truth that His discipline is evidence of His love and fatherhood. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by emphasizing that believers are called to actively remember and submit to God's formative work, viewing trials through the lens of Scripture rather than dismissing its comfort.

In the Greco-Roman world, memory and remembrance were often tied to moral and philosophical instruction; forgetting wise counsel was seen as a failure in character or education. The author of Hebrews uses this term within a Hellenistic Jewish context, drawing from the Greek translation of Proverbs. The command 'do not forget' would resonate as a call to steadfastness and attentiveness to inherited tradition, countering the cultural shame associated with neglecting a teacher's or father's guidance.

ἐπιλανθάνομαι (epilanthanomai, G1950) — a more common NT verb for forgetting, often with a sense of oversight or neglect, but less intensive than ἐκλανθάνομαι (e.g., Matthew 16:5, Hebrews 13:2).

Word Details

Scripture References