שָׁכַח
to mislay, i.e. to be oblivious of, from want of memory or attention
Definition
The Hebrew verb שָׁכַח (shâkach) fundamentally means to forget, to cease to care about, or to neglect. It often describes the human failure to remember God's commands and deeds, as in Deuteronomy 8:11 where Israel is warned not to 'forget the LORD your God' after entering prosperity. In some contexts, it implies a willful ignoring or abandonment, as when God is said to 'forget' his people in judgment (e.g., Psalm 13:1), though this is often a relational metaphor for withholding favor. Conversely, it can denote simple lapse of memory, as with the chief cupbearer who forgot Joseph (Genesis 40:23).
Biblical Usage
שָׁכַח is used 94 times, predominantly in poetic and prophetic literature (Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah) and Deuteronomy. Its primary context is covenantal, warning Israel against forgetting God's laws and mighty acts (Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:12). It is also used in laments, where the psalmist feels forgotten by God (Psalm 42:9), and in promises that God will not ultimately forget his covenant (Deuteronomy 4:31). The verb appears in both human-to-human and divine-to-human relationships.
Etymology
A primitive root, שָׁכַח is related to the adjective שָׁכֵחַ (forgetful). Cognates exist in other Semitic languages like Akkadian (šakāhu) and Arabic (sahiya), all carrying the core sense of forgetting. The Hebrew root conveys both unintentional memory loss and deliberate neglect.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it captures a central theme of the covenant: remembrance. Forgetting God is not merely a mental lapse but a moral and relational failure that leads to idolatry and disobedience (Deuteronomy 8:19). Conversely, God's promise not to forget his covenant (Deuteronomy 4:31) underscores his faithfulness. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical 'forgetting' is often an active turning away, while God's 'remembering' is an act of gracious intervention.
In ancient Israelite culture, memory was closely tied to identity and covenant loyalty. To forget God's deeds was to sever oneself from the community's story and obligations. The concept was more volitional and heart-oriented than the modern, often passive, idea of a memory slip; it implied a failure to act in accordance with what one should remember.
נָשָׁה (nâshâh, H5382) — A close synonym for forgetting, but can emphasize the consequence or state of being forgotten. פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — Often means to 'remember' or 'attend to,' serving as a key antonym in covenantal contexts.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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