שָׁכֵחַ
oblivious
Definition
The Hebrew noun שָׁכֵחַ describes a state of being forgetful or oblivious, specifically referring to a person who has forgotten or neglected something important, often God. In its two biblical occurrences, it carries a strong moral and spiritual connotation. In Psalm 9:17, it describes the wicked who are 'forgetful of God,' meaning they live in willful disregard of Him. In Isaiah 65:11, it refers to those who 'forsake the LORD' and 'forget' His holy mountain, indicating a deliberate abandonment of worship and covenant relationship.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both in poetic/prophetic contexts condemning spiritual apostasy. It is not used for simple, accidental forgetfulness but for a profound and culpable neglect of God. In Psalm 9:17, it is part of a judgment oracle against the nations. In Isaiah 65:11, it is used in God's indictment of idolatrous Israelites who have turned to other gods.
Etymology
Derived from the common Hebrew root שָׁכַח (shâkach, H7913), meaning 'to forget.' The noun form שָׁכֵחַ is a qal active participle, literally meaning 'one who forgets.' This root is used extensively in the Old Testament, often in covenantal contexts about forgetting God's laws or deeds (e.g., Deuteronomy 4:9, 8:11).
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the biblical diagnosis of sin as, in part, a failure of memory—a willful forgetting of God and His covenant. It highlights that apostasy is not merely intellectual but a moral failure of remembrance. Understanding this Hebrew term enriches reading by showing that 'forgetting' in Scripture is an active, relational breach, not a passive mental lapse, emphasizing human responsibility in maintaining covenant faithfulness.
In ancient Israel's covenant-based culture, remembering God's acts and laws was a core communal duty. To be labeled a 'forgetter' (שָׁכֵחַ) was a severe charge of covenant unfaithfulness, akin to treason. This contrasts with a modern view of forgetfulness as a mostly innocent, personal short-term memory failure.
שָׁכַח (shâkach, H7913) — the root verb meaning 'to forget.' נָשָׁה (nâshâh, H5382) — another verb for forgetting, often used in legal or promise-breaking contexts (e.g., Genesis 41:51).
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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