The meaning of Forget; Forgetful in the Bible
(From International Standard Bible Encyclopedia)
for-get', for-get'-ful (shakhach; epilanthanomai): "Forget" is to fail to hold in mind, and the forgetfulness may be either innocent or blameworthy. In the Old Testament the word is most frequently used as translation of shakhach in a blameworthy sense: to forget the covenant, the law, Yahweh their God (Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 4:23, Deuteronomy 4:11; Deuteronomy 6:12; Judges 3:7; I Samuel 12:9; Psalms 44:20, etc.). In an innocent or neutral, sometimes good, sense it is used in Genesis 27:45; Deuteronomy 24:19; Job 9:27; Job 11:16; Job 24:20; Psalms 102:4, etc. It is also used of God forgetting or not seeming to care (Psalms 9:12; Psalms 10:11-12; Psalms 13:1; Psalms 42:9; Psalms 77:9; Isaiah 49:15, etc.). To "forget" sometimes means to forsake (Psalms 45:10; Psalms 74:19, etc.).
In the New Testament epilanthanomai is used of simple forgetting (Matthew 16:5; Mark 8:14, etc.; in Luke 12:6 the sense of care is implied); Philippians 3:13, "forgetting the things which are behind," has the force of leaving behind. "Forgetful" in James 1:25 is epilesmone, the Revised Version (British and American) "a hearer that forgetteth." "Forgetfulness" Psalms 88:12, "the land of forgetfulness," is a synonym for Sheol, where all forget and are forgotten. the Revised Version (British and American) has "forget not" for "be ignorant of" (II Peter 3:8; similarly II Peter 3:5).
W. L. Walker
DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.
