μνημονεύω (mnēmoneuō)
mnēmoneuō
to remember
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb mnēmoneuō means to call something to mind, carrying a sense of active remembrance rather than passive recall. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts where believers are urged to hold specific truths or people firmly in their thoughts. For instance, Paul asks the Thessalonians to remember their labor and toil (1 Thessalonians 2:9), highlighting a conscious retention of shared history and effort.
Its usage often involves remembering persons or events with emotional weight. Jesus warns his followers to remember how he spoke earlier (John 16:4), while the writer to the Hebrews notes that Abraham remembered the promises God made (Hebrews 11:22). In Revelation, the call to "remember" from where one has fallen (Revelation 2:5) implies a urgent need to recover lost spiritual vitality.
Etymologically, the word derives from mnēmōn, meaning mindful. This root connection emphasizes that true biblical remembrance involves an engaged heart and mind. It is not merely recalling data but maintaining a living awareness of God’s actions and commands, which shapes present conduct and future hope.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When the Bible asks us to remember, it is rarely asking for a simple mental recall of facts. The Greek word mnēmoneuō points to an active, engaged holding of truth in the heart. It is about keeping specific realities alive so they shape how we live today. This kind of remembrance connects our past experiences with God to our present conduct and future hope.
In Revelation 2:5, Jesus urges the church to remember where they have fallen and return to their first works. This is not a gentle suggestion but a call to recover lost spiritual vitality. By recalling the initial love and obedience that defined their faith, believers can find the strength to repent and restore their relationship with Christ.
We see this same active memory in Paul’s letters, where he asks communities to remember his labor and toil (1 Thessalonians 2:9). These memories foster unity and gratitude. When we consciously hold onto God’s past faithfulness and the sacrifices of those who taught us, we anchor our current struggles in a solid foundation of shared history and divine grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do remember8×
- remembering2×
- you may remember1×
- you do remember1×
- we may remember;1×
- to remember1×
- they were remembering1×
- she remembers1×
- remember1×
- made mention1×
- has remembered1×
- do you remember?1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μνημονεύετε5×
- ἐμνημόνευσεν2×
- μνημόνευε2×
- μνημονεύοντες2×
- Μνημονεύετε2×
- ἐμνημόνευον1×
- μνημονεύωμεν·1×
- μνημονεύητε1×
- μνημονεύετέ1×
- μνημονεύετε;1×
- μνημονεύειν1×
- μνημονεύει1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 2:5
Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent.
This verse uses the word to issue an urgent command to recover lost spiritual vitality by recalling one's initial faith.
-
John 16:4
But I have told you these things so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.
Jesus uses this term to explain that His previous warnings were given so disciples could actively retain them for future understanding.
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Hebrews 13:7
Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.
The author calls for a conscious retention of the leaders' teachings to inspire imitation of their faith today.