ὑπόμνησις (hupomnēsis)
hupomnēsis
remembrance
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hupomnēsis refers to the act of reminding or the state of being reminded. It carries the sense of bringing something back into active memory, rather than merely recalling a fact. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, all within the pastoral letters of Peter and Paul.
Its usage highlights the importance of keeping vital truths fresh in the mind. Peter describes his own writings as a means to stimulate this kind of mindful recollection (2 Peter 1:13; 3:1). Similarly, Paul asks Timothy to recall the sincere faith that first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5).
The word is built on a root meaning "to remember" or "keep in mind." It suggests an intentional effort to preserve spiritual heritage. The sources note that this remembrance is not passive; it is a deliberate stirring of the heart and mind to hold fast to what has been entrusted.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hupomnēsis points to more than just a fleeting memory. It describes the active work of stirring something deep within us so it becomes present and real again. When we read Scripture or reflect on our spiritual journey, this is the process at work. It is not about retrieving old data, but about re-engaging with living truth.
In 2 Peter 1:13, the apostle writes that he intends to stir up his readers by reminding them. He knows that familiarity can dull our sense of wonder. By calling us to remember, he helps us see the gospel with fresh eyes. This act of remembrance keeps our faith grounded in what God has actually done.
We are invited to participate in this same stirring. Whether recalling the faith passed down through family or the promises found in Scripture, we are called to hold fast. Let this word encourage you to pause and actively remember the good work Christ has begun in your life.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- remembrance1×
- putting [you] in remembrance;1×
- putting [you] in remembrance1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑπόμνησιν1×
- ὑπομνήσει·1×
- ὑπομνήσει1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 1:13
I think it right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
Peter explicitly links his physical presence ('as long as I am in this tent') to the active duty of stirring up the readers' minds through reminder.
-
II Timothy 1:5
having been reminded of the sincere faith that is in you, which lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, in you also.
Paul uses this concept to trace a lineage of sincere faith from Lois and Eunice to Timothy, emphasizing intergenerational spiritual continuity.
-
II Peter 3:1
This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you
Peter identifies his previous letters as instruments designed to stir up the 'sincere mind' of his audience through repeated reminders.