שָׁיָה (sha.yah)
sha.yah
to forget
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shaayah means to forget or to fail to remember. It appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Deuteronomy 32:18 within Moses’ song of witness. The text describes Israel’s spiritual decline with a striking image: they abandoned "the Rock who fathered you" and forgot God.
This single usage places the word in a covenantal context. To forget here is not merely a lapse of memory but a relational breach. By ignoring the one who gave them life, the people broke their bond with Him. The rarity of the term highlights how severe this specific kind of neglect was considered by the biblical authors.
Translators typically render shaayah as "forgot" or "have forgotten." Its isolation in Scripture means it does not carry a wide range of nuanced meanings like more common words. Instead, it serves as a sharp, singular warning against ignoring divine provision and origin.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shaayah appears only once in the Old Testament, carrying a heavy weight for those who study Scripture closely. In Deuteronomy 32:18, it describes a moment where Israel forgot God, their Rock and Father. This is not simply a lapse of memory but a breaking of relationship. To forget God here means to ignore the One who gave life and sustenance.
When we face hard seasons, it is easy to feel disconnected from divine care. This rare Hebrew term reminds us that faithfulness is an active choice. It invites us to remember our origin and the One who holds us. We are called to stay connected to our source, trusting in His constant presence rather than drifting away.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you forgot1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תֶּ֑שִׁי1×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 32:18
Of the Rock who became your father, you are unmindful, and have forgotten God who gave you birth.
This verse uses shaayah to describe Israel's relational breach by ignoring the Rock who fathered them, highlighting the severity of spiritual neglect.