שָׁכַח (sha.khach)
sha.khach
to forget
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 80 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb shaḥach means to forget, but its root sense is closer to losing track of something due to inattention or neglect. It appears eighty times in the Old Testament, with a heavy concentration in Psalms and Deuteronomy. The word covers both human failure to remember God and the surprising image of God forgetting His people, as seen when the psalmist cries out that God has forgotten his affliction (Psalm 10:12).
A key distinction lies in how the text treats divine memory. When humans forget, it is often a moral lapse, such as Israel forgetting the law in Hosea 4:6. When God is said to forget, it usually describes a temporary state of perceived abandonment rather than a loss of omniscience. The sources note that this usage emphasizes the depth of human suffering, where the believer feels utterly cast aside, even though the covenant relationship remains intact.
The word also extends beyond mental recall to practical care. In Deuteronomy 24:19, it describes leaving grain in the field for the poor, implying that forgetting to gather it is an act of generosity rather than negligence. This usage highlights a cultural value where intentional oversight serves communal welfare, showing that shaḥach can carry a positive ethical weight when applied to resources.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word shaḥach describes forgetting, but it often points to a deeper issue of inattention or neglect rather than simple memory loss. In daily life, we might overlook details because our minds are crowded with other concerns. This verb reminds us that remembering is an active choice, requiring us to intentionally keep what matters most at the forefront of our hearts.
When Scripture warns against forgetting God, it highlights how easily prosperity or routine can distract us from our source of strength. Conversely, when a psalmist cries out that God has forgotten them, they are expressing the raw pain of feeling abandoned during deep suffering. This language validates our honest emotions while pointing to the reality that God’s covenant love remains steady even when we feel unseen.
There is also a surprising positive use of this word in Deuteronomy 24:19, where leaving grain in the field for the poor is described as forgetting a sheaf. Here, intentional oversight becomes an act of generosity, showing that sometimes forgetting our own gain allows space for others to receive blessing. This invites us to consider how our attention can be directed toward grace and care for those around us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 80 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you forget7×
- you will forget5×
- I will forget5×
- I have forgotten5×
- you should forget4×
- it will be forgotten4×
- they have forgotten/ me3×
- they have forgotten3×
- they forgot3×
- and/ they forgot3×
- ¿/ will she forget2×
- you have forgotten2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁכָֽחְתִּי\׃7×
- תִּשְׁכַּ֥ח4×
- שָׁכְח֖וּ3×
- תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח2×
- תִּשְׁכַּ֖ח2×
- תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ\׃\ \ס2×
- שְׁכֵחֽוּ/נִי\׃2×
- וַֽ/יִּשְׁכְּח֖וּ2×
- וְ/יִשְׁכַּ֣ח2×
- הֲ/תִשְׁכַּ֤ח2×
- אֶשְׁכַּ֥ח2×
- אֶשְׁכַּ֣ח2×
Key Verses
-
Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your children and your children’s children—
This verse commands diligent remembrance of God's acts, framing forgetting as a spiritual danger that requires active effort to prevent.
-
Deuteronomy 24:19
When you reap your harvest in your field, and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go again to get it. It shall be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow, that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
The text uses the word positively to describe leaving grain for the poor, showing how intentional neglect of one's own harvest can be an act of mercy.
-
I Samuel 1:11
She vowed a vow, and said, “Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look at the affliction of your servant and remember me, and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor shall come on his head.”
Hannah’s prayer uses this term to plead for God’s attention, highlighting the human desire to be seen and remembered by the Divine during times of deep distress.
-
Job 19:14
My relatives have gone away. My familiar friends have forgotten me.
Job laments that even his closest friends have forgotten him, illustrating how social isolation can deepen the feeling of being overlooked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shaḥach mean in the Bible?
Does God actually forget things?
Why is forgetting mentioned positively in Deuteronomy 24:19?
How is shaḥach different from other words for memory?
Every Occurrence (80 verses across 14 books)
Genesis 3 verses
until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send, and get you…
Genesis 40:23Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Genesis 41:30Seven years of famine will arise after them, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will…