שָׁכֵחַ (sha.khe.ach)
sha.khe.ach
forgetful
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The adjective shâkeach describes a state of being forgetful or characterized by forgetting. In the Hebrew Bible, it functions as a descriptor for those who fail to remember or neglect their duties and relationships. Its single occurrence in Isaiah 65:17 applies this term to God, portraying Him as one who will not remember the former troubles when He creates new heavens and a new earth.
This usage carries significant theological weight by applying a human limitation—forgetfulness—to the Divine. Rather than implying a deficiency in memory, it emphasizes a decisive break from the past. The text suggests that God’s future act of creation is so profound that it renders previous sorrows irrelevant, effectively "forgetting" them in favor of renewal.
While often translated as "forgetful," the root concept involves an active cessation of recall. In this context, it highlights a transition where old pains are set aside entirely. The word underscores the completeness of divine restoration, where the memory of past suffering does not persist into the new order.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word shâkeach describes a state of forgetting or neglect. In Isaiah 65:11, it is used to describe people who forget God's holy mountain. This reminds us that remembering God is not just an intellectual exercise but a way of life. When we turn away from Him, we lose our connection to His presence and peace.
Yet this word also points to a deeper hope. In Isaiah 65:17, a related form describes God as one who will not remember former troubles when He creates new heavens and a new earth. This does not mean God has a bad memory. It means He chooses to move forward in grace, leaving past sorrows behind. For you, this is a promise that your past failures and pains do not define your future with Him.
Let this encourage you today. You are never too far gone for God's new beginning. His mercy is fresh every morning, inviting you to rest in the hope of renewal rather than being held back by what has already passed.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <the>/ forgetting1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- הַ/שְּׁכֵחִ֖ים1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 65:11
“But you who forsake Yahweh, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune, and who fill up mixed wine to Destiny;
This verse uses shâkeach to describe those who neglect their relationship with God, highlighting the danger of spiritual amnesia.