The process of accidentally or deliberately failing to remember people, events or ideas. Scripture rebukes those who forget the past work of God in history or in their lives or who neglect their present responsibilities towards God in order to please themselves.
Causes of forgetting
Forgetting can be deliberate
But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
Forgetting can be caused by idolatry
Jeremiah 23:25–27 See also Deuteronomy 32:15–18; Judges 3:7; Jeremiah 18:15; Hosea 2:13
“I have heard the sayings of the prophets who prophesy lies in My name: ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these prophets who prophesy falsehood, these prophets of the delusion of their own minds? They suppose the dreams that they tell one another will make My people forget My name, just as their fathers forgot My name through the worship of Baal.
Forgetting can be caused by pride
Hosea 13:4–6 See also 2 Chronicles 26:16; Psalm 10:4
Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt; you know no God but Me, for there is no Savior besides Me. I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of drought. When they had pasture, they became satisfied; when they were satisfied, their hearts became proud, and as a result they forgot Me.
Forgetting can be caused by drinking
Proverbs 31:4–5 See also Genesis 9:20–21; Matthew 24:45–51 parallel Luke 12:42–46
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Forgetting can be caused by affliction
Psalm 102:4 See also Genesis 41:28–31; Lamentations 3:17–20
My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass; I even forget to eat my bread.
Forgetting people
Genesis 40:23 See also Job 19:13–15; Psalm 31:11–12
The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot all about him.
Forgetting God
Deuteronomy 32:18 See also Judges 2:10–13; 1 Samuel 12:9–10
You ignored the Rock who brought you forth; you forgot the God who gave you birth.
Forgetting God's acts in the past
Psalm 78:11–20 See also Judges 8:33–34; Nehemiah 9:16–17; Psalm 106:7–13
Consequences of forgetting God
Forgetting God brings suffering on the individual
Psalm 50:22 See also 1 Samuel 12:9; Isaiah 17:10–11
Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:
Forgetting God brings suffering on others
2 Samuel 12:9 David's forgetting of God in his adultery with Bathsheba led to her husband Uriah suffering death through David's manipulation of events. See also Psalm 106:13–15; Jeremiah 3:21
Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.
Forgetting God brings destruction on the nation
Deuteronomy 8:19–20 See also Isaiah 65:11–12; Hosea 8:14
If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Like the nations that the LORD has destroyed before you, so you will perish if you do not obey the LORD your God.
Warnings not to forget God
Deuteronomy 6:12 See also Deuteronomy 4:9, Deuteronomy 8:10–14; 2 Kings 17:35–38
be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
People may sometimes feel that God has forgotten them
Psalm 13:1 See also Psalm 42:9–10, Psalm 44:23–24; Isaiah 49:14; Matthew 27:46 parallel Mark 15:34; Psalm 22:1
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?
God promises never to forget his people
Isaiah 44:21 See also Isaiah 49:15–16; Hebrews 6:10
Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are My servant, O Israel. I have made you, and you are My servant; O Israel, I will never forget you.
Things God urges believers to forget
Isaiah 43:18 See also Philippians 3:13–15
“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.