### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb eklanthánomai (`{{G1585}}`) is a compound formed from the preposition ek (out of, from, indicating completion or intensity) and the verb lanthánō (`{{G2990}}`, to escape notice, to be hidden, to be unknown). In its middle voice, eklanthánomai signifies "to be utterly oblivious of," "to completely forget," or "to let slip entirely from memory." The prefix ek intensifies the action of forgetting, suggesting a thorough effacement from memory, beyond mere oversight or temporary lapse. It implies a state where something once known or understood has been completely lost to remembrance, often with an implication of the subject's involvement in or experience of this forgetting.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term eklanthánomai appears only twice in the New Testament, each instance offering distinct but insightful contextual nuances:
1. **[[Matthew 16:5]]**: "When the disciples crossed to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread." Here, the forgetfulness is practical and mundane. The disciples' oversight in failing to bring physical provisions leads to a misunderstanding of Jesus's subsequent warning about the "leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees." Their physical forgetfulness, though seemingly trivial, highlights their spiritual dullness and preoccupation with earthly concerns, preventing them from grasping a deeper spiritual truth. The *ek* here emphasizes the completeness of their oversight—they had absolutely no bread.
2. **[[Hebrews 12:5]]**: "And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him.'" In this profound theological context, the forgetting is spiritual and carries significant weight. The author of Hebrews admonishes believers for having *utterly forgotten* (eklanthánomai) a foundational truth about divine discipline: that it is a sign of God's fatherly love and a means of spiritual growth, not rejection. This spiritual amnesia leads to a misinterpretation of suffering, potentially causing them to "regard lightly" God's discipline or to "faint" under it. The intensity of eklanthánomai here underscores the gravity of this lapse in spiritual memory.
In both occurrences, eklanthánomai denotes a complete cessation of remembrance, leading to significant consequences—whether a practical misunderstanding or a spiritual misinterpretation of God's character and work.
### Related Words & Concepts
eklanthánomai is closely related to its root, lanthánō (`{{G2990}}`), which means "to escape notice" or "to be hidden." Its closest semantic cousin is epilanthánomai (`{{G1950}}`), another compound with lanthánō and the prefix epi (upon, in addition to). While epilanthánomai also means "to forget" or "to neglect," it can carry a nuance of deliberate neglect or a more active turning away from remembrance, as seen in [[Philippians 3:13]] ("forgetting what lies behind"). eklanthánomai, with its ek prefix, emphasizes the completeness or thoroughness of the oblivion, a state of being utterly devoid of recollection.
Antonyms include mnēmoneuō (`{{G3421}}`, to remember, to call to mind) and mimnēskō (`{{G3403}}`, to remind, to remember). The concept of eklanthánomai highlights human fallibility and the spiritual danger of heedlessness, contrasting with God's perfect remembrance and faithfulness.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of eklanthánomai lies primarily in its portrayal of human spiritual frailty and the critical importance of diligent remembrance.
1. **The Danger of Spiritual Amnesia**: The use of eklanthánomai in [[Hebrews 12:5]] serves as a potent warning against spiritual amnesia. Forgetting the truth about God's loving discipline is not a minor oversight but a serious spiritual lapse that can undermine faith, lead to despair in trials, or cause one to despise God's refining work. It highlights the necessity of continually calling to mind and internalizing foundational biblical truths, especially in times of adversity.
2. **The Link Between Memory and Understanding**: Both occurrences demonstrate how a failure to remember, whether mundane or spiritual, can lead to a profound lack of understanding. In [[Matthew 16:5]], the disciples' forgetfulness of bread prevents them from grasping Jesus's metaphorical teaching. In [[Hebrews 12:5]], forgetting the nature of divine discipline blinds believers to God's fatherly love in suffering. This underscores that spiritual discernment and wisdom are deeply intertwined with retaining and applying remembered truth.
3. **God's Steadfast Remembrance**: Implicit in the human capacity to eklanthánomai is the contrasting truth of God's unwavering remembrance. While humans are prone to forget even vital truths, God never forgets His covenant, His promises, or His children. This highlights His faithfulness and the security of His love, even when His people are forgetful. The exhortation to *not* forget serves as a call to align human memory with divine truth.
### Summary
The Greek verb eklanthánomai (`{{G1585}}`) denotes a complete and utter forgetting, a state of being entirely oblivious to something. Though appearing only twice in the New Testament, its usage is highly significant. In [[Matthew 16:5]], it describes the disciples' practical oversight of forgetting bread, which ironically sets the stage for a lesson on spiritual discernment. More profoundly, in [[Hebrews 12:5]], it warns against the spiritual danger of utterly forgetting God's loving purpose in discipline, a lapse that can lead to misinterpreting suffering and undermining faith. The term thus underscores human fallibility and the critical importance of diligent spiritual remembrance. It serves as a powerful call to believers to actively guard against spiritual amnesia, to continually recall God's truth, and to understand His character and ways, lest they completely lose sight of essential biblical principles.
TRV