The Greek word lḗthē, represented by G3024, is a term for forgetfulness. It appears only 1 time across 1 unique verse in the Bible, making its single usage highly significant. It is derived from a root word meaning to forget and directly signifies the state of having forgotten something.
The sole appearance of G3024 is in 2 Peter 1:9, where it describes a negative spiritual condition. The text states that a person who lacks certain Christian virtues "is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins." In this context, the forgetfulness is not a simple lapse in memory but a profound failure to recall the foundational truth of one's own purification from sin.
Several related words in the same verse give context to the meaning of lḗthē:
- G5185 typhlós (opaque (as if smoky), i.e. (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally):--blind): This term is used to describe the state of the one who has forgotten, directly linking forgetfulness to spiritual blindness 2 Peter 1:9.
- G3467 myōpázō (to shut the eyes, i.e. blink (see indistinctly):-- cannot see far off): This word works in tandem with blindness, indicating that the forgetful person has a limited spiritual perspective and cannot see afar off 2 Peter 1:9.
- G266 hamartía (from ἁμαρτάνω; a sin (properly abstract):--offence, sin(-ful)): This is the object of the forgetfulness—the individual has forgotten they were purged from their past sins 2 Peter 1:9.
- G3819 pálai (probably another form for πάλιν (through the idea of retrocession); (adverbially) formerly, or (by relatively) sometime since; (elliptically as adjective) ancient:--any while, a great while ago, (of) old, in time past): This specifies the nature of the sins as being old or from a time past, emphasizing that a past event of purification has been forgotten 2 Peter 1:9.
The theological weight of G3024 is concentrated in its single appearance, where it highlights a critical spiritual danger.
- Forgetting Redemption: The word's primary theological function is to warn against forgetting the purification from one's past sins, a central element of salvation.
- Cause of Spiritual Blindness: In 2 Peter 1:9, this forgetfulness is presented as a direct cause or component of being spiritually "blind" and shortsighted.
- A State of Deficiency: The condition of forgetfulness is tied to one who "lacketh these things," implying that remembering one's redemption is essential for spiritual growth and maturity.
In summary, while G3024 is extremely rare in scripture, its role in 2 Peter 1:9 is pivotal. lḗthē moves beyond simple forgetfulness to describe a spiritually perilous state. It serves as a stark warning that forgetting the foundational act of being purged from old sins leads directly to spiritual blindness and an inability to perceive spiritual truth.
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