English · KJV
H5382

נָשָׁה

nâshâh /naw-shaw'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto forget; figuratively, to neglect; causatively, to remit, remove
KJV usageforget, deprive, exact.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâshâh — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nâshâh, represented by H5382, is a primitive root meaning to forget. It appears 6 times across 6 unique verses in the Bible. Its meaning extends beyond simple memory loss, figuratively meaning to neglect, and causatively to remit, remove, deprive, or exact.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H5382 is used to convey a range of powerful actions, often initiated by God. In a positive sense, God causes Joseph to forget his past suffering, leading him to name his firstborn Manasseh Genesis 41:51. In a punitive context, God warns that he will utterly forget and forsake his people as a form of judgment Jeremiah 23:39. The word also carries the meaning of deprivation, as when God deprived the ostrich of wisdom Job 39:17, and of remission, where God exacteth less punishment than is deserved Job 11:6. It can also describe a state of human loss, as when the soul in lament forgat prosperity Lamentations 3:17.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the active and consequential nature of forgetting:

  • H2142 zâkar (to remember): As the direct opposite of nâshâh, this word means to mark or mention. It is used in God's promise to Israel, "thou shalt not be forgotten of me" Isaiah 44:21, highlighting the covenantal importance of being remembered by God.
  • H2186 zânach (to push aside, reject): This term is used in parallel with nâshâh, describing how a soul is removed from peace before it forgets prosperity, linking the act of forgetting to a prior state of rejection Lamentations 3:17.
  • H5203 nâṭash (to forsake, leave): This word is paired with nâshâh to describe the result of being forgotten by God. God's warning to forget his people is immediately followed by his declaration that he will forsake them Jeremiah 23:39.
  • H5377 nâshâʼ (to lead astray, deceive): This word is used as an intensifier in Jeremiah, where God declares he will utterly forget his people, underscoring the severity of the action Jeremiah 23:39.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5382 is significant, demonstrating God's sovereign power over memory and circumstance.

  • Forgetting as Divine Grace: The word can signify a merciful act from God. He can make someone forget their toil and hardship as a form of relief and blessing Genesis 41:51. It is also used when God exacteth less punishment than deserved, a form of gracious remission Job 11:6.
  • Forgetting as Divine Judgment: Conversely, being forgotten by God is a severe punishment. It is an active choice by God to remove his presence and favor, paired with the consequence of being forsaken Jeremiah 23:39.
  • A Promise of Divine Faithfulness: God's promise not to forget his people is a cornerstone of his covenant relationship, contrasting with the fear of abandonment and serving as a great comfort Isaiah 44:21.

Summary

In summary, H5382 is a dynamic term that portrays forgetting not as a passive lapse but as a decisive action with profound consequences. It is used to describe God's power to grant relief from suffering, enact judgment upon a nation, and withhold certain qualities. From the personal deliverance of Joseph to the national threat against Judah, nâshâh reveals that in scripture, being remembered or forgotten by God is a matter of the utmost importance.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יַשֶּׁה
  • הִשָּׁ
  • תִנָּשֵׁ
  • נַשַּׁ
  • נָשִׁיתִי
  • נָשִׁיתִי

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2142 זָכַר a primitive root; also as denominative from זָכָר; properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by impl H2186 זָנַח a primitive root meaning to push aside, i.e.; reject, forsake, fail; cast away (off), remove far away (off). H5203 נָטַשׁ a primitive root; properly, to pound, i.e. smite; by implication (as if beating out, and thus expanding) to disperse; al H5377 נָשָׁא a primitive root; to lead astray, i.e. (mentally) to delude, or (morally) to seduce; beguile, deceive, [idiom] greatly,

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 5 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Job (2 verses); never once in the other 34.

1
Genesis
2
Job
1
Isaiah
1
Jeremiah
1
Lamentations

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.