for-get', for-get'-ful (shakhach; epilanthanomai):
"Forget" is to fail to hold in mind, and the forgetfulness may be either innocent or blameworthy. In the Old Testament the word is most frequently used as translation of shakhach in a blameworthy sense: to forget the covenant, the law, Yahweh their God (De 4:9,23,11;6:12;Jud 3:7;1Sa 12:9;Ps 44:20, etc.). In an innocent or neutral, sometimes good, sense it is used inGe 27:45;De 24:19;Job 9:27;11:16;24:20;Ps 102:4, etc. It is also used of God forgetting or not seeming to care (Ps 9:12;10:11,12;13:1;42:9;77:9;Isa 49:15, etc.). To "forget" sometimes means to forsake (Ps 45:10;74:19, etc.).
In the New Testament epilanthanomai is used of simple forgetting (Mt 16:5;Mr 8:14, etc.; inLu 12:6the sense of care is implied);Php 3:13, "forgetting the things which are behind," has the force of leaving behind. "Forgetful" inJas 1:25is epilesmone, the Revised Version (British and American) "a hearer that forgetteth." "Forgetfulness"Ps 88:12, "the land of forgetfulness," is a synonym for Sheol, where all forget and are forgotten. the Revised Version (British and American) has "forget not" for "be ignorant of" (2Pe 3:8; similarly2Pe 3:5).
W. L. Walker