Original Word: שָׁכֵחַ
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: shakeach
Pronunciation: shah-KAY-akh
Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-kay'-akh)
KJV: forget
NASB: who forget, who
Word Origin: [from H7911 (שָׁכַח שָׁכֵַח - forget)]

1. oblivious

forget

From shakach; oblivious -- forget.

see HEBREW shakach

Word Origin
from shakach
Definition
forgetting, forgetful
NASB Translation
who (1), who forget (2).

[שָׁכֵחַ] adjective forgetting, forgetful; — plural ׳הַשְּׁכֵּ חִים אֶתהַֿר ק Isaiah 65:11 they who forget the mountain of my holiness ("" ׳עֹזְבֵי י); construct ׳שְׁכֵחֵי א Psalm 9:8 all nations forgetful of God (compare שֹׁכְחֵי participle, Job 8:13; Psalm 50:22).

Definition and Conceptual Scope

Shākhēach (Strong’s Hebrew 7913) expresses a settled, culpable forgetfulness of God. It does not describe an accidental lapse of memory but a deliberate turning of the heart away from covenantal knowledge. The term derives from the broader verbal root that means “to forget,” yet here it functions as a substantive adjective—“those who forget,” “the forgetful ones”—highlighting a persistent moral posture rather than a momentary oversight.

Singular Biblical Occurrence

Psalm 9:17 situates shākhēach among the catalogue of the ungodly:

“The wicked will return to Sheol— all the nations who forget God” (Berean Standard Bible).

The word stands in parallel with “the wicked,” indicating that forgetfulness of God is not merely a symptom but an identifying mark of rebellion. The verse’s poetic structure places “Sheol” in antithesis to God’s righteous reign (Psalm 9:7-8), underscoring that the destiny of those who forget Him is the realm of death and separation.

Theological Significance

1. Forgetfulness as Rebellion. Scripture consistently treats willful forgetfulness as treachery (Deuteronomy 8:11; Judges 3:7). Shākhēach thus crystallizes the idea that spiritual amnesia is a moral choice.
2. Covenant Memory. Israel’s liturgical life—festivals, sacrifices, and memorial stones—was designed to guard against becoming shākhēach (Joshua 4:6-7). By opposing remembrance, shākhēach threatens covenant continuity.
3. Divine Justice. The psalm links forgetfulness with judgment in Sheol. The retributive logic is clear: neglect of the living God culminates in exclusion from His life-giving presence (cf. Psalm 50:22; Hosea 4:6).
4. Universal Application. “All the nations” widens the warning beyond Israel, affirming that every people is accountable for retaining the knowledge of God (Romans 1:21).

Historical and Literary Context

Psalm 9 is an individual thanksgiving psalm with eschatological overtones, likely composed during David’s conflicts with surrounding nations. Within its historical setting, shākhēach refers both to Gentile powers disregarding Yahweh’s sovereignty and to any Israelite tempted to follow their path. The exile period later amplified this theme; prophets such as Jeremiah portrayed forgetfulness of God as the root of national disaster (Jeremiah 2:32).

Intercanonical Echoes

Old Testament: The warning of Psalm 9:17 reverberates in passages that juxtapose remembrance and blessing (Psalm 103:2) with forgetfulness and curse (Deuteronomy 28:58-63).

New Testament: Though Greek vocabulary differs, the concept surfaces in exhortations such as Hebrews 2:1 (“lest we drift away”) and 2 Peter 1:9, which labels spiritual stagnation as being “blind, forgetting that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

Christological Fulfillment

Jesus embodies perfect remembrance of the Father (John 17:4-6). On the cross He secures mercy even for those once shākhēach, praying, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). Union with Christ restores the mind to “the knowledge of God” (2 Corinthians 10:5), reversing the trajectory toward Sheol.

Practical Ministry Applications

1. Worship and Ordinances. Regular celebration of the Lord’s Supper (“Do this in remembrance of Me,” Luke 22:19) combats becoming shākhēach.
2. Preaching and Teaching. Sermons should rehearse God’s mighty acts, cultivating collective memory (Psalm 78:4-7).
3. Discipleship. Spiritual disciplines—Scripture meditation, prayer, and confession—function as practical antidotes to forgetfulness.
4. Pastoral Warning. Psalm 9:17 authorizes sober admonition: persistent neglect of God evidences lostness and points to eternal separation.

Conclusion

Shākhēach exposes the grievous sin of forgetting God, a condition that invites divine judgment yet drives Gospel urgency. Remembering the Lord is not optional ornamentation to faith; it is covenant fidelity’s heartbeat and the Church’s enduring safeguard against drifting into spiritual oblivion.

שְׁכֵחֵ֥י שכחי šə·ḵê·ḥê šəḵêḥê shecheCheiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts