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ἐπιλανθάνομαι

epilanthánomai

G1950 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To forget, lose memory of, not recall—primarily in the sense of failing to bring something to mind, whether intentionally or unintentionally, with possible extension to ignore or neglect in some contexts. The word typically emphasizes a lapse or absence of memory or active attention toward something previously known or experienced.

Semantic Range

to forget, to lose memory or recall, to disregard, to neglect, to pay no attention to

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐπί ('upon, over') and the middle form of λανθάνω ('to escape notice, to be hidden'), forming a verb in the middle voice. The composite sense is 'to let something escape one's awareness.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐπιλανθάνομαι is commonly used for ordinary forgetting—events, obligations, or persons no longer recalled. The word often carries no intentionality; it may refer simply to the failure of memory. In the Septuagint, it translates Hebrew roots like שכח (shākhaḥ), meaning 'to forget,' including in passages with covenantal or relational overtones (cf. Isa 49:15). In the New Testament, it functions both literally (e.g., to forget the law: Jas 1:24) and figuratively (e.g., neglecting or disregarding God, duties, or others). English Bible translations often render ἐπιλανθάνομαι as 'forget' or 'neglect.' However, in Greek, the term can also convey a nuance of inattention (being unmindful, allowing something to slip from active consideration), which may be stronger than mere lapse—potentially bordering on disregard, though not always implying deliberate neglect. Notably, ἐπιλανθάνομαι is distinct from λανθάνω itself, which means 'escape notice'; the middle construction emphasizes one's own failure to remember, not that the object is simply obscure. The sense of ἐπιλανθάνομαι can be less willful than English 'neglect.' The word shows consistent usage across classical, Hellenistic, and Koine sources, with no significant shift in meaning.

Translation Consistency

primary "forget" 0 occurrences

The primary and most natural English rendering of ἐπιλανθάνομαι is 'forget.' It covers the dominant sense (to lose recall or fail to bring something to mind) and naturally yields the attested forms (forgot, forgotten, forgetting). It can also carry the extended senses of neglect or disregard by context, fulfilling the SILEX range while preserving consistent, idiomatic English across all forms.

Alternatives (8 occurrences):
"forgot" (3x) "keep forgetting" (2x) "forgotten" (1x) "forgetting" (1x) "slip from one’s mind" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice from ἐπί and λανθάνω; to lose out of mind; by implication, to neglect:--(be) forget(-ful of).

Root Family

ἐπιλανθάνομαι (epilanthánomai) — to forget, to let escape notice, to lose memory of

Root λανθ- to forget, to let escape notice, to lose memory of

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1950-03 ἐπιλανθάνεσθε epilanthanesthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL forget keep forgetting keep forgetting 2
G1950-02 ἐπελάθοντο epelathonto V AOR MID IND 3P PL they had forgotten they forgot they forgot 2
G1950-04 ἐπιλανθανόμενος epilanthanomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG forgetting forgetting forgetting 1
G1950-01 ἐπελάθετο epelatheto V AOR MID IND 3P SG he forgot he forgot he forgot 1
G1950-06 ἐπιλελησμένον epilelesmenon V PRF PASS PTCP NOM N SG forgotten having been forgotten forgotten 1
G1950-05 ἐπιλαθέσθαι epilathesthai V AOR MID INF to forget to let slip from one’s mind to let slip from one’s mind 1

Occurrences in Scripture

8 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1950-02 Matthew 16:5 ἐπελάθοντο epelathonto V AOR MID IND 3P PL they had forgotten they forgot they forgot
G1950-02 Mark 8:14 ἐπελάθοντο epelathonto V AOR MID IND 3P PL they had forgotten they forgot they forgot
G1950-06 Luke 12:6 ἐπιλελησμένον epilelesmenon V PRF PASS PTCP NOM N SG forgotten having been forgotten forgotten
G1950-04 Philippians 3:13 ἐπιλανθανόμενος epilanthanomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG forgetting forgetting forgetting
G1950-05 Hebrews 6:10 ἐπιλαθέσθαι epilathesthai V AOR MID INF to forget to let slip from one’s mind to let slip from one’s mind
G1950-03 Hebrews 13:2 ἐπιλανθάνεσθε epilanthanesthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL forget keep forgetting keep forgetting
G1950-03 Hebrews 13:16 ἐπιλανθάνεσθε epilanthanesthe V PRS MID IMP 2P PL forget keep forgetting keep forgetting
G1950-01 James 1:24 ἐπελάθετο epelatheto V AOR MID IND 3P SG he forgot he forgot he forgot
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