Topical Encyclopedia Definition and Importance: Memory, in the biblical context, refers to the faculty by which individuals recall past events, teachings, and experiences. It is a crucial aspect of spiritual life, serving as a means to remember God's works, commandments, and promises. Memory is both a gift and a responsibility, enabling believers to maintain a connection with God's faithfulness and to live in accordance with His will. Biblical References: 1. God's Command to Remember: Throughout Scripture, God commands His people to remember His deeds and laws. In Deuteronomy 6:12, Moses warns the Israelites, "Be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." This call to remembrance is a recurring theme, emphasizing the importance of recalling God's deliverance and guidance. 2. Memorials and Symbols: The Bible often uses physical memorials to aid memory. In Joshua 4:7, after crossing the Jordan River, the Israelites set up stones as a memorial: "These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." Such symbols serve as tangible reminders of God's intervention and faithfulness. 3. The Role of Memory in Worship: Memory plays a vital role in worship and spiritual reflection. Psalm 77:11-12 states, "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds." Recalling God's past actions inspires worship and trust in His continued presence. 4. The Danger of Forgetfulness: Forgetfulness is often portrayed as a spiritual danger. In Judges 8:34, the Israelites' failure to remember God leads to disobedience: "The Israelites did not remember the LORD their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side." Forgetting God's works can result in a departure from His ways. 5. The New Covenant and Memory: Under the New Covenant, memory is linked to the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises in John 14:26, "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you." The Spirit aids believers in recalling Christ's teachings and applying them to their lives. 6. Communion as a Memorial: The Lord's Supper is instituted as a memorial of Christ's sacrifice. In 1 Corinthians 11:24-25, Paul recounts Jesus' words: "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me... This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." This act of remembrance is central to Christian worship and identity. Theological Implications: Memory in the Bible is not merely a mental exercise but a spiritual discipline. It involves actively recalling and meditating on God's truth, which shapes a believer's faith and actions. The act of remembering is intertwined with obedience, gratitude, and worship, reinforcing the believer's relationship with God. Through memory, the past informs the present, guiding believers in their journey of faith. Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary 1. (n.) The faculty of the mind by which it retains the knowledge of previous thoughts, impressions, or events.2. (n.) The reach and positiveness with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong. 3. (n.) The actual and distinct retention and recognition of past ideas in the mind; remembrance; as, in memory of youth; memories of foreign lands. 4. (n.) The time within which past events can be or are remembered; as, within the memory of man. 5. (n.) Something, or an aggregate of things, remembered; hence, character, conduct, etc., as preserved in remembrance, history, or tradition; posthumous fame; as, the war became only a memory. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia MEMORIAL; MEMORYme-mo'-ri-al, mem'-o-ri ('azkarah, zekher, zekher, zikkaron; mnemosunon): "Memorial" as the translation of 'azkdrah is a sacrificial term, that which brings the offerer into remembrance before God, or brings God into favorable remembrance with the offerer; it is used of the burning of a portion of the meal offering, the Revised Version (British and American) (the King James Version "meat-offering"); better, cereal offering, on the altar (Leviticus 2:2, the Revised Version (British and American) "as the memorial"; Leviticus 2:9, 16; Leviticus 5:12, the Revised Version (British and American) "as"; Leviticus 24:7 Numbers 5:26, the Revised Version (British and American) "as"); as the translation of zekher (zekher), zikkaron, it is a memorial in the sense of a remembrance (zekher, zekher, Exodus 3:15; the memorial (name) of Yahweh); hence, we have in the Revised Version (British and American) "memorial name" for "remembrance" (Psalm 30:4 the American Standard Revised Version; Psalm 97:12, the English Revised Version "holy name," marin "Hebrew memorial"; Psalms 102:12; 135:13:00; Isaiah 26:8; Ho 12:5, the English Revised Version "memorial"); for "memorial" (Esther 9:28 Psalm 9:6, the American Standard Revised Version "remembrance"); zikkaron, "a remembrance" (Exodus 12:14; Exodus 13:9 Leviticus 23:24 Numbers 5:15 (of the meal offering); Joshua 4:7 Nehemiah 2:20 Zechariah 6:14); the Passover feast was to be in this sense "a memorial.... for ever" (Exodus 12:14; Exodus 13:9); so also the shema` (Deuteronomy 6:4 f); "memorial" occurs in The Wisdom of Solomon 4:1 (mneme), the Revised Version (British and American) "memory"; The Wisdom of Solomon 4:19; Ecclesiasticus 45:1 (mnemosunon); Ecclesiasticus 49:1; 1 Maccabees 3:7; 12:53, the Revised Version (British and American) "memorial." Greek 3420. mneme -- memory, remembrance ... memory, remembrance. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: mneme Phonetic Spelling: (mnay'-may) Short Definition: memory, remembrance, mention ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3420.htm - 6k 392. anatassomai -- to arrange in order 3421. mnemoneuo -- to call to mind, to make mention of 364. anamnesis -- remembrance 3419. mnemeion -- a memorial, a monument 5279. hupomimnesko -- to cause (one) to remember, to remind 5280. hupomnesis -- a reminding, reminder 3422. mnemosunon -- a memorial 1585. eklanthanomai -- to forget utterly 2722. katecho -- to hold fast, hold back Strong's Hebrew 2143. zeker -- remembrance, memorial... zeker. 2144 . remembrance, memorial. Transliteration: zeker Phonetic Spelling: (zay'-ker) Short Definition: memory. ... memorial, memory, remembrance, scent. ... /hebrew/2143.htm - 6k 7876. shayah -- to forget 7911. shakach -- to forget 3647. kamas -- to store up Library In Memory Of The Lesson of Memory Whether Memory is a Part of Prudence? The Religious Uses of Memory Memory, Hope, and Effort Concerning Memory. Memory in Another World Sixth Tractate. Perception and Memory. Whether Memory is in the Intellectual Part of the Soul? Great is the Power of Memory, a Fearful Thing... Thesaurus Memory (181 Occurrences)... with which a person can remember; the strength and trustworthiness of one's power to reach and represent or to recall the past; as, his memory was never wrong. ... /m/memory.htm - 40k Memorial (54 Occurrences) Recite (5 Occurrences) Libraries Occur (13 Occurrences) Recollection (1 Occurrence) Memories (6 Occurrences) Record (71 Occurrences) Underworld (87 Occurrences) Earlier (48 Occurrences) Resources What is theophostic counseling, and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat are some good ways to memorize Bible verses? | GotQuestions.org What is neurotheology? | GotQuestions.org Memory: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Memory (181 Occurrences)Matthew 26:13 Mark 8:18 Mark 11:21 Mark 14:9 Luke 2:51 Luke 9:44 Luke 22:19 John 2:22 Acts 10:31 Acts 20:35 Romans 1:9 1 Corinthians 11:2 1 Corinthians 11:24 1 Corinthians 11:25 1 Corinthians 15:2 2 Corinthians 7:15 Philippians 1:3 Colossians 4:18 1 Thessalonians 1:2 1 Thessalonians 2:9 2 Thessalonians 2:5 2 Timothy 1:3 2 Timothy 1:4 Hebrews 6:10 Hebrews 10:3 Hebrews 10:17 James 1:24 James 1:25 2 Peter 1:9 2 Peter 1:12 2 Peter 1:13 2 Peter 1:15 2 Peter 3:1 2 Peter 3:5 Jude 1:17 Genesis 27:45 Genesis 41:9 Genesis 41:30 Genesis 41:31 Genesis 41:51 Genesis 42:9 Exodus 13:3 Exodus 17:14 Exodus 20:8 Exodus 20:24 Exodus 28:12 Exodus 28:29 Exodus 30:16 Exodus 39:7 Leviticus 23:24 Numbers 5:15 Numbers 11:5 Numbers 16:40 Numbers 31:54 Deuteronomy 4:9 Deuteronomy 16:3 Deuteronomy 25:19 Deuteronomy 32:18 Deuteronomy 32:26 Joshua 4:7 Ruth 4:10 2 Samuel 18:18 1 Kings 17:18 2 Kings 9:25 2 Kings 17:38 1 Chronicles 16:4 Nehemiah 13:14 Esther 9:28 Job 11:16 Job 14:13 Job 18:17 Job 24:20 Psalms 6:5 Psalms 9:6 Psalms 9:12 Psalms 9:17 Psalms 10:11 Psalms 13:1 Psalms 25:7 Psalms 31:12 Psalms 34:16 Psalms 38:1 Psalms 42:9 Psalms 44:17 Psalms 45:17 Psalms 50:22 Psalms 56:12 Psalms 59:11 Psalms 63:6 Psalms 70:1 Psalms 74:19 Psalms 77:3 Psalms 77:6 Psalms 77:9 Psalms 77:11 Psalms 78:11 Psalms 78:35 Psalms 83:4 Psalms 88:12 Psalms 88:18 Subtopics Related Terms |