The term "forgat" is an archaic form of the word "forgot," used in older English translations of the Bible. It appears in various contexts throughout Scripture, often highlighting human forgetfulness in relation to God's commandments, blessings, and acts of deliverance. This forgetfulness is frequently portrayed as a spiritual failing, leading to disobedience and a departure from God's ways.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of forgetting is often associated with Israel's relationship with God. Despite witnessing God's mighty works and receiving His laws, the Israelites repeatedly "forgat" His deeds and commandments, leading to periods of rebellion and idolatry. For instance, in Psalm 106:13 , it is written, "Yet they soon forgat His works and failed to wait for His counsel." This verse underscores the tendency of the Israelites to quickly forget God's miraculous interventions and guidance, resulting in impatience and disobedience.

The book of Judges provides numerous examples of Israel's forgetfulness. After the death of a judge, the people often turned away from God, as seen in Judges 3:7 : "And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgat the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs." This pattern of forgetting God and turning to false gods is a recurring theme throughout the narrative, illustrating the spiritual consequences of neglecting to remember the Lord's covenant and commands.

Prophetic Warnings

The prophets frequently warned Israel about the dangers of forgetting God. In Hosea 4:6 , the prophet declares, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children." Here, forgetting is equated with a rejection of divine knowledge and law, leading to severe consequences for the nation.

Jeremiah also addresses this issue, emphasizing the importance of remembering God's covenant. In Jeremiah 2:32 , the prophet laments, "Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding sash? Yet My people have forgotten Me for days without number." This vivid imagery highlights the absurdity and tragedy of Israel's forgetfulness, likening it to a bride forgetting her adornments.

New Testament Insights

While the specific term "forgat" is not used in the New Testament, the concept of forgetfulness remains relevant. The New Testament writers encourage believers to remember the teachings of Christ and the apostles. In 2 Peter 1:12-13 , Peter writes, "Therefore I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body." This passage underscores the importance of continual remembrance and reinforcement of spiritual truths to prevent forgetfulness.

The apostle Paul also addresses the issue indirectly by urging believers to hold fast to the gospel. In 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 , he states, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and in which you stand firm. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain." Here, the emphasis is on the necessity of remembering and adhering to the gospel message to maintain one's faith.

Spiritual Implications

The recurring theme of forgetfulness in the Bible serves as a cautionary reminder of the human propensity to neglect spiritual truths and divine commands. Forgetting God and His works often leads to spiritual decline and separation from His blessings. Believers are thus encouraged to cultivate a practice of remembrance, through prayer, study, and communal worship, to remain steadfast in their faith and obedience to God.(p. p.) of Forget.

Come Rest, and be Still in the Bosom of Thy Mother, Son of the ...
... He that had anxiety; at Thee forgat his anxiety; the hungry by Thee forgat his victuals;
and he that had an errand, by Thee was errant and forgot his journey! ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn ix come rest and.htm

Consolations against Impatience in Sickness.
... Like Stephen, who, as soon as he saw Christ, forgat his own wounds, with the horror
of the grave, and terror of the stones, and sweetly yielded his soul into ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/consolations against impatience in sickness.htm

The Dialect of the Galileans, Differing from the Jewish.
... heard one master in one language, and another in another; and the diversity of the
language, or pronunciation, confounded them so that they forgat." And a ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 87 the dialect of.htm

October 24 Morning
... compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget
thee. I forgat prosperity. And I said, My strength and my ...
/.../anonymous/daily light on the daily path/october 24 morning.htm

On the Ignorance of Infants, and Whence it Arises.
... Is it then the fact that they incurred it all here, and in this their own proper
life forgat God through too much negligence, after a life of wisdom and ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 67 xxxvi on the ignorance.htm

A Preface
... about thither again, to remember the drowning of their enemies there, Numbers
14:25, for though they sang his praise before, yet they soon forgat his works. ...
/.../bunyan/grace abounding to the chief of sinners/a preface.htm

At a Public Fast in July, First Sabbath, 1650. (257)
... in our prosperity and peace we forget God, and so ourselves; as ye find this people
did, "when they waxed fat they kicked against him, and forgat that he was ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon i at a public.htm

Here Beginneth the History of Joseph and his Brethren
... Notwithstanding the master butler in his wealth forgat Joseph his interpreter.
Two years after Pharaoh saw in his sleep a dream. ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/here beginneth the history of 2.htm

The Life of Adam
... bringing forth of children is a blessing. And so, in punishing, God forgat
not to have mercy. And because Adam sinned but only in ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the life of adam.htm

The King after Man's Heart
... unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers
out of Egypt, and them dwell in this place.9. And when they forgat the Lord ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the king after mans heart.htm

Forgat (9 Occurrences)
... (pp) of Forget. Multi-Version Concordance Forgat (9 Occurrences). Genesis 40:23
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him. (KJV ASV). ...
/f/forgat.htm - 8k

Baalim (18 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat
the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. (KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT). ...
/b/baalim.htm - 12k

Forgave (13 Occurrences)

/f/forgave.htm - 10k

Groves (32 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat
the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves. (KJV WBS). ...
/g/groves.htm - 16k

Forfeits (3 Occurrences)

/f/forfeits.htm - 7k

Ear-rings (12 Occurrences)
... days of the Baalim, unto which she burned incense, when she decked herself with
her earrings and her jewels, and went after her lovers, and forgat me, saith ...
/e/ear-rings.htm - 10k

Butler (9 Occurrences)
... WBS YLT RSV). Genesis 40:23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph,
but forgat him. (KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV). Genesis 41:9 ...
/b/butler.htm - 11k

Ornament (23 Occurrences)
... her the days of the Baalim, To whom she maketh perfume, And putteth on her ring
and her ornament, And goeth after her lovers, And Me forgat -- an affirmation ...
/o/ornament.htm - 17k

Waited (72 Occurrences)
... (See JPS ASV NAS RSV). Psalms 106:13 They soon forgat his works; they waited
not for his counsel: (KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT). Psalms ...
/w/waited.htm - 26k

Shewed (105 Occurrences)
... depths of the earth. (KJV). Psalms 78:11 And forgat his works, and his wonders
that he had shewed them. (KJV YLT). Psalms 78:62 And ...
/s/shewed.htm - 36k

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