Memorial — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Something that keeps remembrance vivid. The ideas represented by the words “remember,” “remembrance,” and “memorial” are closely connected in common parlance as well as in biblical usage. The Hebrew and Greek words translated as “memorial” in the OT and NT are nominal derivatives of the verbal roots meaning “to remember.” It is for this reason that one cannot fully grasp the significance of the term “memorial” without first understanding something of the usage and meaning of the term “to remember.”

Although “remember” is usually understood as simply recalling to the mind something from the past, and “memorial” as that which serves to preserve the memory of something from the past, there is often another dimension to these terms in biblical usage. In the Bible, the verb “to remember” often represents a broader idea than simply to recall something from the past because it implies and includes resultant action as well. It is not just recalling, but recalling in a way that affects one’s present feeling, thought, or action. For example, when it is said in Genesis 8:1 that God “remembered Noah,” this does not mean that God merely recalled that Noah was in the ark. It includes this idea to be sure, but more than this it means that God is acting on Noah’s behalf. In a similar way, when Genesis 30:22 says that God “remembered Rachel,” the meaning is that after a long period of barrenness God is going to answer Rachel’s prayer for a child.

Show passage in OET: GEN 8:1

OET-RV GEN 8:1

8 Then God considered Noah and all the living things and all the livestock that were with him in the floating chest, and he caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters started to subside

OET-LV GEN 8:1

8 And_ god _he _remembered DOM Noaḩ and_DOM every _of the_living and_DOM all _of the_cattle/livestock which with_him/it in_box and_ god _he _made _to _pass a _wind over the_earth/land and_ the_waters _they _subsided.

Show passage in OET: GEN 30:22

OET-RV GEN 30:22

22 Then God paid attention to Rahel and listened to her and enabled her to conceive,

OET-LV GEN 30:22

22 And_ god _he _remembered DOM Rāḩēl and_he/it _listened to_her/it god and_he _opened DOM her_womb/uterus.

Jump to OET GEN 8:1 section.

Jump to OET GEN 30:22 section.

One of the most prominent uses of the idea to remember in the OT is the exhortation to the Israelites to remember the mighty acts of the Lord on their behalf in the past (Pss 77:11; 78:7; 105:5). This also means much more than simply recalling events from past history. It means to live in the present in the light of God’s past actions. By drawing consequences for the present from the acts of God in the past, Israel’s faith is to be strengthened for the challenges and difficulties encountered in the present. Israel’s failure to remember in this way repeatedly led to apostasy and disobedience (78:11, 42 OET PSA 78:11 · OET PSA 78:42; 106:7, 13, 21-22 OET PSA 106:7 · OET PSA 106:13 · OET PSA 106:21–22).

Show passage in OET: PSA 77:11

OET-RV PSA 77:11

11 But I will call to mind what you’ve done previously, Yahweh.
⇔ ≈ I will think about the wonderful things that you did in the past.

OET-LV PSA 77:12

12  I _will _remember the _deeds _of Yah if/because I _will _remember from_east wonder[s]_of_your.

Show passage in OET: PSA 78:7

OET-RV PSA 78:7

7 Then they would place their hope in God
⇔ and not forget what he’s done
⇔ but obey his commands.

OET-LV PSA 78:7

7 And_they _will _put in_god confidence _of_their and_not they _will _forget the _deeds _of god and_commands _of_his they _will _observe.

Show passage in OET: PSA 105:5

OET-RV PSA 105:5

5 Remember the incredible things that he’s done—
⇔ ≈ his miracles and the judgements that he’s made

OET-LV PSA 105:5

5 Remember wonders _of_his which he _has _done signs _of_his and_the _judgements _of his _mouth _of_his.

Show passage in OET: PSA 78:11; PSA 78:42

OET-RV PSA 78:11

11 They forgot about what he’d done—
⇔ the wonderful things that he had shown them.

OET-RV PSA 78:42

42 They didn’t think about his power,
⇔ ≈ or about how he’d rescued them from their enemy,

OET-LV PSA 78:11

11 And_they _forgot deeds _of_his and_wonders _of_his which he_had _shown _them.

OET-LV PSA 78:42

42 Not they _remembered DOM his/its_hand the_day when he_ransomed _them from the_foe.

Show passage in OET: PSA 106:7; PSA 106:13; PSA 106:21–22

OET-RV PSA 106:7

7 Our ancestors didn’t appreciate the miracles you did in Mitsrayim (Egypt).
⇔ They just forgot about your display of loyal commitment,
⇔ and instead they rebelled down there at the Red Sea.

OET-RV PSA 106:13

⇔  13 But they soon forgot what he’d done.
⇔ They didn’t bother waiting for his advice.

OET-RV PSA 106:21

21 They forgot about their saviour god
⇔ who’d done incredible miracles in Mitsrayim (Egypt),

OET-RV PSA 106:22

22 ≈ had done amazing feats in the land of Ham (i.e., Mitsrayim),
⇔ ≈ and had demonstrated powerful forces at the Red Sea.

OET-LV PSA 106:7

7 Ancestors _of_our in_Miʦrayim/(Egypt) not they _considered wonders _of_your not they _remembered DOM the _greatness _of your(pl)_covenant _loyalti(es)_of_your and_they _rebelled at the_sea at_the_sea _of reed[s].

OET-LV PSA 106:13

13 They _made _haste they _forgot works _of_his not they _waited for_counsel _of_his.

OET-LV PSA 106:21

21 They _forgot god deliverer _of_their who _had_done great_things in_Miʦrayim/(Egypt).

OET-LV PSA 106:22

22 Wonders in_land of _Ḩām awesome_deeds at the_sea _of reed[s].

Jump to OET PSA 77:11 section.

Jump to OET PSA 78:7 section.

Jump to OET PSA 105:5 section.

Jump to OET PSA 78:11 section. · OET PSA 78:42 section.

Jump to OET PSA 106:7 section. · OET PSA 106:13 section. · OET PSA 106:21–22 section.

A brief survey of the usage of the term “memorial” demonstrates that it also often carries this added dimension of meaning. Here one notices in particular its use in connection with the Passover. Exodus 12:14 says that the Passover “shall be for you a memorial day” (rsv). It is to be an observance that causes the Israelites to live in the present in the light of God’s past action in delivering them from sin and bondage in Egypt. This is much more than simply recalling the exodus as a historical occurrence.

Show passage in OET: EXO 12:14

OET-RV EXO 12:14

14 Then this day will become a memorial for you all, and you’ll celebrate it as a festival to Yahweh for future generations—a statute that you’ll all celebrate forever.

OET-LV EXO 12:14

14 And_it _was the_day the_this to/for_you(pl) (into)_a_memorial and_you(pl)_will _celebrate _a _festival DOM_him/it a _festival to/for_YHWH to_generations _of_your(pl) a _regulation _of perpetuity you(pl)_will _celebrate _it _as _a _festival.

Jump to OET EXO 12:14 section.

In a similar way Joshua 4:7 describes setting up a monument of 12 stones in the midst of the Jordan River as a “memorial” to the miraculous provision for Israel’s crossing and entering Canaan. This memorial is to be “for the people of Israel for ever.” It is to remind them of God’s past deliverance so that they may take courage in their present circumstances.

Show passage in OET: JOS 4:7

OET-RV JOS 4:7

7 then you’ll all be able to tell them that the water in the Yarden River was cut off ahead of the box with Yahweh’s agreement. When it crossed over into the river, the water in the river stopped flowing, and those boulders are a memorial for the Israelis forever.

OET-LV JOS 4:7

7 And_you(pl)_will _say to/for_them which/who the _waters _of the _Yardēn/(Jordan) they _were _cut _off from_face/in _front _of the _box _of the _covenant _of YHWH when_it_passed _on in_Yardēn the _waters _of the _Yardēn they _were _cut _off and_they _will _be the_stones the_these (into)_a_memorial for_the _people _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) until perpetuity.

Jump to OET JOS 4:7 section.

Another usage of the term is found in connection with the “stones of remembrance” attached to the front of the ephod worn by the high priest (Ex 28:12, 29 OET EXO 28:12 · OET EXO 28:29; 39:7). The significance of these stones was that they were to bring the names of the sons of Israel before the Lord. This is not simply in order for the Lord to recall their names but to assure the Israelites of his present concern for their well-being.

Show passage in OET: EXO 28:12; EXO 28:29

OET-RV EXO 28:12

12 Then attach the two stones to the shoulder pieces of the apron as a reminder about Yisrael’s sons. That way Aharon (Aaron) will carry their names on his two shoulders as a reminder every time he goes to face Yahweh.

OET-RV EXO 28:29

29 Then whenever Aharon (Aaron) enters the sacred inner room to stand in front of me, he’ll be carrying the names of Yisrael’s sons over his heart on the sacred pouch that’ll be used for making decisions.

OET-LV EXO 28:12

12 And_you _will _put DOM the _two _of the_stones on the _shoulder-pieces _of the _ephod stones _of remembrance for_the _sons _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_ ʼAhₐron _he _will _bear DOM names _of_their to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH on the _two _of shoulder-pieces _of_his to_a _memorial.

OET-LV EXO 28:29

29 And_ ʼAhₐron _he _will _bear DOM the _names _of the _sons _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) on_the _breastpiece _of (the)_judgement over his/its_heart when_goes_he into the _holy_place to_a _memorial to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before YHWH continually.

Show passage in OET: EXO 39:7

OET-RV EXO 39:7

7 and he put them on the shoulder pieces of the sacred apron as stones of reminder for the sons of Yisrael, as Yahweh had instructed Mosheh.

OET-LV EXO 39:7

7 And_he/it _assigned DOM_them on the _shoulder-pieces _of the _ephod stones _of remembrance for_the _sons _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) just_as YHWH he _had _commanded DOM Mosheh.

Jump to OET EXO 28:12 section. · OET EXO 28:29 section.

Jump to OET EXO 39:7 section.

The term “memorial” is used with a somewhat different connotation in connection with the grain offering in Leviticus 2:2, 16 OET LEV 2:2 · OET LEV 2:16. The “memorial of the grain offering” is that portion that the priest offers upon the altar. The remainder is used for the sustenance of the priests themselves. The memorial is that which represents the whole: it does not serve just to remind God of the entire offering, but is viewed as an embodiment of it. A memorial in this sense may be viewed as embodying something of that which it represents.

Show passage in OET: LEV 2:2; LEV 2:16

OET-RV LEV 2:2

2 It must be taken to the priest Aharon’s (Aaron’s) sons who will take it from them, then take a handful out, being sure to get flour, oil, and some frankincense, and throw that memorial portion onto the altar to get completely burnt up as a pleasing aroma for Yahweh.

OET-RV LEV 2:16

16 and the priest must burn a memorial portion from it with some of the crushed grains and some of the oil and some of the incense, to be burnt to become smoke as a gift to Yahweh.

OET-LV LEV 2:2

2 And_he_will _bring _it to the _sons _of ʼAhₐron the_priests and_he _will _take _a _handful from_there the _fullness _of his _handful _of_his of_its _fine _of_flour and_of_oil _of_its with all _of frankincense _of_its and_ the_priest/officer _he _will _make _smoke DOM offering _of_its _memorial to_the_altar a _fire _offering _of an _odour _of soothing to/for_YHWH.

OET-LV LEV 2:16

16 And_ the_priest/officer _he _will _make _smoke DOM offering _of_its _memorial some_of_its _groats and_some_of_its _oil with all _of frankincense _of_its a _fire _offering to/for_YHWH.

Jump to OET LEV 2:2 section. · OET LEV 2:16 section.

In the NT the words “memorial” or “remembrance” occur rather infrequently, but in one instance with particular significance. When Jesus instituted the observance of the Lord’s Supper, the NT counterpart to the OT Passover, he said, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance [or memorial] of me” (Lk 22:19). The Lord’s Supper is observed as a remembrance of the suffering and death of Christ. It is much more, however, than simply recalling a historical fact; it is remembering in a way that fills the believer with thanksgiving and determines how he lives and acts in the present.