Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Trina Boice on "Remembrance" (זכר; cf. αναμνησις)

 While the book is very flawed (e.g., every single Hebrew word in the book is spelt from left-to-right), I did appreciate the following commentary on זכר (zakar; cf. αναμνησις):

 

Zakar teaches us that remembering is not simply about calling something to mind; it involves actively engaging with the memory and allowing it to shape our actions. Whenever God remembers someone, He takes action. For example, when he remembered Noah, He sent wind to save the inhabitants of the ark (Genesis 8:1). When He remembered Rachel, He enabled her to conceive a child (Genesis 30:22). When Jesus introduced the sacrament during the Last Supper, He admonished us to do it in remembrance of Him. To this say, we act on that command by partaking of the bread and water every Sunday (Luke 22:19). To zakar (remember) is to act.

 

When we remember God, His covenants, and His works, we don’t just acknowledge Him mentally, but we allow that remembrance to guide us, motivate us, and direct our behavior.

 

This deep, meaningful remembrance should influence how we live daily. It is a reminder to act in accordance with our covenants, to offer gratitude, and to be mindful of God’s ongoing role in our lives. (Trina Boice, The Language of Heaven: Hebrew Words Every Latter-day Saint Should Know to Better Understand the Bible, Covenants, and God [Springville, Utah: CFI, 2025], 293)

 

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