μνημόσυνον

From the study of Matthew 26:13

Range of meaning

A memorial or reminder: anything that keeps someone or something in remembrance, such as an object, a ritual, a record, or a reputation. In the Greek Old Testament it often translates Hebrew zikkārôn / zēker ('remembrance') and ʾazkārâ, the 'memorial portion' of an offering burned on the altar.

Against the English

'In memory of her' (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB) reads as human remembrance only. 'For a memorial of her' (KJV, WEB, YLT) keeps the noun and its echo of worship. Modern 'memorial' suggests a monument or funeral service, which is narrower than the biblical word.

How it drifted

Modern English 'memorial' is mostly about the dead: monuments and services. The Greek word's associations with worship and with God remembering have faded for English readers.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Exod 12:14: the Passover day 'shall be to you a memorial (μνημόσυνον)'. This is striking, because the scene takes place two days before Passover (Matt 26:2). LXX Exod 3:15: God's name is 'my memorial to generations'. Lev 2:2: the 'memorial portion' of the grain offering. Exod 28:12: the stones on the high priest's ephod are 'stones of memorial' before the LORD. Mal 3:16: a 'book of remembrance' before God. Tob 12:12: the angel 'brought the remembrance of your prayer' before the Holy One. Acts 10:4: Cornelius' prayers and alms 'have gone up as a memorial before God'.

From the study of Acts 10:4

Range of meaning

A reminder or memorial: something that keeps a person or deed in mind. In biblical Greek it usually means a reminder placed before God so that he will 'remember', and in Hebrew thought, when God remembers someone, he acts for them (Genesis 8:1; Exodus 2:24). In worship it is the technical term for the 'memorial portion' (Hebrew azkarah) of a grain offering: the handful burned on the altar on behalf of the worshipper, which rises as smoke to God.

Against the English

English 'memorial' now suggests a monument, a plaque or a service for the dead, something that looks back. BSB and NIV make the worship sense explicit with 'memorial offering'. KJV, ESV and WEB keep 'memorial', which is accurate but easily misheard. NLT drops the image entirely.

How it drifted

In modern English 'memorial' is tied mainly to commemorating the dead (war memorials, memorial services). The ancient worship sense, a reminder to God that prompts him to act, is unfamiliar to most readers.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Old Testament: Leviticus 2:2, 9, 16; 5:12; 6:15 (the 'memorial portion' burned on the altar); Numbers 5:26. 'A memorial before the LORD' is used for the stones on the high priest's garment (Exodus 28:12, 29), the atonement money (Exodus 30:16), trumpets blown over offerings (Numbers 10:10) and gold brought into the sanctuary (Numbers 31:54). Tobit 12:12: the angel Raphael says, 'I brought the reminder (mnēmosynon) of your prayer before the glory of the Lord.' Sirach 35 (verse numbers differ between editions) speaks of the righteous man's offering rising before the Most High, and its memorial 'will not be forgotten'. In the New Testament, Mark 14:9 says the woman's anointing will be told 'as a memorial of her'.