Greek word · G363

ἀναμιμνήσκω

anamimnēskō

to remind

To cause someone to remember, to remind, to call back to mind. In the middle and passive forms, to recall or remember. It assumes the thing was known before.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀνα-μιμνήσκω

[in LXX for זָכַר hi. ;]

to remind, call to one's remembrance: with accusative of thing(s), 1 Corinthians 4:17; with inf., 2 Timothy 1:6. Pass., to remember, call to mind: Mark 11:21 14:72, 2 Corinthians 7:15, Hebrews 10:32.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 4:17

Range of meaning

To cause someone to remember, to remind, to call back to mind. In the middle and passive forms, to recall or remember. It assumes the thing was known before.

Against the English

Most versions say 'remind'. KJV's 'bring you into remembrance' keeps the sense of bringing back something already possessed. ESV turns it into a purpose clause ('to remind you'), which smooths over the plain statement in the Greek future, 'he will remind'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The same verb appears in 2 Cor 7:15 (Titus remembering their obedience), 2 Tim 1:6 ('I remind you to rekindle the gift'), and Mark 14:72 (Peter remembered). In Greek moral teaching, reminding (ὑπόμνησις, 'reminder') was a recognised method: the teacher recalls principles the pupil already accepts rather than teaching new ones.

From the study of 2 Timothy 1:6

Range of meaning

To remind someone, to call something back to mind. In moral letters of the time it was a polite and standard way to urge someone: you remind people of what they already know, not tell them something new.

Against the English

'I remind you' (most versions) is accurate. KJV's 'I put thee in remembrance' keeps the older formal tone. English can make 'remind' sound like a light nudge. In ancient exhortation, a reminder was a serious way to urge someone while respecting them.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Greek moral writing and letters. Compare 1 Cor 4:17, where Timothy himself is sent 'to remind you of my ways'. 2 Peter (1:12–13; 3:1) uses 'reminder' language in a farewell setting just as 2 Timothy does.

From the study of 2 Corinthians 7:15

Range of meaning

In the active voice, to remind someone. In the middle voice, used here, to recall or call to mind for oneself.

Against the English

'When he remembers' (BSB), 'whilst he remembereth' (KJV), 'remembering' (YLT). KJV's 'whilst' keeps the ongoing sense best.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mark 11:21; 14:72 (Peter 'remembered' Jesus' word); 1 Cor 4:17 (Timothy will 'remind' them); 2 Tim 1:6.

Where it appears

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 11:21 ἀναμνησθεὶς having remembered

    Peter remembered it and said, “Look, Rabbi! The fig tree You cursed has withered.”

  2. Mark 14:72 ἀνεμνήσθη remembered

    And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:17 ἀναμνήσει will remind of

    That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.

    Here: Future: 'will call back to mind'. Timothy brings nothing new. He brings back what they were taught and saw when Paul was among them, which they have since let slip.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 7:15 ἀναμιμνῃσκομένου remembering

    And his affection for you is even greater when he remembers that you were all obedient as you welcomed him with fear and trembling.

    Here: 'As he recalls.' The present participle suggests he keeps going back over it in his mind. The participle also gives the reason his affection grows: every time he remembers, it swells again.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 1:6 ἀναμιμνῄσκω I remind

    For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

    Here: 'I remind'. It is a gentle way of urging him: Paul is not giving Timothy a new order but bringing back to his mind something he already knows. It continues the run of memory words in vv. 3–5 ('I remember', 'remembering your tears', 'being reminded').

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 10:32 Ἀναμιμνῄσκεσθε do remember

    Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering.

    Here: A present-tense command in the middle voice: 'keep calling to mind for yourselves.' Not a single glance back but an ongoing practice of deliberately bringing the past forward into the present.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.