Greek word · G5280

ὑπόμνησις

hypomnēsis

remembrance

A reminding, calling to mind; a memorandum or reminder (BDAG).

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

ὑπόμινησις, -εως, ἡ

(ὑπομιμνήσκω) [in LXX: Psalms 71:6 א (תְּהִלָּה), Wisdom of Solomon 16:11, 2Ma.6:17 * ;]

a reminding, reminder: ἐν ὑ., 2 Peter 1:13 3:1; with genitive, 2 Timothy 1:5.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: A reminding, calling to mind; a memorandum or reminder (BDAG).
Against the English: "By way of remembrance" (KJV, ESV, NASB) and "reminders" (BSB, NIV) are accurate. The point to keep is that reminding is the writer's whole stated purpose, not a passing remark.
Used elsewhere in the period: 2 Tim 1:5; 2 Pet 1:13. Farewell speeches and testaments in Jewish literature (e.g. Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs; Moses in Deuteronomy) are built around a dying leader reminding his people of what they already know. 2 Peter 1:12-15 deliberately puts itself in that form: "I will always remind you… as long as I am in this tent… I know that my departure is soon."

Range of meaning: A reminding, calling to mind, remembrance. It often refers to something that triggers memory (cf. 'by way of reminder', 2 Pet 1:13; 3:1). With lambanō ('receive') it forms the idiom 'to be reminded'.
Against the English: BSB/NIV/ESV 'I am reminded', WEB 'having been reminded', KJV 'When I call to remembrance' (from the later present-tense reading), NASB 'I am mindful'. The versions differ on whether something reminded Paul or he simply remembered.
Used elsewhere in the period: It appears in Greek literary and documentary texts for memoranda and reminders. Its relative hypomnēma meant a written note or memo.

Range of meaning: The act of reminding, or a reminder. Bringing back to mind something already known. A related word, hypomnēma, meant a written memorandum or record.
Against the English: KJV has "by putting you in remembrance", WEB "by reminding you", and ESV and NASB "by way of reminder". All are accurate. BSB and NIV fold the noun into "refresh your memory".
Used elsewhere in the period: Wisdom of Solomon 16:6 speaks of a sign given "for a reminder of the command of your law". 2 Maccabees 6:17 uses the word to end a digression: "let this much be said as a reminder". In the New Testament, 2 Tim 1:5 has "being reminded of your sincere faith", and 2 Pet 3:1 repeats this verse's phrase. In ancient letters of moral advice, saying "you already know this, but I remind you" was a standard and tactful way to encourage people (compare Rom 15:15; Jude 5; 1 Thess 4:9).

2 Timothy · 1

2 Timothy 1:5 ὑπόμνησιν remembrance

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.

Here: A reminder or a calling-to-mind. It leans toward something that brings a thing back to mind, not only an act of memory. It comes first in the sentence, so the remembering is the starting point.

2 Peter · 2

2 Peter 1:13 ὑπομνήσει· putting [you] in remembrance;

I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,

Here: "A reminding," bringing back to mind what is already known. It is the noun form of the verb in v. 12 ("remind") and comes back in 3:1. It is not new teaching. It calls up the teaching they already hold.
2 Peter 3:1 ὑπομνήσει putting [you] in remembrance

Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking

Here: "By reminding." The same phrase appears in 1:13. The writer is not bringing new teaching. He is calling back what they already know (1:12).

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