Deuteronomy 25:19 Meaning and Explanation
“Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Once settled and safe in the land, erase Amalek's memory; yet do not forget what they did.
The Context of Deuteronomy 25:19
The eventual judgment against Amalek.
What Does Deuteronomy 25:19 Mean?
The law gave Israel a mission conditional on peace: when the enemies were defeated and the land was secure, Israel was to eliminate Amalek entirely—not from the map alone, but from memory and history. 'Blot out the remembrance' meant erase their name, their lineage, their place in Israel's story. They would be forgotten by the world.
Yet the law's paradoxical command—'blot out... thou shalt not forget'—reveals the depth of the command. Israel must remember what Amalek did forever, yet erase Amalek themselves. The memory of their evil lives on in Israel's own knowledge and obedience, but Amalek themselves fade from existence. It is a form of justice that ensures the victim's memory survives while the perpetrator vanishes.
Deuteronomy 25:19 in the Original Language
machah (מָחַה), 'blot out' — to erase completely, to remove from record and consciousness.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deuteronomy 25:19
What does Deuteronomy 25:19 mean?
Once settled and safe in the land, erase Amalek's memory; yet do not forget what they did.
What is the context of Deuteronomy 25:19?
The eventual judgment against Amalek.