The Hebrew word *zakar* (Strong's 2142), a primitive root meaning to remember, think of, or mention, is central to understanding the fourth commandment. It carries additional senses such as to meditate upon, pay attention to, proclaim, and commemorate. Like other Hebrew terms, *zakar* blends a mental activity of remembering with an external action, in this case, observing the Sabbath as holy. God commands His people to remember the Sabbath day, implying that proper remembrance with godly understanding must lead to keeping it holy. The first appearance of *zakar* in Scripture occurs in Genesis 8:1, where God remembered Noah, every living thing, and all the animals in the ark, acting by sending a wind to dry up the floodwaters. This remembrance was tied to a covenant promise made in Genesis 6:17-19, ensuring their survival. Similarly, in Genesis 9:15, God remembers His covenant with the rainbow, promising no further flood to destroy all flesh. Other instances, such as in Genesis 19:29 with Abraham and Lot, and in Exodus 6:5-6 with Israel's deliverance from Egypt, show *zakar* linked to covenantal faithfulness. In the context of the fourth commandment in Exodus 20:8, *zakar* suggests a covenantal responsibility. The Sabbath is highlighted as a perpetual covenant in Exodus 31:16, a distinct sign between God and His people, as stated in Exodus 31:13, to know that He is the LORD who sanctifies them. Observing the Sabbath ensures ongoing sanctification and sets God's people apart, emphasizing the solemn duty to keep it holy under the covenant made with Him.

The Hebrew word *zakar* (H2142), meaning to remember or bring to mind, carries a deeper significance in relation to God's actions. It presupposes God's covenant promises and refers to actions on His part to fulfill those promises. In Genesis 8:1, when it is said that God remembered Noah, his family, and the animals, it indicates that God began to work to completely fulfill His covenant duties, not that He had forgotten them. This remembrance is linked with lovingkindness, reflecting the covenant love God shows in all His actions. This understanding of *zakar* is reinforced in other passages. In Exodus 6, God remembers His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, acting to bring out, rescue, redeem, and take Israel as His people. In Leviticus 26, even after long periods of disobedience, God promises to remember and bring back His people if they repent. Ezekiel 16 speaks of God remembering and establishing a new, eternal covenant with Israel. In Jeremiah 14, whether spoken by the prophet or the people, the reminder of God's covenant prompts His faithful response to act on His promises. The concept of *zakar* also applies to human responsibilities within the covenant. In Exodus 13 and 20, as well as Deuteronomy 5, the people are instructed to remember specific days and commandments, such as the first Day of Unleavened Bread and the Sabbath, as part of their covenant duties. Judges 8 illustrates the consequences when the people fail to uphold their end of the covenant, leading to punishment. In Malachi 4, in an end-time context, God instructs the people to remember the law of Moses, emphasizing the mutual obligations of a covenant relationship. Thus, *zakar* encapsulates both God's faithful actions to fulfill His promises and the reciprocal duties of His people to uphold their part of the covenant, as seen in the example of Noah's faithfulness and God's response in preserving him through the Flood.

In Malachi 4:4, the Hebrew verb *zakar* (H2142), meaning "remember," is used as a command to Israel to keep God's law with His statutes and judgments. This term encompasses various aspects of remembrance: it can refer to mental acts of recalling or paying attention to something, mental acts combined with appropriate external actions such as recalling and obeying, or mental acts of reciting or repeating something verbally. Given Malachi's emphasis on obedience, the force of this command appears to be a call to both recall the law to mind and act upon it. This exhortation underscores the unchanging nature of God's law as an inflexible standard, urging the people to live by it as a reflection of their covenant faithfulness.

In Genesis 9:15, the Hebrew word 'zakar' (H2142), meaning to remember, is used in the context of God's covenant with Noah. This term goes beyond mere mental recollection; it presupposes God's covenant promises and indicates His actions to fulfill His part in the agreement. When 'zakar' is employed in relation to a covenant, it signifies that God is about to enact His portion of the terms. In this instance, when God sees the rainbow, it serves as a reminder for Him to sustain actions necessary to prevent another worldwide flood. This includes holding back the seas, regulating the weather cycle, maintaining coastlands, and preserving underground aquifers to avoid catastrophic flooding as occurred in the past. Through 'zakar,' God's commitment to His covenant is actively upheld, ensuring the earth is protected from such destruction again.