Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Theme · theological

Repentance

The Hebrew word for repentance means to turn around — a complete reversal of direction. When Israel sins, the prophets cry out for repentance, and when the people turn, God relents from judgment. Joel pleads, 'Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD.' John the Baptist preaches repentance as preparation for the Messiah. Jesus begins his public ministry with the same call: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Peter at Pentecost commands, 'Repent and be baptized.' Paul tells the Athenians that God now commands all people everywhere to repent. Repentance is not merely regret but a reorientation of the whole self toward God.

Passages expressing this theme

  • 2Chr 7:14 — If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal
  • 2Cor 7:10 — For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
  • 2Pet 3:9 — The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
  • Acts 2:38 — Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
  • Acts 3:19 — Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
  • Acts 17:30 — And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
  • Acts 26:20 — But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
  • Ezek 18:30 — Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
  • Ezek 18:32 — For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
  • Ezek 33:11 — Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die,
  • Hos 6:1 — Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
  • Isa 1:16 — Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
  • Isa 55:7 — Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
  • Jer 3:12 — Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will
  • Jer 3:22 — Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
  • Jer 18:8 — If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
  • Joel 2:12 — Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
  • Joel 2:13 — And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
  • Jonah 3:10 — And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.
  • Matt 3:2 — And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • Matt 3:8 — Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
  • Matt 4:17 — From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • Ps 32:5 — I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
  • Ps 51:10 — Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
  • Ps 51:17 — The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.