Topical Bible: God: Repentance Attributed To

◄ God: Repentance Attributed To ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

In the Scriptures, the concept of God repenting or relenting is a profound and complex topic that reflects His dynamic relationship with humanity. The term "repentance" when attributed to God does not imply a change of mind due to error or sin, as it does with humans, but rather a change in His course of action in response to human behavior. This is consistent with His unchanging nature and perfect wisdom.

Scriptural Instances

1. Genesis 6:6-7: In the account of the flood, it is written, "The LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, 'I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I am grieved that I have made them.'" . Here, God's repentance is expressed as sorrow over human wickedness, leading to His decision to cleanse the earth through the flood.

2. Exodus 32:14: After the Israelites worship the golden calf, Moses intercedes on their behalf, and "the LORD relented from the calamity He had threatened to bring on His people." . This instance demonstrates God's willingness to respond to intercession and repentance, showcasing His mercy and readiness to forgive.

3. 1 Samuel 15:11, 35: God expresses regret over making Saul king: "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions." . This passage highlights God's response to Saul's disobedience, indicating a shift in His dealings with Saul due to Saul's failure to fulfill God's commands.

4. Jonah 3:10: When the people of Nineveh repent, "God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways. So God relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them." . This illustrates God's compassion and readiness to withhold judgment when people turn from their sins.

Theological Considerations

The notion of God repenting is often understood in light of His relational nature with humanity. While God is immutable in His character and purposes (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17), He engages with His creation in a way that is responsive to human actions. This responsiveness is not a change in His eternal plan but rather an aspect of His sovereign will that accommodates human freedom and moral responsibility.

Anthropomorphic Language

The language of repentance attributed to God is anthropomorphic, meaning it uses human terms to describe divine actions. This helps convey the relational and responsive aspects of God's interactions with humanity. It is important to interpret these expressions within the broader biblical context that affirms God's omniscience and immutability.

Divine Mercy and Justice

God's repentance is often linked to His mercy and justice. His willingness to relent from judgment upon genuine repentance underscores His desire for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). At the same time, His justice demands accountability for sin, as seen in His dealings with Saul and the pre-flood world.

In summary, the concept of God repenting is a testament to His relational engagement with humanity, His responsiveness to human actions, and His unwavering commitment to justice and mercy.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 6:6,7
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 32:14
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do to his people.
Nave's Topical Index

Judges 2:18
And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Samuel 15:35
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Samuel 24:16
And when the angel stretched out his hand on Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now your hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshing place of Araunah the Jebusite.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Chronicles 21:15
And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now your hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 106:45
And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.
Nave's Topical Index

Jeremiah 26:19
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and sought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.
Nave's Topical Index

Amos 7:3
The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, said the LORD.
Nave's Topical Index

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 to them; and he did it not.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Instances of God's Repentance, and Notably in the Case of the ...
... attributed to the Creator's nature as an evil being, but what may be attributed
to His ... And it now remains that we should understand what God's repentance means ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxiv instances of gods repentance.htm

Exhortation to Repentance.
Treatises Attributed to Cyprian on Questionable Authority. . ... Exhortation to
Repentance. That all sins may be forgiven him who has turned to God ...
/.../exhortation to repentance.htm

The Unchangeableness of God
... Repentance is attributed to God figuratively. Numbers 23:19. He is not a man that
he should repent.' There may be a change in God's work, but not in his will. ...
/.../watson/a body of divinity/4 the unchangeableness of god.htm

On the Attributes of God which Come to be Considered under his ...
... which are either properly or figuratively attributed to him in ... people for blaspheming
the name of God among the ... To this, repentance has some affinity; which is ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xx on the attributes.htm

Baptism unto Repentance
... You will never get right with God till you are right with man. ... (3) The baptism of
repentance. ... assumed a gross and material form; and men have attributed to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/vi baptism unto repentance.htm

How the Mingling of Love and Sorrow Takes Place in Contrition.
... and which apparently should only be attributed to love ... receiving the reflection of
this knowledge, repentance by little ... to return into grace with God, that in ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xx how the mingling.htm

On the Nature of God
... Nearly allied to this is Repentance, which, in God, is nothing ... and we do not exclude
even Fear, which, by an Anthropo-pathy, we read, as attributed to God ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 4 on the nature.htm

The Sympathy of God
... The promise was renewed after Israel's sin and repentance, and was ... says, first, that
'he had power with God, yea, he ... of Israel in the past is attributed to Him ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the sympathy of god.htm

Confession of the Free-Will Baptists. AD 1834, 1868.
... 4. The same acts which in one part of the Bible are attributed to the Holy ... This
repentance God has enjoined on all men; and without it in this life the sinner ...
/.../confession of the free-will baptists.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... Repentance qualifies a man for a pardon, but it does not entitle him to it. ... 1. GOD
THE FATHER ... That many evils in life are to be attributed to the lack of prayer ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm