Topical Bible: Repented

◄ Repented ►

Jump to: Webster's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Definition and Meaning:
The term "repented" in the biblical context refers to the act of feeling remorse or contrition for past conduct, accompanied by a commitment to change one's behavior and turn away from sin. It involves a transformation of heart and mind, aligning oneself with God's will. The concept of repentance is central to the Christian faith, emphasizing the need for individuals to acknowledge their sins and seek forgiveness from God.

Old Testament Context:
In the Old Testament, repentance is often associated with the Hebrew word "shuv," which means to turn back or return. This concept is illustrated in the prophetic calls for Israel to return to God and abandon their sinful ways. For example, in the book of Joel, the prophet urges the people to repent: "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning" (Joel 2:12). Repentance in the Old Testament is not merely an emotional response but involves a decisive action to change one's life and obey God's commandments.

New Testament Context:
In the New Testament, the Greek word "metanoeo" is used for repentance, which means to change one's mind or purpose. John the Baptist and Jesus Christ both began their ministries with a call to repentance. John the Baptist proclaimed, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 3:2). Similarly, Jesus emphasized the necessity of repentance for entering the kingdom of God: "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near'" (Matthew 4:17).

Repentance is also a key theme in the teachings of the apostles. In the book of Acts, Peter calls the people to repent and be baptized: "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away" (Acts 3:19). The apostle Paul also highlights the importance of repentance, stating that God "commands all people everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30).

Theological Significance:
Repentance is a fundamental aspect of the Christian doctrine of salvation. It is the means by which individuals acknowledge their sinfulness and turn to God for forgiveness. True repentance involves a sincere turning away from sin and a commitment to follow Christ. It is not merely a one-time event but a continual process in the life of a believer, as they seek to grow in holiness and conformity to the image of Christ.

Repentance is also closely linked to faith. It is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ that individuals receive the gift of salvation. The act of repenting is a response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit, who reveals the need for a Savior and the reality of God's grace.

Practical Implications:
For Christians, repentance is an ongoing practice that involves self-examination, confession of sins, and a desire to live in obedience to God's Word. It is a vital component of spiritual growth and maturity. The call to repentance is a reminder of God's mercy and the opportunity for renewal and transformation through His grace.

Biblical Examples:
· David: After his sin with Bathsheba, King David repented and sought God's forgiveness, as recorded in Psalm 51. His heartfelt prayer for mercy and cleansing exemplifies genuine repentance.
· Nineveh: The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, turning from their wickedness and seeking God's mercy (Jonah 3:5-10).
· Prodigal Son: In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus illustrates repentance through the younger son's return to his father, acknowledging his wrongdoing and seeking reconciliation (Luke 15:11-32).

Repentance remains a central theme throughout Scripture, underscoring the necessity of turning to God and living a life that reflects His righteousness and love.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(imp. & p. p.) of Repent.

Greek

278. ametameletos -- not repented of
... not repented of. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ametameletos Phonetic
Spelling: (am-et-am-el'-ay-tos) Short Definition: not to be repented of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/278.htm - 7k

3340. metanoeo -- to change one's mind or purpose
... Word Origin from meta and noeo Definition to change one's mind or purpose NASB
Word Usage repent (26), repented (5), repents (3). repent. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3340.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

7725. shub -- to turn back, return
... 1), render (8), repaid (1), repay (5), repeatedly (2), repeats (1), repel (1), repent
(6), repent and turn away (2), repentant (1), repented (1), replace (1 ...
/hebrew/7725.htm - 9k

5162. nacham -- to be sorry, console oneself
... 2), moved to pity (1), regret (1), regretted (1), relent (5), relented (4), relenting
(3), relents (1), relieved (1), repent (3), repented (2), sorry (6 ...
/hebrew/5162.htm - 6k

Library

That the King of Babylon Repented of Making Jehoiachin King, and ...
... CHAPTER 7. That The King Of Babylon Repented Of Making Jehoiachin King, And Took
Him Away To Babylon And Delivered The Kingdom To Zedekiah. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 that the king.htm

For Godly Sorrow Worketh Repentance to Salvation, not to be ...
... For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, not to be repented of; but
the sorrow of the world worketh death. 2 Corinthians 7:10. ...
/.../lectures to professing christians/for godly sorrow worketh repentance.htm

Of the Occasion on which He Upbraided the Cities Because they ...
... Chapter XXXII."Of the Occasion on Which He Upbraided the Cities Because They Repented
Not, Which Incident is Recorded by Luke as Well as by Matthew; And of ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxxii of the occasion on.htm

Possibly the Baptized Infants Would have Repented if they had ...
... A Treatise on the predestination of the saints, Chapter 25 [XIII.]"Possibly the
Baptized Infants Would Have Repented If They Had Lived, and the Unbaptized Not ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 25 xiii possibly the baptized.htm

Instances of God's Repentance, and Notably in the Case of the ...
... which occurs in His conduct, [2988] you interpret it with similar perverseness just
as if it were with fickleness and improvidence that He repented, or on the ...
/.../the five books against marcion/chapter xxiv instances of gods repentance.htm

The Comforts Belonging to Mourners
... Well then may the apostle call it a repentance not to be repented of'
(2 Corinthians 7:10). A man's drunkenness is to be repented ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/11 the comforts belonging to.htm

On First and Second Repentance.
... a second repentance; so that should any one be tempted after his calling, overcome
by force and fraud, he may receive still a repentance not to be repented of. ...
/.../clement/the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xiii on first and second.htm

Hebrews xii. 14
... Because he did not repent as he ought, for this is repentance; he repented
not as it behoved him. ... Because he repented not as he ought. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xxxi hebrews xii 14.htm

Whether Derision Can be a Mortal Sin?
... But derision is not always a mortal sin when it tends to the injury of God: else
it would be a mortal sin to relapse into a venial sin of which one has repented ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether derision can be a.htm

Sanctification.
... 4. This prayer cannot properly be made in respect to any sin of which we have not
repented; for it would be highly abominable in the sight of God, to pray for ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/finney/systematic theology/lecture xl sanctification.htm

Thesaurus

Repented (49 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Repent. Multi-Version Concordance
Repented (49 Occurrences). Matthew 11:20 Then began he ...
/r/repented.htm - 22k

Ashes (44 Occurrences)
... assembled under Nehemiah "with fasting, and with sackcloth, and earth (ashes) upon
them" (Nehemiah 9:1), and when the people of Nineveh repented in sackcloth ...
/a/ashes.htm - 24k

Lewdness (68 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God may humble me among you,
and I shall bewail many who have sinned already, and have not repented of the ...
/l/lewdness.htm - 29k

Fornication (52 Occurrences)
... 12:21 And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall
bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the ...
/f/fornication.htm - 24k

Korazin (2 Occurrences)
... For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you,
they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. (See NIV). ...
/k/korazin.htm - 7k

Jeb'usite (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy
it, the LORD repented Him of the evil, and said to the angel that ...
/j/jeb'usite.htm - 9k

Judgement (68 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 12:41 There will stand up men of Nineveh at the Judgement together
with the present generation, and will condemn it; because they repented at the ...
/j/judgement.htm - 26k

Jonas (11 Occurrences)
... Matthew 12:41 The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and
shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold ...
/j/jonas.htm - 12k

Lasciviousness (9 Occurrences)
... Paul (2 Corinthians 12:21) classes it with uncleanness and fornication as sins to
be repented of; also (Galatians 5:19; compare The Wisdom of Solomon 14:26 ...
/l/lasciviousness.htm - 11k

Repents (6 Occurrences)
... Jeremiah 18:8 And that nation hath turned from its evil, Because I have spoken against
it, Then I have repented of the evil that I thought to do to it. ...
/r/repents.htm - 8k

Resources

Why was Jonah angry that the Ninevites repented (Jonah 4:1-2)? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that Job repented in dust and ashes? | GotQuestions.org

Does God change His mind? | GotQuestions.org

Repented: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Repented (49 Occurrences)

Matthew 11:20
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS)

Matthew 11:21
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 12:41
The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and behold, someone greater than Jonah is here.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 21:29
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Matthew 21:32
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

Matthew 27:3
Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
(KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 10:13
"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 11:32
The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are not repented of.
(ASV YLT)

2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
(KJV WBS YLT)

2 Corinthians 12:21
that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness and sexual immorality and lustfulness which they committed.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 2:21
And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
(KJV WBS)

Revelation 9:20
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Revelation 9:21
Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Revelation 16:9
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Revelation 16:11
And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Genesis 6:6
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Genesis 6:7
And Jehovah saith, 'I wipe away man whom I have prepared from off the face of the ground, from man unto beast, unto creeping thing, and unto fowl of the heavens, for I have repented that I have made them.'
(YLT)

Exodus 32:14
Yahweh repented of the evil which he said he would do to his people.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

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.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Judges 21:6
And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Judges 21:15
And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.
(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

1 Samuel 15:11
I have repented that I caused Saul to reign for king, for he hath turned back from after Me, and My words he hath not performed;' and it is displeasing to Samuel, and he crieth unto Jehovah all the night.
(YLT)

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.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

2 Samuel 24:16
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon 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 thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

1 Chronicles 21:15
And God sent an angel unto 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 thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

2 Chronicles 32:26
Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Yahweh didn't come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
(See NIV)

Job 42:6
Therefore do I loathe 'it', And I have repented on dust and ashes.
(YLT)

Psalms 78:34
When he killed them, then they inquired after him. They returned and sought God earnestly.
(See RSV)

Psalms 106:45
He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Isaiah 23:17
And it hath come to pass, At the end of seventy years Jehovah inspecteth Tyre, And she hath repented of her gift, That she committed fornication With all kingdoms of the earth on the face of the ground.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 4:28
For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.
(WEB JPS ASV YLT)

Jeremiah 8:6
I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
(KJV WBS YLT NAS)

Jeremiah 18:8
And that nation hath turned from its evil, Because I have spoken against it, Then I have repented of the evil that I thought to do to it.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 18:10
And it hath done the evil thing in Mine eyes, So as not to hearken to My voice, Then I have repented of the good That I have spoken of doing to it.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 20:16
And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Jeremiah 26:3
If so be they hearken, and turn back each from his evil way, then I have repented concerning the evil that I am thinking of doing to them, because of the evil of their doings.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 26:19
Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought 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.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 31:19
Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I struck on my thigh: I was ashamed, yes, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 34:15
You had now turned, and had done that which is right in my eyes, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and you had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name:
(See RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 42:10
If ye do certainly dwell in this land, then I have builded you up, and I throw not down; and I have planted you, and I pluck not up; for I have repented concerning the evil that I have done to you.
(YLT)

Joel 2:13
And rend your heart, and not your garments, And turn back unto Jehovah your God, For gracious and merciful 'is' He, Slow to anger, and abundant in kindness, And He hath repented concerning the evil.
(YLT)

Joel 2:14
Who knoweth -- He doth turn back, Yea -- He hath repented, And He hath left behind Him a blessing, A present and libation of Jehovah your God?
(YLT)

Amos 7:3
The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Amos 7:6
The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Jonah 3:9
Who knoweth? He doth turn back, and God hath repented, and hath turned back from the heat of His anger, and we do not perish.'
(YLT)

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.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Zechariah 1:6
But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn't they overtake your fathers? "Then they repented and said,'Just as Yahweh of Armies determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so he has dealt with us.'"
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Zechariah 8:14
For thus saith the LORD of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath, saith the LORD of hosts, and I repented not:
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Repented

Related Terms

Likewise (149 Occurrences)

Repenting (6 Occurrences)

Repent (74 Occurrences)

Repented (49 Occurrences)

Oppressors (31 Occurrences)

Grieveth (5 Occurrences)

Fowls (61 Occurrences)

Thrusting (5 Occurrences)

Persons (156 Occurrences)