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Repentance:
What does the word mean?

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Reaching forth...

Repentance Defined

This is a display of various meanings of the words translated repentance as used in both the New and Old Testament. These definitions have been collected from study over a period of time from various sources. I hope this will be helpful and interesting to any that will view it.

Use the King James Bible to help in this study. Take the Berea attitude for yourself and prove these things (Acts 17:11). Also I would be happy to answer any questions I am able and to receive your comments or thinking on these things. These definitions I have displayed are for the most not only from the Strong's lexicon so often used but other study tools as well. The Strong's number is displayed for ease of reference and to compare this with other study tools keyed to Strong's numbers. The order I have displayed the definitions is random as I have made no attempt to put these in any special order. This listing is not a complete study, but presents enough to help the understanding of those that read these definitions.

Here are links to various definitions:

This will be most useful as you use your Bible to look at the many Scripture references given. Prove all things I have shown you here.

* Strong's No. 05150 nihum "comfort" "compassion" back

Isa 57:18 Hos 11:8

As with naham [Strong's 05162] the purpose of life changes not. While the primary course of action does not change, there can be a change of action nonetheless. The primary direction does not change.

* Strong's No. 05162 naham From a human viewpoint, a physical display of one's feelings. "Be sorry" "repent" "be comforted" "comfort" back

1. This word is used most often telling of God repenting. Unlike man, who under the conviction of sin feels genuine remorse and sorrow, God is free from sin. Yet God repents:

Gen 6:6-7 Ex 32:14 Jud 2:18 1Sam 15:11

-that is, He relents or changes his dealings with men according to His sovereign purpose. His purpose does not change:

1Sam 15:29,11 Ps 110:4

With naham there is not tension. The direction of the one repenting actually does not change. There is an ultimate purpose and the change of mind (naham) does not change that purpose. As men change their actions or purpose God responds accordingly.

Gal 6:7 1Chron 21:15 Jer 18:7-10 26:3,19 Amos 7:3,6 John 3:10

2. As for comfort, the purpose changes not:

Isa 40:1 Ps 23:4 2Sam 10:2 Ps 71:21 86:17 119:82 Isa 12:1 49:13 52:9 Gal 6:7

* Strong's No. 07725 shub "return" back

1. To return, the basic meaning of this word, implies physical motion or movement.

2. The word has a function of saying, "repeat the action"

Gen 26:18

3. The use can be for saying to return to God (in the sense of repentance) or turning away from evil (in the sense of renouncing and disowning sin) or turning away from God (in the sense of becoming apostate).

Eze 14:6

* Strong's No. 07726 shobab "backsliding" back

shobab means "backsliding" "apostate" "frowardly"

Jer 3:14,22 Isa 57:17

Note on Repentance: The fact that people are called "to turn" either "to" or "away from" implies that sin is not an ineradicable stain, but by turning (repentance), a God given power, a sinner can redirect his destiny. There is with conversion, the free sovereign act of God's mercy and man's going beyond contrition and sorrow to a conscience decision of turning to God. God has done His part, says faith, so we do our human part showing forth His work of grace on our heart through our walk. Turning to God includes acceptance of all God's total will for one's life.

* Strong's 3341 metanoia back

2Cor 7:10

Change of mind, remorse, regret, repentance from evil to good or from good to better repentance is expected to manifest itself in conduct.

Acts 26.20

The kindness of God leads to repentance.

Rom 2:4 Eze 36:29

Repentance toward God based on the death of Christ is permanent. The new birth brings this about. It cannot fail so cannot be repeated. The Death of Christ is central in our salvation and not any action (work) of ours. Salvation is of the Lord. He has purchased for us eternal salvation.

Heb 6:4-6 9:26,28 1Pet 3:18 Heb 7:21

Eternal Salvation

Ps 45:17 74:2 Acts 20:28 Rom 8:23 Eph 1:7,13-14 4:30 Col 1:14 2Thess 2:16 Heb 5:9 9.12-15 1Pet 1:18-19 2:9-10 1John 5:20 Jude 1:21 Rev 5:9

Christ did not fail.

Metanoia is a companion of eternal salvation, but it does not necessarily bring deliverance from the consequence of our wrong choices. The new birth, being born of the Spirit, produces faith and repentance flows from faith.

When regret is present a moral component is included, but it does not mean the total change in lives direction, for the regret is only for a specific act or attitude, not for a whole way of life.

With metanoia we are to bring forth fruits. Just being sorry is not what the salvation experience works in the believer. They die to the old life, they metanoia and live the new life.

Matt 3:8 Luke 3:8

* Strong's 3338 metamelomai back

To feel regret, repent. Means the experiencing of remorse.

Expresses the mere desire that what is done may be undone, accompanied with regrets or even remorse, but with no effective change of heart brought about by God's Spirit.

This involves regret or sorrow, to be concerned, changing one's mind or purpose after having done something regrettable.

On the part of man, this word signifies little or nothing more than a selfish dread of the consequence of what one has done. With this repentance the forgiveness of sins is not promised.

See metanoew [Strong's 3340] & metanoia [Strong's 3341] that have to do with change of heart (mind).

God repents:

1Sam 15:35 Amos 7:3

Yet God's repentance does not overthrow His judgement:

Num 23:19

On the part of God in Hebrews 7:21 the meaning is His plan of salvation for man can have no improvement; He Made No Mistake.

Heb 7:21

In humans there is difference between remorse, which may not be pleasing to God, Exodus 13:17 and repentance, but there is assimilation. Jeremiah 4:28 20:16

Compare metanoew [Strong's 3340] that expresses a change of heart brought about by God's Spirit with metamelomai [Strong's 3338] that expresses the Mere desire that what has been done may be undone, accompanied with regrets or even remorse, but with no change of original purpose or change of heart.

Remorse sees the bitter end of sin, repentance ( metanoew etc) breaks free from it. The result of sin brings remorse, a divinely commissioned call brings repentance.

* Strong's 1994 epistrepho back

To come back, convert, turn about, presents repentance as turning to God.

Consider the prodigal, a picture of the true penitent person. Such is assured of the forgiveness of the father whose love has anticipated his return and gone out to seek and save.

Luke 15:4

* Strong's 3340 metanoew back

To change one's mind, to repent, to regret.

Involves regret or sorrow, accompanied by a true change of heart toward God. sorrow for unbelief and sin and a turning from them unto God and the gospel of Christ.

Jesus never went through metanoew

1John 3:5 Acts 3:14 2Cor 5:21 Heb 7:26 4:15 John 8:46 8:29

External acts cannot take the place of an internal sorrow for ones sins.

To change one's mind, the attitude should change, and should lead to changed behavior. If God is approached, it is with the understanding, and the sins would be regretted. Christ died for sinners and sinners that regret their sins are to approach God. That approaching God requires a divine call. Sins reprove but God calls.

Joel 2:12-13 Luke 3:8

A message of comfort from the Scriptures,
that we through patience and comfort
of the scriptures might have hope.

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Bob Krajcik
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