Repentance — Meaning in the Bible
Turning back to God: a change of mind and heart that turns away from sin and leads to a changed life.
What it means
The prophets call Israel to "return" to the LORD. In the New Testament John the Baptist and Jesus both begin by calling people to repent, and repentance is shown by its fruit. Joel 2:12–13Matthew 3:1–2Mark 1:14–15Luke 3:8
Repentance is pictured in the son who comes back to his father, and in Zacchaeus, who gives away half of his goods and repays what he took. Luke 15:17–21Luke 19:8
Key passages
- Joel 2:12–13 — "Turn to me with all your heart."
- Jonah 3:5–10 — Nineveh turns from its evil.
- Mark 1:14–15 — "Repent, and believe in the Good News."
- Luke 15:11–24 — The lost son comes home.
- Acts 2:37–38 — Peter: "Repent, and be baptized."
- 2 Corinthians 7:9–10 — Godly sorrow produces repentance.
Original language
שׁוּב shuv
Hebrew · Strong’s H7725 · gloss: “to return: return”
The Hebrew verb "to turn" or "return", often used of returning to God. Joel 2:12
μετάνοια metanoia
Greek · Strong’s G3341 · gloss: “repentance”
The Greek noun for repentance, a change of mind. Luke 3:8Acts 20:21
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
For children
To repent means to be sorry for doing wrong and to turn around and go God's way. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he gave back what he had taken. Luke 19:8
Study further
- Jonah 3:1–10 A city repents.
- Luke 15:11–32 The lost son.
- Luke 19:1–10 Zacchaeus changes.
- Acts 2:36–41 Repentance at Pentecost.