Repentance: Defined
All scripture references are from the King James Bible.
5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
Genesis 6:5-7 KJV
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 KJV
Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness;
1 Kings 8:47 KJV
Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
2 Chronicles 6:37 KJV
The scriptures self-define “repent” and all of its variants as “grieve” and/or “turn”. So plainly and simply the correct understanding of what repentance means is: repentance = grievance.
Continuing with these definitions, we will cross reference the Hebrew and Greek words as well.
Hebrew | עברית
The root word for “repent” and its variants in Hebrew is “Nacham (נָחַם)”. Nacham means:
• To be sorry.
• To sigh.
• To rue (Rue means: to lament, to regret, to grieve for; sorrow, repentance).
• To comfort/ease.
The root word for the word “turn” is “Shub (שׁוּב)” which means; to turn back, return, and/or again. Now this is important to understand because in English the word “turn” means: change, return, and turn back. And in the instances where repent can mean “turn” it more specifically means “to turn back” and/or “return”. Also note that there can definitely be a combination of one or more of these things.
Furthermore, proof that “repent” does not mean “a change of mind” is the instance of Habakkuk 1:11 KJV, where “a change of mind” is stated. But the thing is, the words for repent and its variants in Hebrew are NOT used for the phrase “Then shall his mind change, … “רוּחַ” (mind) and “חָלַף” (change) are the words that are used in the verse and they have nothing to do with grievance or the root word “נָחַם” (repent) nor the root word “שׁוּב” (turn back/return).
Greek | Ελληνικά
And for full understanding, the root word for “repent” and its variants in Greek is “Metanoia (μετάνοια)”. Yes, Metanoia in Greek does mean “a change of mind”, but it also means: “remorse” and “repentance” and/or some other synonym(s) for it as well. And we know from above that the scriptures define “repentance” as “grievance”, so metanoia also means grievance as well.
As is the case for ALL languages … “repent” and its variants in all languages means “grieve” and/or some other synonym(s) for it. We must also understand that we define words in scripture based off context. And also that there is a non-contradicting continuity in the scriptures, if a word means something in the old testament, then it does not change meaning(s) in the new testament … We must plug-in the definition(s)/definition combinations in every instance of a word to understand the correct definition(s) according to context. And for “repent” and its variants these verses only work and make sense with the definition of “grieve”: Genesis 6:5-6, Judges 21:6, and 2 Corinthians 7:8-10.
2 It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.
3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 KJV, tied to James 4:9-10 KJV
17 For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me.
18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.
Psalm 38:17-18 KJV
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18 KJV
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Isaiah 57:15 KJV, tied to Isaiah 66:2 KJV
What repentance (grievance) is really doesn’t get any clearer… Also, PLEASE understand that if people don’t first grieve for their sins, they are NOT going to turn from their sins or even try to turn from them… and why so? Because mankind is naturally evil (Genesis 6:5 & 8:21), people love evil (Psalm 52:3, verses 1-7 for full context), there is pleasure in sin (Hebrews 11:24-25) and all creation loves pleasure. So why would people turn from sin IF it does not grieve them? When we sincerely repent (grieve) for our sins that grievance (repentance) helps us to turn (repent) from our sins and turn (repent) towards God and sincerely believe the gospel. This is a simple, logical, and reasonable concept…
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Mark 4:13, 16-17 KJV
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:
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.
Joel 2:12-13 KJV
The whole point of the parable of the sower is concerning false converts. The grounds are people’s hearts (Mark 4:15) and the seed is the word of God (Luke 8:11). This parable is very important to understand because it refutes easy believism, the gross disease that has affected many people that profess to be Christian whom fight against and/or neglect God’s commandment and warning concerning repentance (Acts 17:30-31 & Luke 13:1-5).
Notice that the people whose hearts are stony ground (Ezekiel 36:26-27) they receive the word of salvation with GLADNESS. They have NO repentance (grievance) for their sins. This is why when you tell them they must repent (grieve for/turn from) their sins they are IMMEDIATELY OFFENDED. The good ground (hearts) are people that have repentance (grievance) in their hearts for their own sins and is the only ground that brings forth fruit.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV
I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luke 5:32 KJV, verses 27-32 for full context
And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Mark 6:12 KJV
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Acts 17:30-31 KJV
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Acts 20:20-21 KJV, tied to Mark 1:14-15 and 2 Peter 3:9
It’s absolutely mind boggling the number of people that profess to be Christians, but yet fight tooth and nail against repentance. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve been told, heard, or seen “Repentance isn’t necessary for salvation … ” and/or “Repentance is a work … ” or some other thing(s) to avoid and neglect repenting. But yet the Lord Jesus Christ himself and the apostles preached that what? For men to repent. We must remember that God does NOT speak in vain (Isaiah 55:10-11).
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.
2 Peter 3:9 KJV
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV
20 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 2:4 KJV, verses 3-11 for full context
Let us also fully understand that God is the one that gives us repentance
(grievance) when we acknowledge the truth. The truth that:
- We are a no good sinner on our way to hell because of our sins (Revelation 3:16-19 and Romans 3:10-18, 23).
- The gospel is the only thing that can save us from perishing in our sins.
We feel sorry when we offend our family/friends and sometimes even strangers … how much more so when we offend God? Also, look at the context of the verses above. They are in context of repenting FOR salvation.
Furthermore, we seek the Lord when we are in affliction/tribulation (2 Chronicles 33:11-13). This is why people are saved when they are in grief, despair, contrition, sorrow, pain, fear, etc. (Psalm 34:18 and Isaiah 57:15 & 66:2). This is why I say that repentance is the first step of salvation. Please re-read and meditate on the parable of the sower in all the gospels and understand it.
20 For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
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 uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
2 Corinthians 12:20-21 KJV
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
2 Corinthians 13:1-2, 5 KJV
Repentance (grievance) is a continual thing, both before AND after salvation … I find it very telling that Paul was sharp with the Corinthians (and remember sharpness is for edification; 2 Corinthians 13:10) in 1 and 2 Corinthians simply because they were often NOT GRIEVED because of their sins.
Furthermore, in the next chapter (2 Corinthians 13:1-7; keep in mind that the apostles wrote letters to people so thoughts are often continued in the following chapters) Paul is instructing the Corinthians to examine themselves and make sure they are even in the faith! And what was one of the reasons behind this? The lack of repentance (grievance) in their lives for their own sins. We all seriously need to examine ourselves often. Not only to make sure we are in the faith, but also to check for and battle/purge out sin in our lives that hinders us, to make sure we are walking in righteousness, and to make sure we are not living hypocritically.
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Romans 15:4 KJV
As with everything in life, the scriptures give us examples for us to learn by, and repentance is no exception. Below are just a few examples, there are many…
Examples of HAVING repentance (grievance):- Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33:1-20: Manasseh was an evil king and was the reason why Jerusalem was destroyed and carried away (2 Kings 23:26 & 24:1-4 ). BUT! He repented for his sin and evil and prayed to God and God was intreated of him and held off the judgment in his days. Manasseh also had a changed life afterwards (2 Chronicles 33:11-13). Also understand that his grievance for his sins helped him to turn from his sins.
- Mary Magdalene in Luke 7:37-38, 44-50: Mary had many sins of which she knew of and grieved for. And because of her grievance she humbled herself and wrought a good work on the Lord Jesus and was saved.
- Belshazzar in Daniel 5:18-23, 30: Belshazzar knew of what God did to his father Nebuchadnezzar and how God humbled him (Daniel 4:24-37), but Belshazzar refused to repent and humble himself before God and died for it.
- The cities where the Lord Jesus preached in in Matthew 11:20-24: It’s very interesting that the Lord Jesus UPBRAIDED the cities that didn’t repent AFTER they saw his mighty works … and it will also be more tolerable for the land Sodom in the day of judgment than for them. Let that sink in.
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 1:14-15 KJV
And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luke 6:46 KJV
Many people have this devilish belief that when a Christian preaches on repentance FOR salvation that we are making stuff up and are heretics … EVEN THOUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF SAID TO REPENT OR YOU WILL PERISH (Luke 13:1-5). They also have several lame excuses such as: “Where does it say in the bible repent for your sins to be saved?” or “Where does it say in the bible repent for sins in one verse?” or “How many sins do I have to repent for to be saved?” to name a few …
I find it interesting that they say these things even though the scriptures declare that we know our sins (Isaiah 59:12) and the people that were baptized of John also CONFESSED their sins (Mark 1:5). Also there is no set number, just repent for what you know you struggle with … or how about generalizing them all and being grieved for sinning in general? Which in effect covers them all … The scriptures also do NOT have to explicitly say verbatim “repent for your sins to be saved” or say “repent for sins in one verse” because you are to study to shew thyself approved unto God and compare spiritual things with spiritual, plus all of the examples of repentance in scripture (1 Corinthians 2:13, Isaiah 28:9-10, Philippians 4:9, & Romans 15:4), and also because it is just common sense and good reasoning … let us also not forget about 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 either…
May God give us all the wisdom and understanding of what repentance is and God help us all to genuinely repent (grieve for/turn from) our own sins.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15 KJV