Verses related to Repentance

Here are some other questions you might consider in relation to our bible verses:

• What is your understanding of repentance?
• What does it involve?
• What insight do these verses give?
• Is repentance merely acknowledgement of sin? Sorrow for sin? Or something more?
• Is repentance essential for salvation?
• Are there other actions that are part of repentance, or that directly follow from it?

1 Kings 8:47-48;
“and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, ‘We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly’; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name;”

2Chronicles 32:26; “Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD’S wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.”

Job 34:31-33;
“Suppose a man says to God, ‘I am guilty but will offend no more. Teach me what I cannot see; if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’ Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide, not I; so tell me what you know.”

Psalm 51:17; “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

Isaiah 30:15; “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

Isaiah 59:20; “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD.”

Jeremiah 8:6; “I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle.”

Ezekiel 14:6; “Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!”

Ezekiel 18:30; “Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.”

Ezekiel 18:32; “For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!”

Matthew

3:2; ‘and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”’

3:8; “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”

4:17; ‘From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”’

11:20; “Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.”

12:41; “The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here.”

21:32; “For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.”

Mark 1:15; “The time has come,“ he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark 6:12; “They went out and preached that people should repent.”

Luke

5:32; “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

13:3; “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

15:10; “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

17:3-4; “So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

18:13-14; “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

24:47; “repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Acts

3:19; “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,”

5:31; “God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.”

8:22; “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”

11:18; ‘When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”’

17:30; “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.”

20:21; “I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.”

26:20; “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”

Romans 2:4-5; “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath , when his righteous judgment will be revealed.”

2 Corinthians 7:9-10; “yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”

2 Corinthians 12:21; “I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.”

2 Timothy 2:25; “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,”

Hebrews 6:1; “Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God,”

2 Peter 3:9; “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Revelation

2:5; “Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

3:3; “Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

3:19; “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”

9:20; “The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.”

9:21; “Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.”

16:9; “They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.”