“Repent” – Jesus begins his sermon with this call. It means not punishing yourself, but turning around: a new way of thinking, a new direction. Here you will find 20 Bible verses about repentance and turning around, from the prophets to the parable of the lost son.
Turn around!
The call to turn around by the prophets and Jesus.
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From that time on Jesus began to preach and say: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
Matthew 4:17
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And he said: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is come. Repent and believe the gospel!
Mark 1:15Kingdom of God
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Peter said to them: Repent and be baptized every one in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
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Repent now and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.
Acts 3:19ConversionForgiveness
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For I have no pleasure in the death of the one who dies, saith the Lord GOD. Therefore be converted, and live.
Ezekiel 18:32
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Therefore speak to them: As surely as I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked may turn from his way and live. Therefore turn ye now from your evil way. Why would ye die, ye house of Israel?
Ezekiel 33:11Hell
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But now also saith the LORD: Turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning! Rend your hearts, and not your garments, and turn to the LORD your God: for he is gracious, and merciful, and longsuffering, and abundant in goodness, and quick to forgive.
Joel 2:12-13Fasting
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Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Let the wicked man forsake his way, and the man of evil thoughts his purpose, and turn to the LORD; and he will have mercy on him, and to our God; for with him is much forgiveness.
Isaiah 55:6-7
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Therefore turn again, ye disobedient children, and I will heal you of your disobedience. Behold, we come to you; for ye are the LORD our God.
Jeremiah 3:22
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And speak to them: Thus saith the LORD of hosts: Turn to me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, saith the LORD of hosts.
Zechariah 1:3
God rejoices over everyone who turns around
Turning around is a reason to celebrate in the Bible.
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I say unto you, so shall there be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, rather than over ninety-nine just persons who need not repent.
Luke 15:7Joy
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So also, I say unto you, there shall be joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10Angels
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And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on him, and embraced and kissed him.
Luke 15:20God as FatherSeek God
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For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Luke 15:24
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The LORD does not delay his promise, as some think it to be a delay; but he is patient with us, and will not that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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Or dost thou despise the riches of his goodness, patience, and forbearance? Knowest thou not that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 2:4FriendlinessPatience
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For the sorrow of God worketh toward salvation, a repentance which no man hath; but the sorrow of the world worketh to death.
2 Corinthians 7:10
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I am come to call sinners to repentance, and not the righteous.
Luke 5:32
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Whom I love, I chastise and correct. Be therefore diligent and repent!
Revelation 3:19Chastisement
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The sacrifices which are acceptable unto God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 51:19
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to today's spelling.
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What does repentance mean?
The German word “Buße” sounds like punishment and fine. But the Greek metanoia means “rethinking,” the Hebrew schuv “turning around.” Repentance is therefore a U-turn: One recognizes that the path taken does not lead to God, and turns around. Luther began his 95 Theses with exactly this idea: When Jesus said “Repent,” he wanted all the life of the believers to be repentance – a daily turning around to God.
Turning around as a celebration
The most beautiful images of repentance are in Luke 15: a shepherd who finds a lost sheep, a woman who finds her lost coin, a father whose son comes home. Every time the story ends with joy: “So also, I say unto you, there shall be joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10). God does not wait with a raised index finger, but with open arms. More on this at Bible verses about conversion, Bible verses about confession of sins and Bible verses for a new beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “Repent” mean?
“Repent” (Matthew 4:17) means: Turn around, think anew, turn to God. The Greek word metanoia literally means “rethinking.”
What is the difference between repentance and remorse?
Remorse is the regret over guilt, repentance the turning around that follows. Paul distinguishes a sorrow that leads to turning around from one that only paralyzes (2 Corinthians 7:10).
