Ugh. I did it again. I can’t believe I did it again.
Have you ever said that to yourself? You sinned, and the reality of that sin settles over you like a weight on your chest. You feel a deep sense of regret and remorse, and you groan—sometimes audibly. In Hebrew, there’s a word for this, and it’s nacham. Used over 100 times in the Bible, nacham describes sorrow over sin as a “sighing,” “panting,” or “breathing strongly,” and a change of mind. This is the kind of sorrow over sin that takes your breath away.
While the gravity of our sin produces an emotional response, sorrow over sin is not enough. We need to turn away from it, and the Hebrew word for that is shuv. Shuv means to pivot or to change directions, and this is at the core of repentance. When we repent, we’re agreeing with God on his assessment of our sin, feeling godly sorrow (nacham), and turning away from it (shuv).
Repentance is not a one-time experience for believers; we are to be people who continually repent. To saturate your heart with God’s truth, here are 20 verses to start your study on repentance. Consider printing off this list and committing some of these verses to memory.
20 Bible Verses on Repentance
1. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (ESV)
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2. 2 Chronicles 30:9 (ESV)
For if you return to the Lord, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”
3. Psalm 51:17 (ESV)
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
4. Proverbs 1:23 (ESV)
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
5. Joel 2:13 (ESV)
And rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.
6. Ezekiel 18:32 (ESV)
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
7. Zechariah 1:3 (ESV)
Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts.
8. Matthew 3:11 (ESV)
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
9. Luke 5:32 (ESV)
I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
10. Luke 13:3 (ESV)
No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
11. Acts 8:22 (ESV)
Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
12. Acts 17:30 (ESV)
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
13. Acts 26:20 (ESV)
But declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
14. Romans 2:4 (ESV)
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
15. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (ESV)
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
16. James 4:8 (ESV)
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
17. 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
18. 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
19. Revelation 2:5 (ESV)
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.
20. Revelation 3:3 (ESV)
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Understanding Repentance More Fully
When we talk about repentance, we’re referring not only to feeling sorry for our sins (or their consequences), but also to turning our hearts to God. We examined two facets of repentance in the Hebrew words, nacham (sorrow over sin) and shuv (turning back to God). But, there’s still one final word that helps us fully understand repentance, and it’s the Greek word metanoia (a fundamental change in one’s inner disposition). Sorrow leads to turning, and turning flows from a transformed heart.
Metanoia refers to the transformation of our whole person, encompassing our minds, affections, and wills, as we return to God. This is new-creation language. Those who’ve been made new in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17) have a new way of seeing and living—and this includes constant repentance of sin. This is the Christian life—to feel the renewal of God’s forgiveness every time we repent and know his grace is transforming us, little by little, to be more like Jesus. For we know, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
Today, we sigh over sin, but one day, Christ will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more mourning, crying, or pain (Rev. 21:4). This is a sweet promise for repentant and redeemed hearts. Sorrow over sin gives way to joy, and tears give way to glory.
Maranatha,
Cara
P.S. My forthcoming book, The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places (releasing 3.17.26), is all about how to live the Christian life and enjoy God in the process. To learn more, I invite you to download this free resource, which will introduce you to this topic.
