Bible Verses About Forgiveness

Scripture holds out both the gift of being forgiven and the call to forgive. These verses about forgiveness free the heart from its burdens.

“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” — Luke 23:34 (KJV)

From the cross, amid the soldiers carrying out his execution, came a request extending forgiveness before anyone involved had asked for it or shown remorse. It models forgiveness offered in the middle of injury, not only after an apology arrives.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” — Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)

Be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God hath forgiven you — the standard is set by what was received. It closes a passage about anger and speech.

“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” — Colossians 3:13 (KJV)

Forbearing and forgiving if any man have a quarrel against any — the wording assumes real grievances exist. Forbearing carries the meantime, before forgiveness is complete.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” — Matthew 6:14-15 (KJV)

Attached immediately to the Lord's Prayer, making forgiveness the one petition Jesus expands on. The condition stated is uncomfortable and is not softened.

“Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” — Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)

Peter offers seven times, likely thinking it generous, and is answered with seventy times seven. The number is meant to end the counting rather than raise the limit.

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12 (KJV)

As far as the east is from the west — a distance chosen because it cannot be measured, unlike north and south. The image is deliberate.

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” — Micah 7:18-19 (KJV)

Sins cast into the depths of the sea, said of a God who delighteth in mercy. Written at the end of a book largely about judgment.

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” — Isaiah 43:25 (KJV)

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake. The motive given is God's own, which removes the reader's worthiness from the equation.

“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” — Mark 11:25 (KJV)

When ye stand praying, forgive — forgiveness is placed inside the posture of prayer. It treats an unforgiven grudge as a practical obstacle.

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” — Luke 6:37 (KJV)

Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven, in a passage about judging and condemning. Each clause describes a reciprocal economy.

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” — Jeremiah 31:34 (KJV)

I will remember their sin no more, part of the new covenant promise to a nation in ruins. Forgetting is stated as a decision rather than an incapacity.

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” — Psalm 32:1 (KJV)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered — David writes it after describing bones wasting through silence. Confession is the hinge of the psalm.

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” — Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV)

Leave thy gift before the altar and first be reconciled — worship is interrupted for a relationship. Notably the offence is one the brother has against you.

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” — Luke 17:3-4 (KJV)

Seven times in a day with repentance each time, which strains credulity deliberately. The disciples' response in the next verse is to ask for more faith.

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” — Acts 3:19 (KJV)

Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, preached to a crowd complicit in the crucifixion. Times of refreshing follow the blotting out.

“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” — Hebrews 8:12 (KJV)

I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins I will remember no more — quoted from Jeremiah as already accomplished. The argument is that the new covenant is in force.

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.” — Genesis 50:20 (KJV)

Joseph tells the brothers who sold him that they meant evil but God meant it unto good. He does not deny the evil in order to forgive it.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about forgiveness?

The 17 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on forgiveness: Luke 23:34, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 18:21-22, Psalm 103:12, Micah 7:18-19, Isaiah 43:25, Mark 11:25, Luke 6:37, Jeremiah 31:34, Psalm 32:1, Matthew 5:23-24, Luke…

What is a good Bible verse about forgiveness?

Luke 23:34 is the passage most often quoted on forgiveness, with Ephesians 4:32 and Colossians 3:13 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these forgiveness verses?

You can read all of these verses about forgiveness — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.