Bible Verses About Repentance

Repentance is the turning that opens the door to grace. These verses about repentance call us home and promise forgiveness.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” — Psalm 51:10 (KJV)

Create in me a clean heart, O God — create is the verb used of making the world, so David asks for something from nothing. He does not ask for repair.

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 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)

Rend your heart and not your garments — tearing clothes was the visible sign of grief. The prophet asks for the thing the sign stood for.

“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” — Acts 2:38 (KJV)

Repent and be baptized every one of you, preached to a crowd that had just been told they crucified the Messiah. The instruction was given to the guilty as the way forward.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” — Luke 15:7 (KJV)

Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons. The arithmetic is deliberately unbalanced.

“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)

Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation, but the sorrow of the world worketh death. Two kinds of regret are distinguished by what they produce.

“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” — Ezekiel 18:30-32 (KJV)

Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions, for why will ye die? God adds that he has no pleasure in the death of him that dieth.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” — Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. Confessing and forsaking are named together.

“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” — Matthew 3:8 (KJV)

Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance — John the Baptist to people coming for baptism. He asks for evidence rather than accepting the ceremony.

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” — Luke 13:3 (KJV)

Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish — said when told about Galileans killed by Pilate. Jesus refuses to treat disaster as a verdict on the victims.

“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” — Jonah 3:10 (KJV)

God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way — the repentance recorded is of a foreign city Jonah did not want spared. Their turning is described by what they did.

“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” — Psalm 32:5 (KJV)

I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. The psalm's earlier verses describe what silence had cost him physically.

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:” — Acts 17:30 (KJV)

God now commandeth all men every where to repent — preached in Athens to an audience of philosophers. Repentance is presented as a command rather than an invitation.

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” — Revelation 3:19 (KJV)

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. The rebuke is framed as evidence of love, addressed to a lukewarm church.

“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” — Hosea 6:1 (KJV)

Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us. The same hand is named as the cause and the cure.

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” — James 4:8-10 (KJV)

Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you — followed by cleansing hands and purifying hearts. Humbling is the final instruction and the promise is being lifted up.

“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” — Psalm 51:17 (KJV)

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart thou wilt not despise. It is offered by a man with nothing else left to bring.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about repentance?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on repentance: Psalm 51:10, Joel 2:12-13, Acts 2:38, Luke 15:7, 2 Corinthians 7:10, Ezekiel 18:30-32, Proverbs 28:13, Matthew 3:8, Luke 13:3, Jonah 3:10, Psalm 32:5, Acts 17:30, Revelation 3:19, Hosea 6:1, James…

What is a good Bible verse about repentance?

Psalm 51:10 is the passage most often quoted on repentance, with Joel 2:12-13 and Acts 2:38 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these repentance verses?

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