Repentance Repent
Repentance Repent [1]
lit., "to perceive afterwards" (meta, "after," implying "change," noeo, "to perceive;" nous, "the mind, the seat of moral reflection"), in contrast to pronoeo, "to perceive beforehand," hence signifies "to change one's mind or purpose," always, in the Nt, involving a change for the better, an amendment, and always, except in Luke 17:3,4 , of "repentance" from sin. The word is found in the Synoptic Gospels (in Luke, nine times), in Acts five times, in the Apocalypse twelve times, eight in the messages to the churches, Revelation 2:5 (twice),16,21 (twice), Rv, "she willeth not to repent" (2nd part); Revelation 3:3,19 (the only churches in those chapters which contain no exhortation in this respect are those at Smyrna and Philadelphia); elsewhere only in 2 Corinthians 12:21 . See also the general Note below.
meta, as in No. 1, and melo, "to care for," is used in the Passive Voice with the Middle Voice sense, signifying "to regret, to repent oneself," Matthew 21:29 , Rv, "repented himself;" Matthew 21:32 , Rv, "ye did (not) repent yourselves" (Av, "ye repented not"); Matthew 27:3 , "repented himself" 2 Corinthians 7:8 (twice), Rv, "regret" in each case; Hebrews 7:21 , where alone in the Nt it is said (negatively) of God.
"not repented of, unregretted" (a, negative, and a verbal adjective of A, No. 2), signifies "without change of purpose;" it is said (a) of God in regard to his "gifts and calling," Romans 11:29; (b) of man, 2 Corinthians 7:10 , Rv, "[repentance (metanoia, see C)] ... which bringeth no regret" (Av, "not to be repented of"); the difference between metanoia and metamelomai, illustrated here, is briefly expressed in the contrast between "repentance" and "regret."
"afterthought, change of mind, repentance," corresponds in meaning to A, No. 1, and is used of "repentance" from sin or evil, except in Hebrews 12:17 , where the word "repentance" seems to mean, not simply a change of Isaac's mind, but such a change as would reverse the effects of his own previous state of mind. Esau's birthright-bargain could not be recalled; it involved an irretrievable loss. As regards "repentance" from sin, (a) the requirement by God on man's part is set forth, e.g., in Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8; Acts 20:21; 26:20; (b) the mercy of God in giving "repentance" or leading men to it is set forth, e.g., in Acts 5:31; 11:18; Romans 2:4; 2 Timothy 2:25 . The most authentic mss. omit the word in Matthew 9:13; Mark 2:17 , as in the Rv.
Genesis 6:6 Exodus 32:14 Matthew 4:17 John 3:3 9:38 1 John 1:9
