bible verses about repentance

Bible Verses About Repentance: 12

Bible verses about repentance: 12 Scriptures on turning to God, changed minds and hearts, and the kindness that leads us home.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 29, 2026Updated October 27, 20265 min readActs 3:19 (NIV)

Two people embrace gently in a courtyard, a wooden staff set down beside them.

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

— Acts 3:19 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about repentance want Scripture for a conscience that is awake, a habit that needs turning, or a fresh start with God — not shame piled higher. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about forgiveness, Bible verses about grace, Bible verses about salvation, Bible verses about holiness, Bible verses about mercy, and Love and forgiveness. Here the focus is turning toward God — distinct from forgiveness received (Bible verses about forgiveness) and from salvation's finished gift (Bible verses about salvation). God reviving his people is Bible verses about revival. Naming sin before God is Bible verses about confession. Jesus' warnings that call people to turn are gathered in Bible verses about hell. Returning to God with fasting and weeping is gathered in Bible verses about fasting. Repentance is turning back to seek the Lord, which is the heart of seeking God.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "repent" is often μετανοέω metanoeō (Strong's G3340) — to change one's mind, to think differently afterward. See also Bible Hub G3340. The noun μετάνοια metanoia (Strong's G3341; Bible Hub G3341) is that change of mind that turns the life. In Hebrew, turning language often uses שׁוּב shub (Strong's H7725; Bible Hub H7725) — to return, turn back.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 3 presses the call: repentance and turning open the way to refreshing from the Lord (Bible Hub commentaries on Acts 3:19; fuller MHC at Bible Hub MHC Acts 3). On Joel 2:13 he names the torn heart: return to the Lord who is gracious and compassionate (Bible Hub commentaries on Joel 2:13; Bible Hub MHC Joel 2).

12 Bible verses about repentance

  1. Acts 3:19. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." Repentance is a turn toward God — and refreshing follows wiping, not the other way around. See Bible verses about forgiveness.

  2. Joel 2:13. "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love…" Torn clothes without a torn heart miss the point. See Bible verses about mercy.

  3. Romans 2:4. "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?" Kindness, not cruelty, is the path home. See Bible verses about grace.

  4. Luke 15:7. "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Heaven throws a party for one turning heart. See Bible verses about heaven.

  5. Isaiah 55:7. "Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." Forsake and turn — mercy and free pardon wait. See Bible verses about forgiveness.

  6. Matthew 4:17. "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'" Jesus's first public word is a kingdom call to turn. See Bible verses about obedience.

  7. 2 Peter 3:9. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Delay can be patience aimed at repentance. See Bible verses about promises.

  8. Proverbs 28:13. "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Concealment blocks mercy; confession plus renouncing opens it. See Bible verses about truth.

  9. Ezekiel 18:30-31. "…Repent! Turn away from all your offenses… Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit…" God calls for a new heart, not cosmetic reform. See Bible verses about holiness.

  10. Luke 5:32. "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Jesus's mission targets those who know they need to turn. See Bible verses about grace.

  11. 2 Chronicles 7:14. "…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Humility, prayer, seeking, and turning travel together. See Bible verses about humility.

  12. Acts 26:20. "…I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds." Genuine turning shows up in deeds — not as earning, but as fruit. See Bible verses about obedience.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a confession that needs words, a habit that needs a turn, or a night when shame is loud and kindness feels unreal — not twelve. If you need refreshing after wiping, start with Acts 3:19. If you need kindness that leads home, start with Romans 2:4. If you need a torn heart rather than torn clothes, start with Joel 2:13. For forgiveness received, see Bible verses about forgiveness. For grace that saves, see Bible verses about grace. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about repentance?

Acts 3:19 (repent and turn for refreshing), Joel 2:13 (rend your heart and return), and Romans 2:4 (God's kindness leads to repentance) are clear starting places.

What does repent mean in the Bible?

Repentance is a change of mind that turns the life toward God — Greek metanoia, Hebrew shub (return). It is more than feeling sorry; it includes forsaking and turning (Isaiah 55:7; Acts 26:20).

Does the Bible say God wants people to repent?

Yes. 2 Peter 3:9 says God is patient, wanting everyone to come to repentance. Jesus preached "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" (Matthew 4:17), and heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7).

Is repentance the same as forgiveness?

They belong together but are not identical. Repentance is our turn toward God; forgiveness is God's wiping and pardon. Cross-link Bible verses about forgiveness when you need the received-mercy vocabulary.

Start with Love and forgiveness, then Bible verses about grace, Bible verses about mercy, and Bible verses about salvation. For water baptism after turning, see Bible verses about baptism. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Sources

A man and a woman embrace gently in a courtyard.

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